5 key points from Kanye West's VMAs speech; read transcript

Surprise, surprise. Kanye West dragged Taylor Swift at the Video Music Awards.

After news broke that West — who has quite a history of provocative VMAs moments — would get four minutes of uninterrupted time to reign free on the VMAs stage, we speculated all the crazy things he may or may not say.

Instead his speech, which came before he premiered his sweaty new Fade video, was more philosophical than provocative. Still, he made plenty of points we'll still be talking about tomorrow.

Here were the five moments that stuck with us.

He talked Taylor

West's Famous video is nominated for the video of the year, so naturally, he had to address the controversy over Taylor Swift's inclusion in the song's lyrics — and her naked likeness in its video. Once again, West reiterated that he called Taylor about the song.

He addressed gun violence in Chicago

Kanye got to his point about Taylor Swift in an interesting way, explaining that fans who waste energy following their feud should turn that attention to more important matters. "If you think about it, last week there were 22 people murdered in Chicago," West said. "People called me like man, take down Taylor."

He continued, sharing a story about a young fan approaching him at a speech last year. "He said, three of my friends died and I don’t know if I’m going to be the next."

"Like you know when you’re a senior and you know it’s the last month and just don’t feel like doing any more work. You feel like you seeing people dying right next to you, you might feel like what’s the point, like life could be like starting to feel worthless."

He shared his role models

So what helps Kanye ward off feeling worthless? The rapper shared the names of visionaries that inspire him. Naturally, he tacked his name onto the end of the list.

"My role models are artists, merchants, less than 10 that I can name in history. Truman, Ford, Hughes, Disney, Jobs, West."

He got political

West addressed the many personalities he included in the Famous video, making the point that when it comes to celebrities, they're all in the same boat, before alluding to the different "boats" that brought their immigrant and slave descendants to America.

"The audacity to put Anna Wintour next to Donald Trump," he said. "This is fame, bro...We came over in the same boat, now we all in the same bed. Well, maybe different boats."

He shouted out Kimye's famous exes

With Amber Rose — one of the naked figures in the Famous video — in the audience, West took the opportunity to shout her out in the audience. If her smile and shrug was any indication, she's not too mad about her inclusion, with West also pointing out that Kim's ex Ray J also found himself in the video.

West also praised Kim for supporting him through all the drama. "My wife is a G," he said, as she grinned and the crowd cheered.

Read the full transcript of the speech below.

I am Kanye West. And that feels really great to say especially this year. I came here to present my new video. But before I do that, Imma talk. 

Now, later tonight, 'Famous' might lose to Beyonce but I can't be mad, I'm always wishing for Beyonce to win. But for people to understand, just how blessed we are, it was an expression of our now, our fame right now, us on the inside of the TV. You know, just the audacity to put Anna Wintour right next to Donald Trump. I put Ray J in it bro. This is fame, bro.

I see you Amber. 

My wife is a G, not a lot of people wise to what I'm saying. We came over in the same boat and now we all in the same bed. Well maybe different boats but uh, you know. If you think about last week, there was 22 people murdered in Chicago.

Like people come to me like 'damn, that's right, take Taylor,' like bro, I love all y'all. That's why I called her. 

So I was speaking at the Art Institute last year, and one kid came up to me he said, 'three of my friends died and I don't know if I'm going to be the next.' You have to think, like, you know when you're a senior and it's the last month and you just don't feel like doing anymore work. If you feel like you're seeing people dying right next to you, you might feel like, what's the point?

Like life might be starting to feel worthless in a way. I know times for me, I sit down and talk to older rich people, you know, aka white. they tell me don't compare yourself to Steve Jobs, don't compare yourself to Walt Disney. My friend Zakaya told me, there's three keys to keeping people impoverished, that's taking away their esteem, taking away their resources, and taking away their role models. My role models are artists merchants, less than 10 that I can name in history: Truman, Ford, Hughes, Disney, Jobs, West. 

Broooooooooo, tonight we are here to have fun, I’m standing in front of my idol Puff Daddy, I’m standing in front of my wife Kim Kardashian West, I’m standing in front of the future, Chance the Rapper, Two Chainz, Jaden Smith, bro, we are undeniably the influence, the thought leaders. I’m going to play y’all a piece of my art. And I just hope you all have a good time. Play that.