Kanye West: I'm The 'Voice Of This Generation'

LONDON — Kanye West is to music what Michael Jordan was to basketball _ at least that's what West thinks, in his humble estimation.

"I realize that my place and position in history is that I will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade, I will be the loudest voice," he said in an interview on Wednesday. "It's me settling into that position of just really accepting that it's one thing to say you want to do it and it's another thing to really end up being like Michael Jordan."

The Grammy-winning rapper-producer said Justin Timberlake had a chance to be music's MVP, but hasn't put out enough material. (Timberlake's last album was in 2006, while West released a CD last year and is releasing his latest _ "808s and Heartbreak" _ on Nov. 24.)

"There were people who had the potential to do it but they went on vacation, so when Justin went on vacation I made albums," he said. "And it just came out to be that."

West, 31, said life has been difficult since his mother's death. Donda West died last November after having plastic surgery.

"I'm just going through balancing that. And I always used to have that support system, you know. My mom would be there; no matter what, she was there before everything," he said. "We were together for like 30 years. And you know now when I'm on that stage and I look out and I say, 'What am I going to do with the rest of my life?' Like when does a real life start?' Because I have sacrificed real life to be a celebrity and to give this art to people, which is great. It is great that I was able to do that, I'm not trying to shun that in any way, but it's definitely a Catch-22 and it's bittersweet."

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On the Net:

http://www.kanyewest.com

Comments

[Sparty1]

His ego is ridiculous. I'm a 37 yr old black female and I grew up listening to rap, hip-hop, house, and alternative music. His music ain't all that. He won't be remembered by these short attention span having kids of today. His 1st cd was nice, the 2nd was cool, but the 3rd and 4th I don't think I've heard anything off of them on the radio. He's fading and he's just trying to keep his name out there.

Kanye needs to stick to producing.

[barackobama4prez]

people don't even know who he is NOW much less than 20-40 years from now. he's delusional.

[Clare53]

Wow! What a p r i c k.

[mockstar]

Yes, Kanyé West is the voice of a generation, just like Britney is the Queen Of Pop.

Kanyé's greatest hit was "George Bush Does Not Care About Black People," which was awesome. but it's been downhill from there.

Remember when he leveraged the death of his newly-deceased mother on the Grammys? Shameless.

[MicahT0078]

If he is the voice of my generation then I am the prophet Muhammad reincarnated as a burger loving Hindu. I have bought and listened to all of his albums and every single one of them is fair at best. Get rid of some of those yes men in your entourage Kanye! Try the truth sometimes. You are mediocre!

[cmarmonhalm]

His music is OK...he has some good songs but he hasn't revolutionized Hip Hop.

As for going down in history...­I think his relevance only exists in his own mind.

[Big0725]

He's thinks he's talented because he can remake a Daft Punk song? Dylan was a voice of his generation. Lennon and Sinatra too!

Mr. West, I've heard Sinatra, Lennon and Dylan, and you can't hold a candle to them.

[cmarmonhalm]

Whatever.

[AlexNYC]

Kanye makes even Mohammad Ali sounds humble.

[Dilz]

Yeah sure Kanye.

[Dilz]

Yeah sure Kayne...

[madal]

A legend in his own mind.

[mredder4]

I would say that this generation wouldn't have the narcissism to match their new spokesman, but then I remembered the prevalence of MySpace and Facebook and every other "Hey, look at me!" social network. Maybe Kanye West IS the voice of Generation Ego.

[1099]

Kayne West is a preening A-hole.

Case closed.

[Big0725]

That's a knock on a$$holes.