Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon Recalls ‘Friendly Argument’ With Kanye West About The Real Meaning of ‘Humble’
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Leave it to Kanye West to teach you a lesson about the real meaning of being humble.
Speaking with the New York Times for a lengthy profile, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver recalled an instance when the hip-hop artist and him were going back and forth about the meaning of that word.
More from Billboard
Cancelan concierto de Luis Miguel en México alegando incumplimiento de empresa promotora
Bill Mayne, Longtime Nashville Executive and Former CRS/CRB Executive Director, Dies at 72
Ozuna Secures Seventh Straight Top 10 on Top Latin Albums as 'Cosmo' Debuts
Bon Iver Releases 2 New Songs, Debuts New Album Live at Eaux Claires Festival
“I got in a friendly argument with Kanye West about the word humble once,” Vernon said. “He said, ‘Have you ever looked up the word humble?’ I was like, ‘Actually I don’t know if I have.’ And he showed me the definition of it, and it’s far more self-demeaning, kind of the problematic Midwestern ‘Sorry!’ mentality, than I realized.”
He continued, “I took a lot out of that conversation. Ultimately, I think it’s great to serve others and everything, but I think there’s a certain point where it’s diminishing returns for the people around you if you’re not showing up and being who you are.”
Is This New Bon Iver Music? Check Out the Weird Video Justin Vernon Just Shared
The article goes on to explore and unwind some of the many musical puzzles and lyrical riddles that fill Bon Iver’s new album 22, a Million, which is out next week, all of it finding a way back to the core lesson Vernon seemed to find in West’s dictionary wisdom — showing up and being who he is.
Read the full interview here.
Best of Billboard
