--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, if Michael Jordan can scream at…" description: "\"You know, if Michael Jordan can scream at the refs, me as Kanye West, as the Michael Jordan of music, can go and say, 'This is wrong.'\" — Kanye West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/kanye-west-242_egomaniacs_you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at_1265366.jpg" --- # You know, if Michael Jordan can scream at the refs, me as… ![“You know, if Michael Jordan can scream at the refs, me as Kanye West, as the Michael Jordan of music, can go and say, 'This is wrong.'” quote by Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/kanye-west-242_egomaniacs_you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at_1265366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/kanye-west-242_egomaniacs_you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at_1265366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/kanye-west-242_egomaniacs_you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at_1265366.jpg) > “You know, if Michael Jordan can scream at the refs, me as Kanye West, as the Michael Jordan of music, can go and say, 'This is wrong.'” [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker compares his own confidence to Michael Jordan’s, asserting he can challenge authority in music as Jordan does in sports. **In simple terms:** He feels empowered to speak up against perceived wrongs. Key Takeaway Use your platform to voice dissent. Themes confidence authority music industry celebrity activism Mood defiant assertive controversial Type motivational provocative When to use this quote - music production - public speaking - social media activism Key Concepts self‑assertion public discourse celebrity culture Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance confidence with humility? - When is it appropriate to challenge authority? A Different Perspective Critics may view such confidence as arrogance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Egomaniacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egomaniacs/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) ## Related quotes > [It's only led me to complete awesomeness at all times. It's only led me to awesome truth and awesomeness. Beauty, truth, awesomeness. That's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/it-s-only-led-me-to-complete-awesomeness-at-all-times-it-s-only-led/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [If you don't make Christmas presents, meaning making something that's so emotionally connected to people, don't talk to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/if-you-don-t-make-christmas-presents-meaning-making-something-that-s/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I am so credible and so influential and so relevant that I will change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-am-so-credible-and-so-influential-and-so-relevant-that-i-will/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Maybe 90 percent of the time it looks like I'm not having a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/maybe-90-percent-of-the-time-it-looks-like-i-m-not-having-a-good-time/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [ I love the fact that I'm bad at \[things\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-love-the-fact-that-i-m-bad-at-things/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [The longer your gevity is, the more confidence you build.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/the-longer-your-gevity-is-the-more-confidence-you-build/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I would rather sit in a factory than sit in a Maybach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-would-rather-sit-in-a-factory-than-sit-in-a-maybach/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I honestly feel that because Steve has passed, you know, it's like when Biggie passed and Jay-Z was allowed to become Jay-Z.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-honestly-feel-that-because-steve-has-passed-you-know-it-s-like-when/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [The idea of Kanye and vanity are like, synonymous. But I've put myself in a lot of places where a vain person wouldn't put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/the-idea-of-kanye-and-vanity-are-like-synonymous-but-i-ve-put-myself/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I think that’s a responsibility that I have, to push possibilities, to show people, this is the level that things could be at. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-think-that-s-a-responsibility-that-i-have-to-push-possibilities-to/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I don't know if this is statistically right, but I'm assuming I have the most Grammys of anyone my age, but I haven't won…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-don-t-know-if-this-is-statistically-right-but-i-m-assuming-i-have/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I understand culture. I am the nucleus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-understand-culture-i-am-the-nucleus/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [ I knew when I wrote the line "light-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson" \[from the song "Slow Jamz"\] I was going to be a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-knew-when-i-wrote-the-line-light-skinned-friend-look-like-michael/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I think what Kanye West is going to mean is something similar to what Steve Jobs means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-think-what-kanye-west-is-going-to-mean-is-something-similar-to-what/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I think that’s a responsibility that I have, to push possibilities, to show people: “This is the level that things could be at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-think-that-s-a-responsibility-that-i-have-to-push-possibilities-to-2/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) ## More by Kanye West > [I feel that I'm very blessed. But with great blessings come great responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-feel-that-i-m-very-blessed-but-with-great-blessings-come-great/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Get away from me misery, get away from me loneliness, get away from me fake bitches I can't take the phoniness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/get-away-from-me-misery-get-away-from-me-loneliness-get-away-from-me/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [The creatives, they want to connect with people. These artists, the clothing designers, they want to connect with people the same way that music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/the-creatives-they-want-to-connect-with-people-these-artists-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [People know I'm smart. And people know that, whether it's SNL or Jimmy Kimmel, it's a trend to take the piss out of celebrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/people-know-i-m-smart-and-people-know-that-whether-it-s-snl-or-jimmy/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Rome wasn't built in a day, and the internet is our new Rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/rome-wasn-t-built-in-a-day-and-the-internet-is-our-new-rome/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [My child-like creativity, purity and honesty is honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/my-child-like-creativity-purity-and-honesty-is-honestly-being-crowded/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [If you’re taught you can't do anything you won't do anything, I was taught I could do everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/if-you-re-taught-you-can-t-do-anything-you-won-t-do-anything-i-was/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Cause I want to be on 106 and Park pushing a benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/cause-i-want-to-be-on-106-and-park-pushing-a-benz/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [The media crucify me like they did Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/the-media-crucify-me-like-they-did-christ/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [ Kris \[Jenner\] and the family, they have the power of communication. This is the number one communications company. