Kanye West defends relationship with Kim Kardashian

Kanye West has defended his relationship with reality TV star Kim Kardashian on her mother's TV talk show, insisting the socialite adds joy to his life.

The rapper sat down with Kris Jenner for his first TV interview since becoming a father in June (13) earlier this week (19Aug13) and told his baby daughter's grandmother that he's tired of critics taking aim at his romance with her daughter.

During the hour-long interview, which will air on Jenner's show Kris on Friday (23Aug13), press-shy West insisted he shouldn't have to qualify his relationship, stating, "I could have people saying, 'This is going to damage your credibility as an artist or as a designer, and I say, 'I don't care. I love this woman,' or someone could say, 'Everyone knows you don't like paparazzi; why would you be with this person?' And I say, 'I'm being with this person because I love this person and she's worth it to me.'"

And the rapper told Jenner that his late grandfather, whose funeral he attended with his girlfriend and their baby daughter at the weekend (17Aug13), taught him a very important lesson when it comes to romance.

West said, "His whole thing was never about money, it was never about popularity. His whole thing was joy. Just joy, like having joy in his life. She's (Kardashian) my joy and she brought my new joy into the world."

The rapper also discussed the passing of his mother, Donda, and how his new role as dad has helped to fill the hole she left.

He added, "After I lost my mother, there were times I felt I would put my life at risk. I felt like sometimes I didn't have something to live for. Now I have two really special people to live for, a whole family to live for, a whole world to live for."