Is the Hip Hop Industry Dirtier Than the Dope Game?

Rap superstar KANYE WEST has defended Spanish fashion house Balenciaga for denying him a seat at its exclusive Parisian show. The Good Life star failed to gain access to the designer's catwalk event during Paris Fashion Week, which closed on Sunday (2Mar08), because designers didn't feel his hip-hop image was right for the show. But West - who created his own fashion label, Pastelle Clothing, in 2006 - has accepted the rejection gracefully, insisting he wasn't offended by the haute couturier's snub. In a bizarre twist, the music mogul even stated that he is so passionate about fashion, he places higher importance on it than his music - branding the design world his first love. He says, "My first love is for fashion and I appreciate just being in a position to afford to be able to spend a week in Paris visiting shows. "I totally love and respect any designer that won't let me come to their show. It's their show. They don't owe me anything. "I just love the clothes! Lex (his fiancee Alexis Phifer) and I are not there to take pictures. I don't have an album about to drop. My tour is sold out. I love fashion and this is one of the funniest things we can make time for. "Balenciaga is one of the illest lines right now and I don't feel any type of way about not getting in! There's always a catch 22 in being a celeb - your motives are always questioned - but only time will show my true love."