John Legend is letting it be known that he “smells great” despite the artist formerly known as Kanye West previously floating the theory that he “smells like mashed potatoes.”
While it’s unclear why smelling like mashed potatoes, a delicious food, should necessarily be considered antithetical to a well-curated scent practice, the remark was indeed taken as a diss, of sorts, when first delivered by Ye during an interview with DJ Akademiks.
The interview in question debuted back in March and saw Ye speaking to Akademiks while wearing all-black, KKK-style attire not unlike the imagery used in his “Black Skinhead” video circa 2013.
“They say he smells like mashed potatoes,” Ye said at the time. “I don’t know where I got this from.”
Asked about this remark during an Ebro in the Morning appearance this week, Legend, whose 20th anniversary tour is set to resume in August, acknowledged both the potatoes comparison and Ye’s mention of the sweaters in his wardrobe.
“He was very obsessed with the sweaters, and he said I smell like mashed potatoes,” Legend said. “What kind of potatoes? Cheesy, garlic?. … All of it makes me sad, though. All of it does. And it’s not for me because obviously, I smell great.”
Elaborating further, Legend remembered a younger Ye as someone with “so much energy and creativity and optimism,” marking what he considers a stark contrast to the Ye of 2025.
“Being a part of that was inspiring,” Legend said of his earlier years alongside Ye. “It was truly inspiring. That’s why it’s sad now. We did amazing things together as a collective, as a movement. … To be part of that was amazing. I have no regrets. Even though he’s gone, like, completely left now, I’m so glad that we did what we did together.”
Legend will soon be heard on Clipse’s new album LET GOD SORT EM OUT, the duo’s first together in over 15 years. The album, out July 11, also features Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, The Creator.
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