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

[ccmd]

yeezy it holds more weight when it come from others, not from yourself

[htd2009]

I don't know, 'Ye...calm down. Talented, yes. Voice of your generation, not so sure...

[CogBrew]

I don't think West speaks for anyone other than his ego. I'm close to his age and I don't think that my generation is represented by an over paid, self serving, complaining brat. My generation is busting it's a$$ to get the bills paid and raise our children. We're working hard to make sure that this world is something that our children will charish, and respect. Not a world where you're only worth is how many mediocre albums you sell or whether or not you let someone take your picture walking in an airport. Kayne West is a really good reason not to believe in natural selection. Someone that stupid and self centered should have been eaten by something bigger long ago.

[zenwhenicanbe2]

sorry dude,...no

[grantlingel]

good rapper, check... voice of our generation, yeah right..... pretentious, pompous and cocky a**hole, absolutely.
http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[dmsdzinr]

Kanye West is the proverbial "Legend In His Own Mind"

[rektruax]

I've seen his name a lot, but I'm not really sure what this young man does. I swear I don't mean to sound snarky, but that's true. Perhaps my children know. I shall ask.

In the meantime, I might suggest to him that the "voice of his generation" title is more appropriately bestowed by an outside party. Who really recognizes Stern as "King of all Media", or Michael Jackson as "King of Pop"?

[remember1776]

I think there was definitely a time when Michael Jackson was legitimately recognized as the King of Pop (he still has a huge international following), but Stern, not so much. If anything, Barack Obama is the voice of this generation, or maybe Junot Diaz in literature, but certainly not an ego-inflated rapper who has to make a ruckus whenever he doesn't win an award.

[WestLittleRock]

I think Will.I.Am just might have beat him to the punch.

[javagirl322]

Kanye, I don't think so....not even close!

[Cloball]

Can't imagine a musician (notice he called himself a celebrity, not a musician) from the 60's-70's era saying this about themselves.

Maybe some music critic would say write it, like about Dylan, but to say it about oneself??

He's sad.

[CTDem]

Guy, do you remember the Beatles calling themselves bigger than God. Not everything in the 60's and 70's was better than now, that's just how geezers tend to remember things.

Kanye is talented, but certainly not the only voice for this 31 year old.

[RogerRantjet]

Isn't this the goof that was publicly incensed recently because somebody else dared to win some award that he felt righteously entitled to? Here's hoping that his "voice of this generation" is permanently afflicted with laryngitis before he can do any more damage to what's left of American music and culture.

[North49er]

No, Kanye, you're not.

[Bluewaterjack]

George Bush hates narcissists!

[NeoObamacrat]

I don't even know who Kanye West is. No. I'm serious.
I find it almost offensive that this man, whom I've barely heard of, thinks himself to be the voice of an entire generation of people. C'mon. We're talking hundreds of millions of people here; not just the people who buy your albums.

We know you're hurting Kanye, but don't make us suffer with you. Get help. Anything to slowly disperse that self importance building up inside your head. That way, when you find that you weren't as important to our generation as you thought you were, your head won't explode.

I don't hate you Kanye, but I don't know you. So please, think before you say.

[btdenver]

who is this guy again?