Kanye West before the fame....

We caught up with Kanye Before the Fame and Fortune. When he was just getting ready for the release of his debut solo album. These are some classic never before seen clips of Kanye. Check it out.

Hip-hop star Kanye West has decided he is the right man to take Michael Jackson's crown - declaring himself "the new King of Pop."

The Stronger hitmaker is convinced that he is just as popular as the late Thriller hitmaker and deserves to take on the title of music biggest star now Jackson has passed away.

He tells Scrape TV, "You know everyone loves and respects Michael but times change. It's so sad to see Michael gone but it makes a path for a new King of Pop and I'm willing to take that on. There's nobody who can match me in sales and in respect so it only makes sense for me to take over Michael's crown and become the new King.

"First there was Elvis (Presley), then there was Michael, now in the 21st century it's Kanye's time to rule. I am the new King of Pop."

http://www.blacktree.tv

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Police arrested rapper-producer Kanye West on Thursday morning at Los Angeles International Airport on felony vandalism charges after an altercation with two paparazzi, airport police said.

The incident, near the airport's Terminal 4, involved the rap star, Don Crowley -- his road manager and body guard -- and a photographer and a cameraman who were taking their photos, airport police said.

The cameras of the paparazzi were damaged in the altercation, police said.

West, 31, and Crowley were both arrested on charges of felony vandalism.

Initial police reports that said Crowley also had been charged with battery were incorrect, police said.

West, a 10-time Grammy winner, and Crowley were in the airport to catch a flight to Honolulu, Hawaii, police said.

The pair were outside of passenger security screening when the incident took place. Both men were taken to a Los Angeles police station for booking, airport police said.

Neither of the paparazzi were identified.

CNN could not immediately reach West's publicist for comment.

The celebrity Web site TMZ reported that the rap star allegedly grabbed a photographer's camera as the photographer was snapping pictures of West. The site posted a video of the incident shot by one of its reporters, who was also in the terminal.

The video was short and chaotic, and the man whom TMZ identifies as West never shows his face, which is shrouded in the hood of a gray sweatshirt. VideoWatch video of the scuffle »

According to the Web site, after West grabbed the camera from the photographer, Crowley took it from him, leaving the rap star with the lighting component.

The video shows the man in the gray sweatshirt and another man in a red sweatshirt -- whom TMZ identifies as Crowley -- each smashing parts of a camera on the floor.

The man in red then approaches another camera as it is filming. He reaches out for the camera, and it appears that a struggle ensues. As airport officials arrive, the man walks off.

TMZ reported that after the incident with the first photographer, Crowley grabbed the TMZ reporter's camera and allegedly broke it.

Police stopped West and Crowley as they tried to leave to go through security to board a plane, the Web site said.

TMZ is partly owned by AOL, part of CNN's parent company, Time Warner.

West quickly became a hip-hop star after his first album, "College Dropout," debuted in 2004, earning him a Best Rap Album Grammy that year. He twice matched that feat with 2005's "Late Registration" and 2007's "Graduation."

West also has won three Best Rap Song Grammys for his hits "Jesus Walks," "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" and "Good Life."

His other four Grammy's were two Best Rap Solo Performance awards, one for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, and one for Best R&B Song for his role in helping write "You Don't Know My Name," a song performed by Alicia Keys.

The rapper is also known for controversial outbursts, most notably in 2005, when he went off script during an NBC telethon for victims of Hurricane Katrina, saying, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

A BlackTree Media Production

Produced by Jamaal Finkley

Host #1 Zena Moses
Host #2 Dr. Rachael Ross
Host #3 Dr. Rebekka Ross

News footage from LKL on CNN

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[Tankfc3s]

at 3:00 a good example of Wiz Khalifa.. meaning a hit single and he wont be remembered.

[bentozzy]

before the fame? i frist heard of him around 99' on harlem world. i guess they mean since he became the guy who said george bush hates black people.

[VSizzle10]

@MrDevanteCPT no he built his fan base though weed, eliminate weed from all of his raps... he would have no fan base because he is a terrible rapper!

[MuLtIJoKer786]

i miss the old Kanye, but he wanted to chase that paper and wanted that spot light so you know, he wanted that fame and fortune and he got it. and there's two ways of rising, you either work hard and stay loyal and stay true to urself and ur fans... or you make that deal and get that dirty money.

[MrVIP1993]

@bentozzy Just becasue YOU knew him, it doesn't mean he was famous LOL there's a difference

[Mrlivn4Christ]

What does it profit a man to gain the world but loose his soul.

[MrDevanteCPT]

@Tankfc3s What? Wiz been doing his thing since 04 he built his fan base "SELF MADE" not like bitchass niggas these days that try to get signed by big names...um kanye->Jay-z

Drake->Lil wayne, etc

[YouhAdoreMehh]

i LiKED KAYNE BE4 HE DiSRESPECTED TAYLOR SWiFT !

#NORESPECT FOR HiM

[Kazua1Taurus]

currently 616 people like this, can we get 50 more please...if you know your math, it'll make sense

[enzarto]

Conway West, no ii'm sorry CON YAY!

[joacosera]

@colouredbills ok you haven't heard any of his albums.

[31MillerTime31]

@bentozzy

Just because you heard of a nigga named kanye west doesn't mean he was famous