Yeah... So he wasn't kidding. Kanye West is “definitely” going to be running for president in 2020. 

After stunning viewers at the MTV VMAs this year with the announcement, the rapper and designer has now told Vanity Fair that, actually, he wasn't just off his face on drugs / drinks / endorphins. He actually has every intention of making this happen.

“As soon as I said that, (everyone) was like, ‘Wait a second, we would really be into that, because actually if you think about it, he’s extremely thoughtful. Every time he’s ever gotten in trouble, he was really jumping in front of a bullet for someone else. He’s probably the most honest celebrity that we have,’’’ West said simply. 

“I didn’t approach that because I thought it would be fun. It wasn’t like, Oh, let’s go rent some jet skis in Hawaii. No, the exact opposite. I sit in clubs and I’m like, Wow, I’ve got five years before I go and run for office and I’ve got a lot of research to do, I’ve got a lot of growing up to do.”

The “Black Skinhead” rapper also revealed that – kind of shockingly – he was trying to get in touch with the Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, describing him as “the most brilliant guy”. 

“As soon as I heard Carson speak, I tried for three weeks to get on the phone with him,” he explained. “I was like, 'This is the most brilliant guy.' And I think all the people running right now have something that each of the others needs. But the idea of this separation and this gladiator battle takes away from the main focus that the world needs help, and the world needs all the people in a position of power or influence to come together.”

It's a lot to take in, but West made it clear that his creative endeavours were still extremely important to him, and was hopeful that his presidential campaign would actually be enhanced by them. “I hate politics,” he added. “I’m not a politician at all. I care about the truth, and I just care about human beings. I just want everyone to win, that’s all I can say.”