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

[AfroLatina21]

KANYE, KANYE, KANYE....gosh I want to like him but he makes it sooo hard. He is way too arrogant. I like some of his music but everytime he makes a comment like this it turns me off.

This guy is too self involved. He actually said he reads blogs to hear the comment that people make about him lol.

[AnAverageAmerican]

Voice of a generation?...Aaaah, no you're not. Your music is good, but your behavior at times is childish and pathetic.

[STUPIDgit]

By your description, (childish and pathetic), maybe he is the voice of our generation?

[unfettered]

And as Madonna said " I am the most Important artist of the 20th century."
It's all a matter of who's head you're in.
And maybe what you are on that day.

[auret]

no talent clown...

[bdl0715]

I'm glad he has his ego under control!

[dmsdzinr]

Yeah and his VOICE, along with the REST of his egotistical self, just got ARRESTED in England!!!
REAL SMOOTH Kanye!

[SpoxLogic]

Not too much ego with this guy, is there? Ironically, you can't make it in showbiz unles you have an ego. However, Kanye has enough, it seems for several people. What a blowhard!

[blakfist]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW

[CSull2005]

LMFAO! Only in your overactive, egocentric imagination sweetie!

[DiligentPirate]

Wrong. Nothing else really needs to be said.

[bloity]

Part 2

Parents should love their children unconditionally, but most stop there and never teach their kids how to be good citizens of the world, so they are as narcissistic as the day they were born and never look outside of themselves. We all need grace, humility, critical thinking, the ability to truly listen and empathize, and love of others tin order to be good citizens in our families, our communities, and our world. I think we all have learned this lesson in a big way from Obama, and I, as a Canadian, have learned such virtues from him that I have daily looked at my life and how I am in this world in a new light, and he has shown me my errors, and shown me how to be a better person, which I'm so entirely grateful for. My life consists of many, many problems I have to carry and solve and much pain to walk through daily, but instead of a giant pity party, I continuously look outside of myself to use my gifts to try and ease someone else's burden that is greater than mine, to use my capacity for love to heal rather than hurt, to use my empathy and my great listening skills to gain knowledge and respect for others' journeys that I can ease and learn from. This is my truth, and this is what heals me daily.

[bloity]

Part 1

In my humble opinion and 48 years of observation as a smart, caring, humble woman, he is a product of a culture and a mama that will not teach men to be humble, smart, good listeners, and in possession of grace, but rather reinforces their testerone instincts to be warriors, to listen to their own noise and hype, to listen to their mamas undying love and respect as their only truth. And I think this is especially demonstrated now because the only voice he heard and listened to was his mother's, and now she's gone he only has the arrogant testerone laced voice in his head as he searches the world for a replacement for her.

[ideveloper]

There are only four Kanye quotes I remember:

1) "I ain't sayin she a gold digga"
2) "Bigger Better Faster Stronger"
3) "George Bush does not care about Black People"
4) "I'm the voice of this generation"

Is there anything else? Overall we've been a pretty quiet ggeneration it seems.

[CS1373]

Silence is Golden.

[michellefs622]

"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,"


I think Obama beat him to it.