Rapper/philosopher/sore loser Kanye West, just months after defeating 50 Cent in the record-release showdown of the year, will attempt to champion over the book industry when he drops his first title next January. Co-authored by J. Sakiya Sandifer and named Thank You and You’re Welcome, the book will be, according to West, “an entertaining volume of ‘Kanye-isms’ — the creative, humorous and insightful philosophies and anecdotes used in creating my path to success.” Always one for modesty, Kanye also boasts the book “captures the same wit, playful irony, and piercing insight found abundant in my lyrics.” Order soon, because the first 500 copies have been lucky enough to be signed by West himself!

Kanye’s mom, Donda West, released her own book, Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar, in May (four and a half stars based on two Amazon reviews!) which includes some verses about growing up in an intellectually stimulating home (ie. “How many folks can tell you / That their dad is really hip? / Our kind of conversation / Might cause some folks to trip”). While we’re not sure who West’s competition will be come release-date time (would he dare to diss J.K. Rowling or Thomas Pynchon?), it’s a shame he couldn’t face off once again with 50 Cent, who was reduced to trading barbs with former *NSYNC-er Lance Bass last week as Fifty’s 50 x 50 went up against Bass’ Out of Sync: “He doesn’t stand a chance. With me, everything’s a competition, so I bet you the end of next week, I’ll be moving more copies than him,” quoth Fifty, while Bass responded, “50, I don’t want to playa-hate, but there’s a lot that my book has … I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have any relationships with guys in that book. And I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have any space training, either.”

Related Stories:

• Kanye West’s Brand-New Blog: Not as Crazy as You’d Like
• BET Awards Shocker: Kanye Actually Wins and Keeps His Ego in Check
• Kanye West and 50 Cent Go Behind the Feud: Watch the Rolling Stone Cover Stars Break Down the Showdown