Kanye West has been in the news a lot in 2018. There were plenty of legitimate reasons, given his extensive musical output this year. As well as releasing his eighth album, 'Ye', he also made a collaborative album with Kid Cudi, 'Kids See Ghosts', and worked on Nas and Teyana Taylor's albums.

Overshadowing that, however, were some very unexpected and controversial comments West has made, such as the statement that "slavery was a choice" and his vehement support for Donald Trump. In general, he seems to have become even more outspoken than usual, and any criticism just makes him want to defend his right to say whatever he wants - and that means addressing a few stories floating around.

Earlier this week, West took to Instagram to rant about three people: Drake, Tyson Beckford, and Nick Cannon. The thing that tied this four-part Instagram video together was his wife, Kim Kardashian, who he believes was disrespected.

He addressed his role in producing Pusha T's song Infrared, in which the rapper fired some seriously brutal shots at Drake, before focusing on the rumour spreading that Drake had slept with Kim at some point in the past. The rumours were partially based in the fact that Drake's song 'In My Feelings' referred to a woman named 'KiKi', which many took as a reference to the reality star (it's her nickname).

"People making rumours or thinking you [Drake] f*** my wife and you’re not saying nothing…that don’t sit well with my spirit," Kanye says in the video. He brought rapper Nick Cannon into the mix due to a recent interview with Complex, in which he said he didn't think it wasn't "far off of a concept" that Drake and Kim hooked up at some point. West said:

"First of all I want to address Nick Cannon. I understand that you used to date my wife, but you know, you get into an interview, don’t mention my wife.

"If someone brings my wife up, say, ‘I respect that man, I’m not speaking on that.’ Don’t be making no suggestions — like nobody f*cked my wife."

Cannon, who dated Kim K briefly from September 2006 to January 2007, has now responded to Kanye's comments, and he's both emphasizing that he meant no disrespect, without backing down from what he said:

"Nothing but love and respect for you, you know I've always had that. But honestly I've got to say this, my dude, I've never said anything disrespectful or harmful to your marriage or your union. I salute it, keep it going. But you're NOT gonna tell me what I can or can't say."

"I'm a solid individual so when somebody asks me a question - I will answer it to the best of my ability, I'll give my opinion. Ain't no harm no foul. If it got your spirit feeling weird, holla at me..

"A man's spirit is free, but pride binds it sometimes. If you've got to let it loose then let it loose.

He then invited West to talk on his show Wild 'N Out,  and said that "no one is going to ever control what I say, because I speak truth always". For all we know, Kanye might just turn up for an episode.

Kanye West has been in the news a lot in 2018. There were plenty of legitimate reasons, given his extensive musical output this year. As well as releasing his eighth album, 'Ye', he also made a collaborative album with Kid Cudi, 'Kids See Ghosts', and worked on Nas and Teyana Taylor's albums.

Overshadowing that, however, were some very unexpected and controversial comments West has made, such as the statement that "slavery was a choice" and his vehement support for Donald Trump. In general, he seems to have become even more outspoken than usual, and any criticism just makes him want to defend his right to say whatever he wants - and that means addressing a few stories floating around.

Earlier this week, West took to Instagram to rant about three people: Drake, Tyson Beckford, and Nick Cannon. The thing that tied this four-part Instagram video together was his wife, Kim Kardashian, who he believes was disrespected.

He addressed his role in producing Pusha T's song Infrared, in which the rapper fired some seriously brutal shots at Drake, before focusing on the rumour spreading that Drake had slept with Kim at some point in the past. The rumours were partially based in the fact that Drake's song 'In My Feelings' referred to a woman named 'KiKi', which many took as a reference to the reality star (it's her nickname).

"People making rumours or thinking you [Drake] f*** my wife and you’re not saying nothing…that don’t sit well with my spirit," Kanye says in the video. He brought rapper Nick Cannon into the mix due to a recent interview with Complex, in which he said he didn't think it wasn't "far off of a concept" that Drake and Kim hooked up at some point. West said:

"First of all I want to address Nick Cannon. I understand that you used to date my wife, but you know, you get into an interview, don’t mention my wife.

"If someone brings my wife up, say, ‘I respect that man, I’m not speaking on that.’ Don’t be making no suggestions — like nobody f*cked my wife."

Cannon, who dated Kim K briefly from September 2006 to January 2007, has now responded to Kanye's comments, and he's both emphasizing that he meant no disrespect, without backing down from what he said:

"Nothing but love and respect for you, you know I've always had that. But honestly I've got to say this, my dude, I've never said anything disrespectful or harmful to your marriage or your union. I salute it, keep it going. But you're NOT gonna tell me what I can or can't say."

"I'm a solid individual so when somebody asks me a question - I will answer it to the best of my ability, I'll give my opinion. Ain't no harm no foul. If it got your spirit feeling weird, holla at me..

"A man's spirit is free, but pride binds it sometimes. If you've got to let it loose then let it loose.

He then invited West to talk on his show Wild 'N Out,  and said that "no one is going to ever control what I say, because I speak truth always". For all we know, Kanye might just turn up for an episode.