Kanye West Complex Cover & Photo Shoot + Behind the Air Yeezys

Never a man to rest on his laurels or approach anything in a manner even remotely resembling half-assed, Kanye decided to bring in music video director and photographer Chris Milk for a truly groundbreaking photoshoot for Complex’s April/May issue.
In the cover story, Complex EIC Noah Callahan-Bever picks Kanye’s brain about public perception, insecurity (or his lack thereof) and why Taz’s tights don’t define him as a man.

What does the brand Kanye West mean?
Kanye West: Pop but Luxury. Edgy but Comfortable. I’m about clashing worlds that you think don’t belong together. This is our world and everything belongs together. That’s the ill thing about our president. Our president is black, but our president is white, too. And the original struggle of America is racism, and to have someone in office that represents both of those sides is what I think this world is about. Segregation and snobbery and elitism should be the wack words. That should be what people use to dis people.

Read the full cover story here. After the jump, check out an extensive video rundown of the shoot and the technology used to create the images.

Kanye West: I grabbed all these Jordans from their archives, and I’m sitting in the office next to Tinker [Hatfield, Jordan designer] and Mark, just pulling out shit and putting it in front of him like, “I like this element.” We just vibed it out.