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

[missviv]

oh god Kanye, get over yourself. you're a hack who tries to pass himself off as being innovative and you know it. your "amazing" glow concert was bascially a rip off of the rave scene that is now dead and buried. you made daft punk sound like crap. you're not inventing any new style of music and you certainly aren't an interesting artist.. you're just a spectacle. people watch you because they want to see what kind of baby fit you're going to throw next. please vanish into obscurity.. NOW.

[Azieran]

Uh oh, someone needs attention

[Badbone]

He is. The voice for a short sighted, shallow generation. America is doomed.

[aedelbert]

I think that, sadly, you're more right than any of us want to think. Every generation of kids is naive, but they seem to become more viciously arrogant about it all the time. Unfortunately, they are wildly misinformed about most things, largely because they're disinterested. West appears to be just one more example of this egocentric rampage.

[KUjHwk]

Wait just a minute. I don't appreciate Kanye West any more than the next Gen-Xer.

But don't apply his delusions to my entire generation.

Remember, it's us young people that, together with everyone else, worked so hard to get O into office. We pulled our weight and showed up on election day to make our collective voice heard. We do care about what's going on around us, despite what you may think.

Kanye West represents the worst of our generation, as I'm sure exists in your generation as well, in different form.

[peasoup]

He needs to stop listening to the voices in his head. Kanye has some talent but he is not a great rapper, nor is he the voice of his or any generation. If you take a minute to listen to some of his lyrics it is easy to see that he is really pretty lame.

[GlennHar]

He must think it's a generation of arrogant fools.

[jake106]

If so, then God help us all.

[Dave4ObamaSinceDay1]

Half of him died along with his mother and now he is left with only the arrogant, poser half....

Hope he recovers...

[Yola]

Oh, heck no!

[realitycheck7]

oh my god what an idiot

[fleetw1978]

Perhaps a generation that will spend it;s time in prison? Dude, you need to get real if you know what I mean. You, my friend, are an entertainer. Your opinion matters about as much as mine. Nada, zilch, nothing. the only peeps who might listen to you are sitting in Rikers or angola state pen, and that's only because they are confined. Shut the pie hole and make music. If that's what they call that garbage now a days

[mondobleu]

Dude you're about due for an Ego Tuck.

[frost12]

AND SOME INTENSIVE STUDY COURSES IN ENGLISH VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR.

[frost12]

FIRST GET THE MARBLES OUT OF YOUR MOUFFFFFFF!
PASS ALONG THE ADVICE TO P DUDU, THE OTHER VOICE OF !@#$%^&*();

[MajorKong]

That's kind of like calling yourself a "Maverick". By definition it means you aren't.

[HelloooCanada]

unfortunately, paris hilton is the voice of kanye's generation.

[smugglerdurant]

Um, I thought it was up to someone else to label you "the voice of a generation", the "belle of the ball", the "toast of the town" etc. Kind of doesn't make it true if you say it yourself.

[Df7702]

I thought so too. WE are the same age and he doesnt speak for me . KInda funny how Bob Dylan doesnt seem to want the title . Kanye West on the other hand appoints himself I think that speaks for itself. I think he has alot of rappers in front of him Tupac, BIG,Eminem ,Jay Z ,NAS and thats just rappers . Like another poster said Kobain as well I mean come on Kanye your not even close . Im not saying hes bad but come on

[Yovovi]

He was born in 1977 and is a Gen Xer like me. He is not the voice of my generation, Kurt Cobain was.

I don't think rapping "Gold Digger"---the catchy "Thong Song" of summer of 2005---makes you the voice of any generation.

Nas and Jay-Z have lots more to say than this clown.

[TurtleGuy]

I really don't think there is a voice of this generation. We used to care about the arts in this country, now it's just how much $$ can I pull in if I "drop' (whoever came up w/ that term should be shot) 5 albums this year. To be honest with you, I haven't heard a song in the past 5 years, that I will be singing to myself in the shower when I retire. I can think of many from the 80's and 90's though.

Quality, not quantity. Timberlake, meh. He doesn't even sing. He just talks in key.

Music in general these days is just smoke and mirrors anyways. The Antares vocal processor is capable of some amazing things, along with all other sorts of electronic gizmos that make the incapable capable. Very few are playing "raw" and letting the music speak for itself. Most bands that people love don't even know how to play their instruments when they get signed to major labels these days. Music knowledge is probably at it's lowest level in our society in history.