The Beatles legend teamed up with West and pop star Rihanna for a new single, FourFiveSeconds, and he also provided the melody for West's track All Day.

The rapper caused a storm when he performed the song at the prestigious U.K. music awards ceremony in February (15), forcing TV bosses to heavily censor the show because of the repeated use of the 'N-word' in the lyrics.

However, MCCartney is adamant it is West's "prerogative" to use provocative language in his music.

He tells Q magazine, "I think he mentions the 'N' word about 40 times. It's controversial, I know, especially with the climate in modern-day America... Whether you like what Kanye does or you don't, he's an artist and it's his prerogative. His school of thought is that he's reclaimed the 'N' word, he's re-appropriated it."

The Yesterday hitmaker also revealed his wife Nancy Shevell was less charitable over the performance, adding, "It really shocked Nancy, because she'd been to school with a lot of black kids and been immersed in that experience."