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/kris-jenner-and-the-family-they-have-the-power-of-communication-this/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [My wife has dated broke black dudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/my-wife-has-dated-broke-black-dudes/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [If it wasn't for race mixing, there'd be no video girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/if-it-wasn-t-for-race-mixing-there-d-be-no-video-girls/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [And my bitch in that new Phoebe Philo so much head, I woke up to Sleepy Hollow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/and-my-bitch-in-that-new-phoebe-philo-so-much-head-i-woke-up-to/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [It's funny because I've made a living off of words, but words get in the way of what you really want to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/it-s-funny-because-i-ve-made-a-living-off-of-words-but-words-get-in/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) [Explore all 839 Kanye West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) ## More Egomaniacs quotes > [ Michael \[Jackson\] had paintings of himself at Neverland depicting himself as a knight and surrounded by cherubs and angels. People might think he's an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/michael-jackson-had-paintings-of-himself-at-neverland-depicting/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [“Caring and a sense of purpose evoke better performance than pressure and fear. The idea that only obsessive egomaniacs can produce breakthroughs is nonsense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-haaff/caring-and-a-sense-of-purpose-evoke-better-performance-than-pressure/) [Brian de Haaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-haaff/) > [It's much better when I go out with my mates and we stop talking about me like I'm some sort of egomaniac. It's great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dido-armstrong/it-s-much-better-when-i-go-out-with-my-mates-and-we-stop-talking/) [Dido Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dido-armstrong/) > [It's only led me to complete awesomeness at all times. It's only led me to awesome truth and awesomeness. Beauty, truth, awesomeness. That's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/it-s-only-led-me-to-complete-awesomeness-at-all-times-it-s-only-led/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Ego problems are endemic in every walk of life, but in the movie business egomaniacs are megalomaniacs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/ego-problems-are-endemic-in-every-walk-of-life-but-in-the-movie/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [I think each human being wants to make their mark on the world in whatever way they can, and maybe everyone has a slight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/i-think-each-human-being-wants-to-make-their-mark-on-the-world-in/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [Esther Rantzen, like me, is an egomaniac of the highest order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-street-porter/esther-rantzen-like-me-is-an-egomaniac-of-the-highest-order/) [Janet Street-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-street-porter/) > [If I talk about what I'm good at, I seem like I'm a conceited egomaniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/if-i-talk-about-what-i-m-good-at-i-seem-like-i-m-a-conceited-egomaniac/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Steve Jobs had his critics. Some saw him as an egomaniac, and others, as a control freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-o-leary/steve-jobs-had-his-critics-some-saw-him-as-an-egomaniac-and-others-as/) [Kevin O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-o-leary/) > [We are a breed apart from the rest of humanity, we theatre folk.We are the original displaced personalities, concentrated gatherings of neurotics, egomaniacs, emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-j-mankiewicz/we-are-a-breed-apart-from-the-rest-of-humanity-we-theatre-folk-we-are/) [Herman J. Mankiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-j-mankiewicz/) > [There will never be a reunion, as I will never do anything with an asshole like Will Smith. He is still an egomaniac and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-hubert/there-will-never-be-a-reunion-as-i-will-never-do-anything-with-an/) [Janet Hubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-hubert/) > [I'm an egomaniac with an inferiority complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-m-an-egomaniac-with-an-inferiority-complex/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Unbalanced pride is often a false friend, and is ruinous for egomaniacs who can't see beyond their choices of expressing art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-dansky/unbalanced-pride-is-often-a-false-friend-and-is-ruinous-for/) [Martin Dansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-dansky/) > [I honestly feel that because Steve has passed, you know, it's like when Biggie passed and Jay-Z was allowed to become Jay-Z.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-honestly-feel-that-because-steve-has-passed-you-know-it-s-like-when/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [When you are playing an egomaniac running a fantastical ship, you don't want him to be too suburban. Naturalism doesn't work on the high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/when-you-are-playing-an-egomaniac-running-a-fantastical-ship-you-don/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) [Browse all 50 Egomaniacs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egomaniacs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, if Michael Jordan can scream at the refs, me as Kanye West, as the Michael Jordan of music, can go and say, 'This is wrong.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kanye West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at-the-refs-me-as-kanye-west-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Egomaniacs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at-the-refs-me-as-kanye-west-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/kanye-west-242_egomaniacs_you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at_1265366.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/kanye-west-242_egomaniacs_you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at_1265366.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/kanye-west-242_egomaniacs_you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at_1265366.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You know, if Michael Jordan can scream at the refs, me as Kanye West, as the Michael Jordan of music, can go…” — Kanye West", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kanye West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You know, if Michael Jordan can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at-the-refs-me-as-kanye-west-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/you-know-if-michael-jordan-can-scream-at-the-refs-me-as-kanye-west-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```