Kanye West of Nazareth

The new issue of Rolling Stone has a cover story on Kanye West, "The Passion of Kanye West."

I like West's music, and I love his "in your eye" to President Bush during the Katrina telethon. But I'm starting to think his ego is wearing away at some of the causes he champions.

"If I was more complacent and I let things slide, my life would be easier, but you all wouldn't be as entertained," West says. "My misery is your pleasure." But getting people to dialogue about social issues isn't supposed to be a misery-inducing experience.

I need to remember that Kanye West is an entertainer first, before he's any sort of activist. Don't get me wrong...I ain't saying he's an attention getter. But he ain't messing with Utne Reader.

According to Rolling Stone, West also admits he's got an addiction to porn. "He remembers first seeing his father's Playboy magazine when he was 5 years old. 'Right then,' West says, laughing, 'it was like, Houston, we have a problem.'"