Kanye West says he`s `voice of this generation`

London, Nov 14: 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." Bureau Report