Everyone freaked out momentarily at the 2015 Grammy awards when Kanye almost crashed Beck's acceptance speech for Album of the Year.
Though he ultimately thought better of it and appeared to be punking the crowd, Kanye really did have something to say about Beck's Morning Phase beating out Beyoncé's self-titled album.
Here he is during E!'s postshow broadcast arguing that Beck should have given his award to Beyoncé.
I don't even know what [Beck] said. I just know that, the Grammys, if they want real artists to keep coming back, they need to stop playing with us. We aren't going to play with them no more. 'Flawless.' Beyoncé's video. And Beck needs to respect artistry, he should have given his award to Beyoncé. At this point, we tired of it. What happens is, when you keep on diminishing art, and not respecting the craft, and smacking people in the face after they deliver monumental feats of music, you're disrespectful to inspiration. We, as musicians, have to inspire people who go to work every day, and they listen to that Beyoncé album, and they feel like it takes them to a different place. And then they do this promotional event, and they'll run the music over somebody's speech, the artist, because they want commercial advertising. We aren't playing with them anymore. And by the way, I got my wife, my daughter, and I got my clothing line, so I'm not going to do nothing that would put my daughter at risk, but I am here to fight for creativity. That's why I didn't say anything tonight, but you all knew what it meant when 'Ye stepped on that stage.
Update — 1:01 PM ET
Kanye elaborated about his feelings toward Beck Monday morning when caught at the airport by paparazzi. "Come on, man, I love Beck, but he ain't have the album of the year," he said, responding to a question about whether he was familiar with Beck's work. Kanye stood by his argument that the alternative music icon should have given his award to Beyoncé. "Beck knows that Beyoncé should've won," he said. "You know that."
Update — 2:27 PM ET
And now Beck has responded. Last night at the Universal Music Group after-party, he told Us Weekly that he has no hard feelings over Kanye's remarks. "I was just so excited he was coming up. He deserves to be on stage as much as anybody," Beck said. "How many great records has he put out in the last five years right?"
Beck said he understands why Kanye felt the award should have gone to Beyoncé. "I thought she was going to win," he said. "Come on, she's Beyonce!"
Beck said he doesn't take offense to Kanye's remarks about "artistry," and that he still has a lot of admiration for Kanye. "You can't please everybody, man," he said. "I still love him and think he's genius. I aspire to do what he does."