Huge numbers of internet users have flooded 3news.co.nz to watch Kanye West's full, uncut New Zealand news conference.
The American hip hop superstar gave the lengthy talk to media yesterday ahead of his Auckland show and tonight's gig in Wellington.
Click here to watch the full news conference yourself.
West is not only a top-selling artist, but also an avid blogger. Yesterday, he blogged about his New Zealand news conference and linked to the video of it on 3news.co.nz, which sent it straight to the number one most viewed on the site.
Nightline's David Farrier wanted an exclusive interview with the man, but that went to Campbell Live's John Campbell instead (click here to watch).
What Farrier got was a news conference - a stuffy room full of sweaty journos from radio, print and television. After half an hour of waiting, DJ Sir-Vere gave the gathering a briefing.
"He doesn't want to talk about any gossip," DJ Sir-Vere informed. "He doesn't want any direct questions about his mother passing.
"He will get up and walk out."
DJ Sir-Vere announced Farrier would be the first to question West - so it was go time, time to pull out the good questions.
"How's it going?" asked Farrier.
"It's going good," replied West.
One question down. Farrier then asked West about how although his new album, 808s & Heartbreak, has had good reviews, its stylistic left-turn has mystified a few people.
"Well I get mixed reviews, but I guess that's a good thing," says West. "I am delivering art in its purest form. It's exactly what I want to do. I have a lot of experiences that have led me to like the type of music I like, and I guess a lot of fans haven't had those same experiences."
West talked, and talked, and talked for 37 minutes, so here at 3 News we decided to put it online. Today, West watched it himself and then blogged it, writing: "I really zoned on this one."
A little bit later on West blogged again to clarify a few points, saying: "Sometimes I speak with no filter. I did not mean to be so harsh on the subject of Christianity."
At the press conference, West had said: "I was raised a Christian and people say 'be Christ-like, be Christ-like'. I was like, 'no, I dont wanna be f**king Christ-like'. I wanna be the best me, because trying to be Christ-like you'll always fall short and then never be happy."
He had a point, and for a man who often seems to think quite highly of himself, he did occasionally falter and seem almost, dare we say it, humble.
"You know how all artists act like their down and stuff? I'm like, so not down," West said.
3 News