Key Takeaways

Billy Corgan wonders whether his confrontational celebrity playbook influenced Ye , noting that he came first and used the same strategy of picking fights and doing “crazy shit.”

On Popcast , Corgan called their shared approach a “cognitive dissonance game” that forces audiences to decide whether an artist is a genius or an idiot.

The comparison comes after Ye apologized in January for the antisemitic comments that have fueled his recent controversies.

Smashing Pumpkins ’ Billy Corgan is pondering whether he inspired Kanye West to be controversial or not.

During a new appearance on Popcast, Corgan embarked on a conversation with Jon Caramanica about the similarities he shares with Ye.

After Caramanica told him (around the 45:40 mark), “I hear a lot of Kanye in you,” Corgan responded by reminding him he’s much older than the rapper. “Isn’t it the other way around?” he asked. “Didn’t I come first?”

The singer then explained a memory he had of being in close proximity to Ye.…