Kanye West calls for end to homophobia

Kanye West is urging his fellow rappers to put a stop to homophobic lyrics.

During an interview for MTV special All Eyes On Kanye West, the Gold Digger rapper launched an attack on hip-hop's treatment of homosexuality while talking about Hey Mama, a song on his upcoming album, Late Registration.

West says that when he was young, he was often referred to as a "mama's boy", explaining: "What happened was, it made me kind of homophobic, 'cause it's like I would go back and question myself."

The 27-year-old changed his ways when he learned one of his cousins was gay.

He adds: "It was kind of like a turning point when I was like: 'Yo, this is my cousin. I love him and I've been discriminating against gays.'

"(Hip-hop was always about) speaking your mind and about breaking down barriers, but everyone in hip-hop discriminates against gay people.

"Not just hip-hop, but America just discriminates. And I wanna… come on TV and just tell my rappers, just tell my friends: 'Yo, stop it.'"