Released by Carita Riizzo/TV Guide
Kanye West makes his cartoon debut on the May 2 episode of
The Cleveland Show as locally famous rapper Kenny West whose girlfriend Chanel (Taraji P. Henson) Cleveland Brown Jr. falls in love with. “Sweet, meek, Cleveland Brown, Jr. doesn’t know what to do because this cool guy has the woman that he wants,” says exec producer Mike Henry, who also voices Cleveland Brown. “So the episode culminates in an 8 Mile-style rap-off.”
According to Henry, the outspoken rapper was surprisingly eager to spoof himself. “He gets the jokes,” he says. “I didn’t know if he would have a big ego, or if he would tell us what to do, but it was nothing like that. He was just an eager participant.”
In fact, West enjoyed himself so much he has even signed up for more. “You can look for Kenny again in the fall,” promises Henry. “Cleveland and Kenny will be rapping together on their way to stardom.”
