Kanye West Tells 'TIME' Why He Doesn't Care About His Legacy

You probably didn’t need TIME magazine to tell you that Kanye West is one of the most influential people of our generation, but it’s the kind of recognition and weight these accolades hold that make West tick. Or is it? In a new interview with Elon Musk – a revolutionary in his own right – everyone’s favorite polymath debunks the misconception that he’s obsessed with the glory. The above interview posits West in a different light, as he embodies his identity as a pop star in a new way; no longer is scale the concern for the artist, but the immediate, correct use of influence during his creative zenith. You can check out the video interview above while Elon Musk’s thoughts on West appear below. The entirety of the “TIME 100” for 2015 can be seen over at TIME.com.

Kanye West would be the first person to tell you he belongs on this list. The dude doesn’t believe in false modesty, and he shouldn’t. Kanye’s belief in himself and his incredible tenacity—he performed his first single with his jaw wired shut—got him to where he is today. And he fought for his place in the cultural pantheon with a purpose. In his debut album, over a decade ago, Kanye issued what amounted to a social critique and a call to arms (with a beat): “We rappers is role models: we rap, we don’t think.” But Kanye does think. Constantly. About everything. And he wants everybody else to do the same: to engage, question, push boundaries. Now that he’s a pop-culture juggernaut, he has the platform to achieve just that. He’s not afraid of being judged or ridiculed in the process. Kanye’s been playing the long game all along, and we’re only just beginning to see why.