Twista to step out of West's shadow

Rapper Twista has slammed reports he snubbed Kanye West by not including him on latest album The Day After, insisting he simply wanted to prove his own talent.

The pair recently collaborated on hit songs Slow Jamz and Overnight Celebrity, but now the hip-hop star is determined to step out of West's shadow and remind listeners he was making music long before the Gold Digger hitmaker became an overnight phenomenon.

He says: "It wasn't anything in particular with him. Besides, I figured it was my chance to step out on my own and prove that I can hold my own.

"I've been doing this since before he was here, so I wanted to show that I could still do it."