You’ll be Relieved to Know that’s Ego is Intact

For those of you wondering if Kanye west would begin the year with a bruised and battered self-image after being lambasted worldwide last year for his treatment of young winner Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards, you can relax now. Kanye’s ego is doing just fine, if you can judge by a recent blog entry.

While other rappers decline in ability with time, West says he is the exception, placing himself squarely in the footsteps of the likes of poet Maya Angelou, soul performer Gill Scott-Heron, and musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone.

In addition to rising to the rarefied heights of Ms Angelou et al, Kanye West will be modeling clothing for Japanese design house BAPE, a brand that is respected both in street fashion and couture. Keiichi Nitta photographed the rapper for BAPE’s Spring 2010 look book. According to his blog, “BAPE ran the last decade and they’re ready for the next one!

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There is no word as to whether West will be attending the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) awards in 2010 in order to set the record straight if his pick for Designer of the Year loses.