I'm going down as a legend, whether you like me or not. I am the new Jim Morrison. I am the new Kurt Cobain.

In this declaration, West frames his public persona as inevitably mythic—“a legend” regardless of approval—casting fame as something seized rather than granted. By naming Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain, he aligns himself with a lineage of charismatic, era-defining musicians whose reputations are intertwined with volatility, alienation, and early death. The comparison suggests not only artistic ambition but also a self-conscious embrace of the “tortured icon” narrative: the idea that cultural impact can be inseparable from controversy and personal unraveling. The quote also functions as provocation, challenging audiences and critics to recognize his significance even when they reject his behavior or aesthetics.