Longtime Paul McCartney fans may have raised an eyebrow when word got out that he was collaborating with Kanye West, but as West argued in a recent Ryan Seacrest interview, he's really part of a long tradition of songwriting partners who've helped add a little grit to the former Beatle's gift for singalong melodies.

"We just went in and we vibed out," West told Seacrest. "As you can see, I might be a little bit more 'angst' than Paul. And remember the last time when Paul had somebody really 'angst' working with him, the type of music they made?"

West was referring, of course, to John Lennon -- although he quickly took pains to make it clear that he wasn't putting himself on the same level. "Hey, everyone, America, I'm not comparing myself to John Lennon," he insisted, adding that he only meant he added something similar in the context of McCartney's music. "The tension, the 'salt and pepper' -- I mean, maybe that's bad because it sounds like 'black and white' -- but the tension creates a new magic. The pressure creates the diamond from the coal. And he came in with the best vibes ever. And I said, 'Four, five seconds from wildin',' and he said, 'It's great, everyone.' And we just had that."

You Think You Know the Beatles?

See the Yearbook Photos of Paul McCartney and Other Rock Stars

More From Ultimate Classic Rock