At this point, Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West have known each other for a long time. 

They've worked together as well, with Ye producing tracks for Lupe, like "Cool" on his debut album Food & Liquor. The two Chicago rappers were also in a group with Pharrell Williams called Child Rebel Soldier.

During a chat with The Coda Collection, the "Kick, Push" rhymer explained why he has so much admiration for Kanye, which has to do with Ye's resilience.

"I been knowing Ye for a long-ass time," said Lupe, who recently launched a podcast with Royce Da 5'9." "I remember first meeting Ye when he first did 'The Truth' for Beans ... I was working with Ye for years. I got Ye joints. I remember Ye used to come to the crib, like, 'What do you think about this verse?' He'd spit verses and sh*t."

"I remember we brought Ye into Arista to showcase for L.A. Reid, before Roc-a-Fella," he added. "Stack Bundles was sitting there. It was me, Stack, Kanye, and L.A. Reid in the office ...  When Kanye stopped [rapping], L.A. was like 'You should stick to making beats' ...  That's why I always honor Ye no matter how f*ckin' crazy he goes. I've seen that man struggle. Him just working through it."