Kanye Respects Justin Timberlake…And Himself
Kanye West always has something to say, so it didn’t surprise me when I saw an article with him talking about rivalries but I was impressed to see him giving props to an adversary (still, he made sure he complimented himself just as much - gotta love Kanye). Here’s the interview:
“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” (did he really just say that?!?!?).
You have to read the rest of this! More after the jump!
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, are not 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 behaviour - 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.”
Tags: kanye west, justin timberlake, kanye west justin timberlake, kanye interview, kanye prince michael jackson, prince, michael jackson
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POSTED IN: Interviews
2 opinions for Kanye Respects Justin Timberlake…And Himself
Lauren
Aug 23, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Kanye could never be Prince, nor should he want to be. Justin Timberlake is a WANNABE Michael Jackson.
jdupuis
Aug 24, 2007 at 12:25 pm
It seems that Kanye is always trying to compare himself to others. Can’t he let his fans decide who he is like.
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