US rapper Kanye West has filmed a guest voiceover spot for the new cartoon series The Cleveland Show.

West plays an aspiring rapper called MC Kenny West in the programme, which is a spin-off of the hit TV show Family Guy.

Executive Producer Mike Henry, who also plays lead character Cleveland Brown, said he had contacted West after discovering he was a Family Guy fan.

“We knew Kanye was a big Family Guy fan because he invited [creator] Seth [MacFarlane] to his house a year or two ago," Henry told People.

West recorded his guest appearance during a three hour session in Los Angeles last week.

Unlike West, MC Kenney West has failed to achieve the same level of commercial success in the music industry.

Executive producer Richard Appel revealed that the rapper had become involved in the creative process for his character.

"Before we came to the table ... there was only one line he didn't love, and he came up with another idea and in a completely modest, nice way said, 'Would you mind if I changed just this one line?'" Appel said.

"And our feeling was, how many raps have we written? One? And how many has he written? Be our guest."

The Cleveland Show will begin in autumn on Fox. West's episode will air in the new year.

(by Jason Gregory)