Photo of Kanye West performing, by Jerritt Clark/Getty

Just weeks after declaring his own 2020 candidacy for president, Kanye West has weighed in on the current presidential race, calling controversial neurosurgeon Ben Carson a "brilliant guy."

Speaking with Vanity Fair, West suggested he is drawn to Carson's soft-spoken demeanor: "When I run for president, I’d prefer not to run against someone. I would be like, 'I want to work with you.' As soon as I heard [Ben] Carson speak, I tried for three weeks to get on the phone with him. I was like, 'This is the most brilliant guy.'" He also pointed out that the "gladiator battle takes away from the main focus that the world needs help and the world needs all the people in a position of power or influence to come together."

It's worth noting that while the interview did take place after West's appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards last month, it was done prior to Carson's recent remarks stating his belief that a Muslim should not be president of the United States.

As for his upcoming album, which is still titled Swish, West said he's not sure about the timeframe for a release. "I’m not worried about the years," he said, hinting that it may not be as close as some expected. "I’m worried about the life and the body of work that I can put out while I’m breathing."