Kanye West explains why G.O.O.D. Music artists aren't on his Yeezus tour

It has been a prolific year for G.O.O.D. Music with the release of Kanye West's Yeezus, Pusha T's My Name is My Name, and 2 Chainz's B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time. But as MTVNews points out, West chose not to bring any of his G.O.O.D. Music artists with him on his Yeezus tour.

West spoke with MTV's Sway Calloway on his SiriusXM morning show and answered (in a round about way) why his decision to open with other artists.

"Well, every artist that makes good music is on G.O.O.D. Music," Kanye explained. "Drake on G.O.O.D. Music, Wayne on G.O.O.D. Music, James Blake on G.O.O.D. Music, Frank Ocean on G.O.O.D. Music. You make good music, you're on G.O.O.D. Music, in my mind."

But none of those names are on the Yeezus bill. Instead Kendrick Lamar, who is arguably the biggest name in the rap game right now, is opening for West. According to him, not everything has to follow brand ideals.

"I'm not marginalized by the brand of the deal that I've taken from Universal in order to cut some of my homeboys some checks so that we can work on creative projects together," he told Calloway of his Def Jam-distributed label. "I'm not marginalized by the branding concept of G.O.O.D. Music versus Cash Money. All I do is text Baby like, 'Yo we need to do something together.' We're not each other's enemies."

Instead of having his artists identify soley with this one brand, he encourages them to do their own thing and use their brand connection for inspiration and creative help.

"Everybody gotta get their own - maybe it's just a piano that I bring in for John Legend and executive produce that. Maybe it's an art package that I do for Pusha or beg him to take a certain song off that I think sounds too commercial."

So to translate his sometimes-meandering answer: All is good with G.O.O.D. but that doesn't mean they have to do everything together. It is about art and what makes sense at the time.

Watch the whole interview here, and let us know what you think in the comments section below!

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Kanye West