The boy can talk.

An hour-long interview with Kanye West recorded for MTV way back in 2002 has surfaced online, giving us a well-timed reminder of the hip-hop overlord’s comparatively humble beginnings.

The previously unreleased interview with MTV’s You Heard It First sees Kanye talk in-depth about his production style, being “bigger than Michael Jackson”, hooking up with Roc-A-Fella, “quote-unquote real hip-hop” and the overwhelming influence of his mother, Donda, who died in 2007. Watch the whole thing above.

In other Kanye news, his Yeezus tour was indefinitely postponed last week while he launched a lawsuit over his leaked engagement video. He also unveiling a G.O.O.D. Music clothing line. [via Hypetrak]