Hip-hop star Kanye West to support U2 in Auckland

American hip-hop artist Kanye West will be the support act for the two U2 concerts in Auckland in March.

West has eight Grammy nominations for his second album Late Registration, including album of the year and song of the year for Gold Digger.

He already has three Grammys for his first album, College Dropout.

West, who is outspoken on social matters, this year featured on a Time magazine list of the "100 most influential people in the world".