Kanye West broke down in tears when talking about abortion as he launched his campaign for the 2020 US presidential election.
Speaking at a rally in Charleston, South Carolina, he said his father had wanted to abort him but his mother had "saved my life".
He also said he considered having one of his own children aborted, saying: "I almost killed my daughter."
"There would have been no Kanye West, because my dad was too busy."
He added: "I almost killed my daughter... even if my wife [Kim Kardashian West] were to divorce me after this speech, she brought North into the world, even when I didn't want to."
The speech has led to some concerns for West, who has spoken in the past about battling mental illness.
West, 43, is running as a candidate for his self-styled "Birthday Party".
At the event, the rapper seemed to make policy decisions off-the-cuff and made several rants, including on abortion and on abolitionist Harriet Tubman.
Fans have questioned whether his last-minute bid for the White House is actually a promotional stunt.
The Charleston rally did little to clarify whether his run is genuine. But a now-deleted tweet sent from West's account on Saturday, appearing to show the song list for a new album, added to the speculation.
The event, held at a wedding and conference hall in the city, was said to be open to registered guests only - but West's campaign website had no function for people to register or RSVP.
West appeared with "2020" shaved into the back of his head and wearing a protective security vest, and addressed the gathered crowd without a microphone.
There were no audience microphones either, leading West to repeatedly tell the crowd to be silent so he could hear the questions being asked.
-BBC
