West calls Timberlake his `inspiration'

08/21/2007 9:14 AM, AP


Kanye West considers a certain "SexyBack" singer his biggest rival.

"My biggest inspiration and biggest competition is Justin Timberlake," the 29-year-old rapper tells XXL magazine in its October issue, on newsstands Sept. 11. "He's the only other person that gets an across-the-board response and respect level — black radio, white radio."

"If Justin hadn't come out and killed the game, I can't say that my album, singles and videos would be on the same level that they're on," he says. "We push each other. I look at me and Justin like Prince and Michael Jackson in their day."
A sly dig at 50 Cent? Earlier this month, the 31-year-old gangsta rapper, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson, promised to quit his solo career if West's new album, "Graduation," outsells his upcoming CD, "Curtis." Both albums are due out Sept. 11.

West, a six-time Grammy winner, tells XXL that he's "never cared about being No. 1." Record sales, he figures, aren't as important as how the music connects with people.

"I feel like my lyrics are, if not THE, then equal to, the realest lyrics out," he says. "I connected with so many people without talkin' about guns and drugs. ... It's harder to go to work 365 days than shoot a person in one day."

Further, "there's nothing about wearing a pink Polo that would make anyone believe that I would hold a gun," he says.

West realizes his flamboyant style and less-than-humble public behavior — like throwing fits over not winning music awards — could hinder his chances for success.

"... When people come up to you like, `That was really good,' you're supposed to play stupid, like, `Wow, you really think so?'"

"Because people can't really handle the truth," he continues. "But I am the truth. I'd rather be hated for what I am than loved for what I'm not."

____

On the Net:

XXL:

http://www.xxlmag.com/

Kanye West:

http://www.kanyewest.com/

WTF! Stick a fork in me! I'm done

Further proof that ETD (Ego-Talent Discrepancy) has reached epidemic proportions.

I think Justin was holdin a gun to Kanye's head while he was sayin this jibberish!

Comparing he and Justin 2 Prince and MJ??? Please....

Maybe Kanye is lying about his age. Maybe he's an old looking 19, cos no 29 year old who remembers Prince & MJ's peak popularity in they heyday would ever spout such DRIVEL.

Kanye West is so talented..but i am so sick of his big head remarks in interviews. He does not do this in the right way...he thinks he's arrogant cool..more like arrogant fool! He needs to back up a little bit. How can he compare himself to P and MJ really? It's jst wrong!

This is just another one of those stupid comments by Kanye just to piss people off.

I'm sure there are many black folk who just can't stand the thoughts of him saying this and then there's 50 Cent. Again, Kanye's comment is only to fuel the fire and get publicity.

this thread is not about prince

.....
[Edited 8/21/07 10:46am]

better leave this one alone...

Kanye who?

I've just watched a clip on his website, but am totaly not impressed.
[Edited 8/21/07 11:14am]

third post of this lame ass

Why can't he just shut the fuck up and go away?!

dannyd5050 said:

Oh man...my stomach hurts so bad from laughing so hard!!!!

I wonder if this was more a slap in the face of 50 than anything else. The whole not even acknowledging 50's comment and all.

maybe he should be locked in a room with a table filled with princes physical output (released and unreleased video and audio) so he can see the sheer volume. then given an ipod (1,200 tracks should do it) and a pot of coffee. give him a notebook and a pen and tell him he cant leave the room until he submits 1,000 words outlining and explaining why comparing himself to prince is so wrong on so many levels LOL

So does Kanye think he's Prince or MJ??

dannyd5050 said:

I think he's more of a Tito but without the guitar skills.

Ellie said:

let the guy say whatever he wants

u dont have to listen, judge, or find that in some way ur better... but u can if u want

Those motherfuckers can't even make the Biggie/Tupac comparison if they wanted, let alone Prince and MJ



Bitch please.

Just for this, his ignant ass should be confined to rehab in a suite next to Amy, Britney, AND Linsay. PUT THE PIPE DOWN AND STEP AWAY FROM THE CRACK!!!!

Ellie said:

where r u getting 19 from?

Ellie said:

mimi07 said:

Just randomly knocking 10 years off his age since he seems to be so clueless about how big they were in comparison to Justin bloody Timberlake.

no no no no no no no no no no no no no nooooo nonooonon nooooommmmmh no? no!