Kanye West once made Beyonce Knowles cry with his lyrics.

The 'Best Thing I Never Had' singer was reduced to tears when she heard the producer and rapper's confessional track 'Runaway', because of the way it showed his "vulnerable" side.

She told Complex magazine: "The fact that he's belting out his pain, his confusion, and his anger, with no pre-written lyrics, was so moving.

"He's singing his heart out for five minutes. He is so vulnerable. I love when an artist can be so honest."

Although she was moved by Kanye - and later worked with him on the song 'Party' for her latest album, '4' - the 29-year-old singer reserved her greatest praises for husband, Jay-Z.

She added: "Jay's music is more than music. His lyrics have fathered generations. "All that he has overcome gives millions so much hope. There are moments when I see his lips moving, and I can see lyrics floating above his head, and I think, 'Wow! How did I get so lucky to be able to witness this level of genius so closely?'"

Beyonce – who rose to fame at the age of 16 in Destiny's Child - also talked about her own legacy, saying she feels fortunate to have achieved so much at such a young age.

She added: "I've been fortunate to accomplish things that the younger generation of queens dream of accomplishing.

"I just want my legacy to be great music. Someone who was a risk taker and someone who had songs that struck conversation and emotion."