West Calls Timberlake His `Inspiration'

Tue Aug 21, 9:14 AM ET


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."

http://entertainment.tv.y...84000.html


-LMAO. Wth is Kanye smoking?

Shit, Kayne not caring about being number one? He must be on drugs or sick or something. After all his award show fall-outs and egotistical mindstates, this man is taking about record sales not being important. All I know, I like his music and he definitely got some good skills as producer and rapper.

Now that is really a slap in the face to fifty cents. Kanye finds justin
timberlake of all people to be more inspirational and more competition than 50 cents. I do not agree with kanye's assessment of timberlake but i love the smackdown of 50 cent. Now 50 get your ass off the mat.

Can someone shot that idiot, I can't believe folks view him as a positive thing in Hiphop. He is just as bad as the rest but he just happens to be friends with the likes of Common and the roots so he gets away with all this nonsense and egomania.

rebelsoldier said:

The sad thing is he does not even have the remotest talent to back up his egomania. Sure, some of the most brilliant musicians of the past were megalomaniacs. But at least a number of them made wonderful, timeless music.
[Edited 8/21/07 22:26pm]

lately,Kanye West and Fifty Cent have been saying dumb things in the press

SoulAlive said:

lately?