November 14, 2008 0:34

Kanye West claims he's the 'voice of this generation'

Star compares himself to Michael Jordan

Photo Gallery: Kanye West

Kanye West claimed in an interview today (November 13) that he is the "voice of this generation."

The rap star compared himself to basketball legend Michael Jordan, and criticised Justin Timberlake for being slow to release new material.

"I realise 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," West told the Associated Press.

"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," he added.

West, who is set to release his latest album '808s And Heartbreak' in the US on November 24, said that Timberlake can't keep up with him. "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.

West, who recently made headlines by claiming that the MTV Europe Music Awards were fixed, added that he has "sacrificed real life to be a celebrity and to give this art to people…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."

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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