Kanye West has slammed Justin Timberlake and proclaimed himself the "voice of this generation".

The US rapper says the pop heartthrob missed the opportunity to be the decade's biggest star, allowing him to steal the limelight.

Kanye, 31, said: "There were people who had the potential to do it but they went on vacation, so when Justin went on vacation I made albums. And it just came out to be that.

"I realise 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.

"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 it."

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Kanye released his album ‘Graduation' last year and is following it up with ‘808s and Heartbreak' this month, whereas Justin hasn't released an album since 2006's ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds'.

The ‘Love Lockdown' singer says his new LP - which features him singing rather than rapping - is inspired by his late mother Donda, who died last year.

He added: "My mom would be there no matter what, she was there before everything. We were together for like 30 years. Now when I'm on that stage and I look out, I say, 'What am I going to do with the rest of my life?'

"I have sacrificed real life to be a celebrity and to give this art to people. It is great 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."

‘808s and Heartbreak' is released on November 24.

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