Kanye West Slams Britney Spears' Intelligence In Court Deposition: ‘I'm The Smartest Celebrity’

There's already ample evidence that Kanye West thinks pretty highly of himself. But in a court deposition recently obtained by TMZ, Kim Kardashian’s rapper sweetheart takes his claims of creative dominance to another level. West made the colorful comments during a deposition for an assault case he faced last year for allegedly snatching the camera of photographer Daniel Ramos in Los Angeles and then punching him. Speaking with Ramos’ lawyer Nate Goldberg during the deposition, West touts his greatness as a creative force – a topic the rapper seems obliged to cover anytime he speaks.

In the transcript, West makes it a point to distinguish his brilliance from his fellow music superstars. "I'm the smartest celebrity you've ever f---ing dealt with. I'm not Britney Spears," says West.

He then goes on to share his goals in life and knock the mediocre mission of Goldberg. "I'm in the business of trying to make dope s--- for the world. You're in the business of representing scums and trying to make as much money as long as there's this lapse in the law," the rapper says.

And when Goldberg takes it upon himself to use the n-word while quoting West’s hit song “Flashing Lights,” the rapper quickly expresses his disapproval: "You have to ask for a hall pass. You can't just say the 'n' word around me. It offends me because you're a white person saying 'ni--a,'" West fumes.

He then goes on to compare his struggle with the paparazzi with blacks' battle for civil rights in the 1960s, a comparison for which West has received a great deal of backlash in the past few days. "I mean, in the '60s people used to hold up 'Die, N****r' signs when my parents were in the sit-ins also." Goldberg then asks if West thinks blacks' fight for equality is like celebrities' fight with the paparazzi. "Yes, 100 ... I equate it to discrimination. I equate it to inequalities," West replies.

He adds, "We, as group of minorities here in L.A., as celebrities, have to band together to influence guys like this -- guys trying to take the picture, guys trying to get the big win, guys trying to get the check."

West ended up taking a plea deal in the case, agreeing to take anger management classes and two years of probation, reports MTV. He plead no contest to the charges of misdemeanor battery and was also ordered to complete 250 hours of community service.