Kanye West 'attacked' photographer because his grandfather was dying

(UPI) -- Kanye West had a heart-to heart with paparazzo while filling up his Lamborghini at a Calabasas, Calif. gas station on Friday.

The "I Am a God" singer took some time to speak with photographers after he overheard one of them making a joke about celebrities needing to be respected.

"It's not about being a superstar," West told the mouthy paparazzo, "It's about being a human being."

The new dad went on to explain that he's been particularly weary of photographers lately because his family is growing and he doesn't want photographers yelling at his daughter.

"I know you guys are gonna photograph me, I know it makes for a cool photo. I got a cool ass car and [expletive] I got a bad ass outfit on, but it's like just we in this together you guys help me influence, you help with the family, you help Kim's power," he said.

West added that the photographer he allegedly attacked at LAX last month "set him up" on a day he had received pretty bad news.

"Like, that guy set me up at the airport the other day... he came and that's the day I found that my grandfather was not gonna make it. He passed two weeks later," he explained. "I tried to stop his camera and he fell down faked it.... I obviously didn't hit the guy."

In the end, West told the photographers it's in everybody's best interest to just get along.

"I'm not trying to biotch you... I would prefer that we had a decent relationship," he said.

The photographers, who seem sympathetic to every word that came out of West's mouth, later told the rapper it was never their intention to antagonize him. He then got into his Lamborghini and drove away.