After watching a confused and poorly prepared Britney Spears open up MTV's Video Music Awards Monday, Kanye West decided enough was enough, it was time to drop some bombs.  The outspoke rap star quickly accused the multinational music conglomorate of artist exploitation. 

"Man, they were just trying to get ratings," West declared. "They knew she wasn't ready and they exploited her. They exploited her, they played me and I really don't mess with MTV."

By insinuating artist exploitation by a giant media machine West, visibly shaken after viewing the performance, has opened a new dialog on whether or not music corporations are in it for the profit or for the love.  His words carry some weight as the rapper, known for his college level intellect,  has previously exposed some women as "golddiggers" and  President Bush as an compassionless opportunist.  His harsh words may be hard for a troubling industry to shake off.

"Look, the music business isn't doing well at all," said Morgan James, a music industry expert.  "That's no secret and the last thing it needs is someone like Kanye accusing it of exploitation and duplicity.  The fact is he's a sharp kid.  He went to college.  You can't get anything past him.  He sees things other people don't see and that's what makes him a great."

West seemed personally troubled by the implications of his accusation. 

"Hell, now that I think of it, this may be just the tip of the iceberg.  Maybe its bigger than MTV. Maybe the Grammys are crap too."

West's strong words hit home on a music industry still recovering from on-line song trading, the break-up of N'Sync, and the release of Ashley Simpson's debut album "Autobiography."  His views also come at a time when artist exploitation is a concern of many Americans. 

"You may not want to know this but the music industry really doesn't care about artists. All they want is another album. There, I've said it. Oh, sure, it all looks like sugar plums and moon pies on the outside, but this can be a cold, heartless business, which views artists as a commodity and keeps them complacent by drugs, sex, and attention. I know, I know. Once again I've shocked you."

West, who threw a wide-ranging tantrum backstage, also lashed out at Justin Timberlake, Nelly, God, the Bill of Rights, Islamofascim, the Jewish lobby, gravity, and Billy Crystal.

"While I'm at it I'm also going to say that most, no, wait, all corporations are probably motivated by greed," West went on.  "Maybe this should be investigated?  MTV is just another corporation exploiting its artists who in-turn make their living off exploiting gender roles and base ignorance.  It's a vicious cycle."

West quickly turned his attention to wider issues. 

"I'm going to drop a realm bomb here.  Those presidential candidates who say they feel your pain? They're just saying that, see, so you'll vote for them. Are you getting all this down?  And Big Oil doesn't want higher fuel efficency standards because they'll lose money.  And it's in the government's best interest to keep you scared and keep education funding low.  Are you hearing this?"

Then, West, wrapped in a dark gray mink coat on the unusually cold Las Vegas morning went quiet for a moment.

"This was a real wake-up call for me," he said. "I've got to go sit in my gold plated hot tub and think long and hard about these things. Perhaps I've been exploited, and perhaps I've been doing some exploiting of my own. You see? That's deep. But I've learned one thing: there's more to being a rapper than being completely establishment and freaking out over who wins what award and who opens on the main stage. It's not about that. No, it's not even about having a hot, young, sexy thing in my bed every night of the week.  It's not about me, or my health, or my custom built, Italian sports car. It's about the goddamn music. Respect it."

West's latest album "Graduation," released September 11, including the hit song "Drunk and Hot Girls" featuring Mos Def, is available now, everywhere for $13.98.