N.O.R.E. has opened up about the fallout surrounding his explosive 2022 Drink Champs interview with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. The episode, which drew widespread scrutiny for West’s controversial comments regarding George Floyd and the Jewish community, was eventually removed from REVOLT’s platform. In a recent appearance on The Jason Lee Show, the veteran rapper and host reflected on the decision-making process behind the scenes and his regrets regarding the editorial choices made at the time.
Reflecting on Editorial Regrets
During the conversation, N.O.R.E. admitted that he should have exercised more editorial control over the final cut. “I feel like I should’ve took out a lot more with the Ye interview. I felt like Ye and me were friends,” he explained. “I wish I edited it more.”
He specifically pointed to a segment where West drew a controversial analogy between the late Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and George Floyd. N.O.R.E. noted that the issue was not just the content of the statement, but the delivery. “If I left that part out of the interview, it would’ve been horrible for Black people,” he added, acknowledging the weight of the platform he manages.
The Role of Diddy and Creative Integrity
Jason Lee, the show’s host, revealed that he was among the first people N.O.R.E. contacted for advice following the backlash. The situation was complicated by a phone call from Diddy, who served as the chairman of REVOLT at the time. According to N.O.R.E., Diddy urged him to keep the interview as it was, emphasizing the importance of creative freedom.
“Puff called me and was like, ‘Hey, I think we should edit this one.’ I’m saying, ‘We’ll take your part out.’ He’s like, ‘Not my part, my part can stay. You sure you want these other parts to stay?’ … [Diddy] said, ‘I do not suggest that.'”
N.O.R.E. explained that the team felt a responsibility to maintain the integrity of their content, likening their approach to that of Howard Stern. “It wasn’t about Kanye’s delivery or his statements, it was we felt like we were the Howard Sterns. If you edit us, then you’re messing up our creative content,” he said. “In retrospect, I was like, ‘Damn, the George Floyd thing was wrong.’ I should’ve listened to my own material. Had I listened to it, I would’ve been saying, ‘I could take this part out.'”
The Aftermath and Moving Forward
Following the interview’s release, the backlash was swift. REVOLT removed the episode, and N.O.R.E. issued a formal apology. The controversy marked a turning point in West’s public life, leading to the loss of major partnerships with brands like Adidas, Balenciaga, and Gap. In the years since, West has faced continued professional and personal challenges, including concert cancellations and public scrutiny over his rhetoric.
As N.O.R.E. looks back, his comments highlight the complex balance between maintaining creative autonomy and the ethical responsibilities that come with hosting a high-profile media platform.
