Image Credit: FoxKanye West has kept a fairly low profile in recent months, but soon you’ll be able to catch him — or at least his animated alter ego — in the May 2 episode of Fox’s Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show. You can see the first official image of West’s guest spot in the new issue of EW, on stands today, or check it out right here in this post. In the episode, the rap megastar voices a 19-year-old local hero named, er, Kenny West, who gets into a lopsided rhyme battle with the show’s Cleveland Brown, Jr. over the affections of a young woman who’s voiced by Taraji P. Henson.
“We knew that Kanye was a Family Guy fan,” Cleveland Show co-creator Rich Appel tells the Music Mix. “He’s made reference to it on his website and stuff. In the writers’ room, we just thought it would be great to have him as a character on the town. So we came up with the story. He really liked it and said, ‘Sure!’” One year ago, West came in for a table read at the L.A. building where Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show are all produced. “You know, I’ve worked on The Simpsons and Family Guy and King of the Hill,” says Appel. “We’ve had a lot of guest stars. It’s very rare that a guest star is eager and willing to come to the table read. He showed up 15 minutes early.” West went on to record his part last March. About a month ago, when the time came to re-record a few lines for the final cut, Appel says the star obligingly stepped into a booth at the studio where he’s working on his next album and sent the new dialogue over.
The experience went so well that West has already recorded an appearance for an additional episode of The Cleveland Show‘s upcoming second season — and Appel hopes there’s even more to come. “He could not have been more collaborative or easier to work with. We’re excited, because his character has become a recurring character in our universe…He’ll become our Sideshow Bob!”
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
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Stream new Rogue Wave ‘Stars and Stripes’ here: A Music Mix exclusive
Chilly B of Newcleus dies at age 47
‘Glee’ cast hits the road this spring: Live tour dates announced
Loved Kanye on South Park. heh
I don’t suppose the rap battle will have Cleveland Jr. asking Kanye if he likes fish sticks.
LMAO that was hilarious on SP!
What a waste of air time…..
Your order of Haterade is on its way.
Can’t wait. Love it.
Kanye’s an arrogant douche and TCS plain sux. They *deserve* each other! Twitter.com/ ClevelandShow
The Cleveland Show is getting a 2nd season??? Did not see that coming.
it got a second season order very early on in its run
Cleveland rocks! Can’t wait for Kanye!
The Cleveland Show is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!!!! I love it and I’m excited about Kanye West being on it
The Cleveland Show is abysmal, but I might check out this episode because Kanye is always entertaining.
I’mma let you finish but south park’s Kanye was ONE OF THE GREATEST P*SS-TAKES OF ALL TIME!
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“He’ll become our Sideshow Bob!”
who says that?
no one can ever be sideshow bob… there is only 1
.
should be a decent..the Clevland show’s doing it’s thing…i’d like to take that Haterade and throw it in Jill’s face…lol
i love the cleveland show but i am amazed that they have a big enough screen to put kanye’s head on it-his head is as big as his ego ha ha
I LOVE Cleveland and Donna Brown and their kids
Can’t wait to see Kanye’s guest voice spot.
This episode with Kanye is gonna be hot!