Kanye West has opened up about his struggle with alcohol and how he used to drink vodka in the morning.
Now teetotal, the 42-year-old rapper referred to himself as a 'functioning alcoholic' in the past.
The dad-of-four explained that the Hollywood lifestyle and the lavish award ceremonies were partially to blame for his battle with the bottle.
"Well, it’s good that we found out about all of those awards shows that partially led me to alcoholism. Whistle been blown, you know?" Kanye told GQ.
"People have called me a crazy person, people have called me everything—but not a functioning alcoholic. And I would be drinking orange juice and Grey Goose in the morning."
The musician explained that he would depend on alcohol to get him through Hollywood's award ceremonies but could never admit he had a problem.
In 2009, the artist walked into the VMAs gripping a bottle of Hennessey in his hand.
"I really grabbed the drink to be able to even go to the awards show due to the information that everyone knows now. "
"To say, “Okay, I can handle this.”
His relationship with alcohol eventually took a turn as he attempted to take back control of his drinking habits.
"One day I was in my office working on the couture collection, and there was some Grey Goose in the fridge and I was just going to get a daytime drink, and I looked and thought, “Devil, you’re not going to beat me today.”
"That one statement is like a tattoo.
"I haven’t had a drink since I realized I needed to take it day by day, but I never owned up, or was even told, “Hey, you’re a functioning alcoholic.”
Earlier this year at a performance in Arizona, Kanye told the crowd at Awaken 2020 that his abstinence from alcohol kept him away from 'the devil'.
"Every day that I don't pick up that drink, I beat the devil," he said on stage.
Kanye's extensive interview with GQ - which was conducted in four parts - sheds light on everything from the artist's music, politics and his Christian faith.
Do you have a story to sell ? Get in touch with us at webcelebs @trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033
