Kanye on 106 & Park

"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." [SOURCE]

"I think we push each other," Kanye said backstage at the V Festival in Stafford, England, on Saturday. "I feel I wouldn't have some of the tracks on my album if it wasn't for 50, and he wouldn't have some of the things he had if he wasn't up against me. In the last couple of years, people have been putting out albums aimlessly. Nas used to talk about Biggie and Jay and Wu-Tang going up against each other, but now it's like there hasn't been that competition in rap. In New York, [West's] 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' is the #2 song [on the radio], and [50's] 'I Get Money' is the #1 song. They're neck-and-neck, so it's exciting to people." [SOURCE]

Labels: 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West