I just think "trying" to set trends is a lot different than being a trendsetter and is super attention whore like. I like Yeezy, but I cant deny he likes attention.
I get what your saying, and it comes off as trying too hard sometimes, other times it's kind of natural because of whatever he thinks is dope. I mean that's how fashion works right? Someone thinks their shit is dope, convinces themselves of it and then tries to force it to the open minded in the hopes it catches on. All depends on your perspective on the "be different" mentality and how far the person takes it.
IMO the people he wants attention from are not really fans or the media, or lots of people, which you traditionally think of when you think of an attention whore. He wants attention from elite fashion designers, artists, creators, other innovators and musicians (a bit less so since how close knit the game is already). I feel if Yeezy really wanted attention, he'd be making tons of vlogs, doing tons of rants just to keep in the daily TMZ news, doing promo runs, and generally watering down his brand. I think dude instead gets off to the fact that he has a legacy and core fanbase that means he will do decent numbers with close to zero promo and everyone will talk about him going about his regular life. He doesn't need to force something to gain attention because he has a satisfactory amount from being who he is, which is why he has Hawaii and most recently Paris as escapes. I don't even feel like any of those rants he does are for attention, he just does them because he really is that narcissistic dude that will say shit he probably shouldn't.