He did use a few samples as far as his hip-hop is concerned. He can't flow at all.
The music he produces originally is top-notch. That's spoken as a music fan, not a West fan. I don't agree with Prince on anything politically, but he's my all-time favorite.
If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
I would agree with you about Prince although I still find it hard to forget the disgusting sight of him performing in a purple speedo.
One aspect of Kanye's rant I actually do agree with. The media does love to show the angry black man and tends to focus on the negative aspects of black Americans. I don't know if that's how he meant it, but just look how they tend to believe that only Jackson and Sharpton speak for the entire community, instead of holding up people like Condi Rice as examples.
Actually, according to THIS Prince has at least donated to a Republican in the past.
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=CA&last=nelson&first=prince