'I was shaking in the bed': Kanye West says he battled Covid-19 in February

The rapper claims he was seriously ill with the coronavirus earlier this year in a new interview

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2019, file photo, Kanye West attends the WSJ. Magazine 2019 Innovator Awards at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The rap superstar will design adult and kids' clothing that will be sold at Gap in 2021. Yeezy is best known for pricey sneakers that sell out online quickly. But Yeezy footwear, made with sneaker company Adidas, won't be sold at Gap. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)Show less

He made headlines this week after revealing his plan to run for the US presidency, but Kanye West isn’t done with the revelations just yet.

The American rapper, 43, now claims he battled the illness earlier this year.

The Stronger star says he contracted Covid-19 in February, in an interview published with Forbes magazine on Wednesday, July 8.

“Chills, shaking in the bed, taking hot showers, looking at videos telling me what I’m supposed to do to get over it,” he told the publication, describing his symptoms.

“I remember someone had told me Drake had the coronavirus and my response was Drake can’t be sicker than me!”

West also revealed his anti-vaxxer views, adding: “When they say the way we’re going to fix Covid is with a vaccine, I’m extremely cautious.”

The musician and entrepreneur, who founded the Yeezy fashion brand, announced on July 4 that he would challenge Donald Trump – of whom he has been a vocal supporter – in the coming US election.

At the time, West offered no further details on his supposed campaign, four months before the November election, and it is unclear if he has registered to run for office.

However, he told Forbes that he had 30 days to make the filing deadline, and that he planned to run as an independent candidate under the banner of the all-new “Birthday Party”.

“I’m speaking with experts, I’m going to speak with Jared Kushner, the White House, with Biden,” he said, denying his announcement was a publicity stunt made to promote his upcoming album.

“I’m not saying Trump’s in my way, he may be a part of my way. And Joe Biden? Like come on man, please. You know? Obama’s special. Trump’s special. We say Kanye West is special. America needs special people that lead. Bill Clinton? Special. Joe Biden’s not special.”

West also cited Marvel hit Black Panther, which is set in the fictional secret country of Wakanda, as a model for his presidential vision.

“I’m gonna use the framework of Wakanda right now because it’s the best explanation of what our design group is going to feel like in the White House,” he said.

Kanye West citied ‘Black Panther’ as inspiration for his organisational model. Marvel

“Like in the movie in Wakanda when the king went to visit that lead scientist to have the shoes wrap around her shoes. Just the amount of innovation that can happen, the amount of innovation in medicine – like big pharma – we are going to work, innovate, together.”

This is not the first time West has mentioned his plans to run for president. In January 2019 he simply tweeted “2024”, which many took as a sign of his intention to run. He also discussed his plans during a visit to Trump at the White House, when the president said West “could very well be” a future presidential candidate.

West also spoke of his 2024 vision during an appearance at Fast Company's Innovation Festival in November 2019.

“When I run for president in 2024,” West said, interrupted by an outbreak of laughter. “What y’all laughing at? We would create so many jobs! I’m not going to run, I’m going to walk.”