The rapper was spotted in a jacket emblazoned with the flag on Saturday

He caused controversy with his song “New Slaves” about modern-day racism and now Kanye West is prompting talk again – the rapper was seen wearing a jacket emblazoned with the Confederate flag on Saturday.

The star, who got engaged to Kim Kardashian at the end of October, has been criticized for featuring the flag on merchandise for his Yeezus tour.

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The gear includes T-shirts featuring the flag along with a skull and the words “I ain’t comin’ down.”

But in an interview with Los Angeles radio station 97.1 AMP on Monday, West, 36, explained the reasoning behind using the flag – which was adopted by the Southern states during the American Civil War but has come to represent a symbol of racism and hate to many.

“React how you want,” he said. “Any energy is good energy. You know the Confederate flag represented slavery in a way – that’s my abstract take on what I know about it. So I made the song ‘New Slaves.’ So I took the Confederate flag and made it my flag. It’s my flag. Now what are you going to do?”