Kanye West 'wants snapper scuffle erased from record'

Rapper Kanye West has reportedly asked a judge to wipe a 2013 photographer bust-up from his criminal record.

The Stronger star pleaded no contest to misdemeanour battery in March 2014 for allegedly punching paparazzo Daniel Ramos and wrestling his camera to the ground at Los Angeles International Airport in 2013.

Kanye was placed on probation for two years, ordered to serve 250 hours of community service, attend anger management classes and stay away from Ramos.

He has now filed legal papers asking a judge for his record to be expunged. He is eligible for the removal as he completed his community service at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) and had no run-ins with the law during his probation, according to TMZ.com.

Ramos also sued the rapper for assault, battery, negligence and interference with his civil rights, and the pair settled the case in April 2015. The rapper issued a public apology and the pair were pictured shaking hands. It is not known if any payment was involved.

Kanye's relationship with photographers has changed in recent months. He broke up a fight between two snappers at the same airport in February (16) and this month (Mar16) he hitched a ride with a paparazzo after his Uber taxi did not show up at the terminal.

Video footage shows the photographer offering him a lift, and Kanye replies, "Yeah I'll get a ride with you then, I don't need an Uber anymore I just get the paps to take me wherever I want to go... Ya'll like that term the paps?"

He was taken to a gym in Santa Monica, California and when he met celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak he said, "Got the paps dropping me off."

The photographers asked Kanye if he had a message to his fans and he responded, "I love you, let's make the world a better place."