Kanye West: I'm the smartest celebrity you've ever dealt with

Los Angeles - Kanye West claimed he is "the smartest celebrity" lawyers have ever dealt with during his deposition last year.

The 37-year-old rapper, who was charged with criminal battery and attempted grand theft after he lashed out at a photographer in 2013, snapped at the paparazzo's lawyer Nate Goldberg during the lawsuit while making a dig at Britney Spears' low level of intelligence.

In the transcript, obtained by TMZ.com, Kanye said: "I'm the smartest celebrity you've ever fucking dealt with. I'm not Britney Spears.

"I'm in the business of trying to make dope shit for the world. You're in the business of representing scums and trying to make as much money as long as there's this lapse in the law."

Mr. Goldberg then questioned Kanye on his track Flashing Lights, quoting the lyrics: "Till I get flashed by the paparazzi, damn, these niggas got me."

Kanye hit back: "You have to ask for a hall pass. You can't just say the 'n' word around me. It offends me because you're a white person saying nigga."

The Bound 2 hitmaker also claimed celebrities feel like black people fighting for civil rights in the 1960s.

He said: "I mean in the 60s people used to hold up 'Die Nigger' signs when my parents were in the sit-ins also."

Kanye was sentenced to two years probation, 250 hours community service and anger management sessions after allegedly attacking Daniel Ramos and damaging his camera outside LAX airport in Los Angeles in July 2013.