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This 2002 interview of Kanye West with MTV is an amazing reminder of how far the rapper has come (and how hardened he’s become post-fame).

Here, he’s practically a different person: thick Chicago accent, words all running into each other because that’s just how excited he is, a hunger to prove himself. One thing remains the same, though: He’s still just as passionate and nerdy about the music he loves as he was more than a decade ago.

He gets giddy recalling playing his beats for Jay Z for the first time.

This Video Of A Pre-Fame Kanye Will Warm Your Heart

And reenacts conversations and moments crucial to his beginnings.

This Video Of A Pre-Fame Kanye Will Warm Your Heart

He’s blown away by his own punchlines and zingers in his raps.

This Video Of A Pre-Fame Kanye Will Warm Your Heart

“Hold on, hold on, hold on, that line was too good! That line was too good!”

His passion and love when he talks about finally getting to fulfill his dreams often moves him to tears.

“I’ve got to always show love to Roc-A-Fella, D-Dot, Jermaine Dupri… it’s a lot of people that’s helped me in my life. But maybe now Roc-A-Fella is finally letting me get to the point that I’ve been wanting to get to my whole life, since third grade,” he says at the 25:29 mark, before wiping away a few tears.

And it’s particularly crazy to see him hoping that one day, he can be seen as more than just a producer.

This Video Of A Pre-Fame Kanye Will Warm Your Heart
“I feel like if I do what I’m supposed to do, people are gonna look back like, ‘Man, remember dude used to just make beats for people?’ I’m trying to get to the point where I can drop my last name off my name, you know what I’m saying? Seriously,” ‘Ye says. “I don’t want to jinx myself or nothing, but I’ma take this opportunity. Like, I got some songs, I got some stuff in my heart that the world need to hear.”

You did it, ‘Ye. <3

Throwback: Kanye West before the Fame [VIDEO]  was originally published on mycolumbuspower.com