Cannes Film Festival 2013

Kanye West returns with 'Power' and then some

Does the rapper/producer put his head down or hoist it up?

<p>Kanye West</p>

Kanye West

With an "Oh... hey!", Kanye West is back.

A new track from the superstar rapper and producer has surfaced and while UMG has spent the morning yoinking it from the YouTubes and what-have-you, its heft and durability is too much to keep bottled.

The King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man" sample is appropriate, as, in a way, that's just what Ye is, at least in this straight-up rap. He's irritable, at once conciliatory, almost apologetic, but then graphically insulting and narcissistic, self-aware, naive, emotional.

"I was drinking earlier," he raps, "now I'm driving."

It's evened out by a somewhat wandering, suicide-watching verse from talented crooner Dwele (who also guested on "Flashing Lights"), though the bass and the drums of the beat keep it urgent and interesting.

With Kanye's voice that high in the registers, it's a hard task to growl. But that's just what he does, delivering a track without the namby pamby heartache to trip him up. He name-checks "No man should have all that power," ironically then name-checking President Obama and chronic parody masters and peanut gallery, the cast of "Saturday Night Live," who Ye tells to kiss his a**. And to take it a step further: "They can kiss my a**hole / I'm an a**hole? / You n*ggas got joookes / You short-minded n*ggas."

But it's the power of the haters that put fuel in Kanye's car, to drive it, to take his metaphor further. When the controversy of his public persona met with personal tragedy (his loss of his mom, his break-up from his fiancee) and the meteoric/meat-headed rise to fame, it finally led to some quiet months to, I dunno, maybe read a book or clean his studio, and stew a little on the hate.

So maybe Kanye West is an a**hole, but here, he wears it well.

While "Power" may or may not be included on West's "Good A** Job" -- ETA TBA -- it is a strong return, and it leaves us, well, counting the hours. While it has all the defiance of Eminem's summer jam "Not Afriad," its got a ferocity all Yeezy's own.

As previously reported, Pete Rock, Q-Tip and RZA are reportedly working with West on what may shape up to be a return to a fully rap-based album.

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  • Default-avatar

    Justin

    "They can kiss my a**hole / I'm an a**hole? / You n*ggas got joookes / You short-minded n*ggas."
    .
    .
    Of all the lyrics in the song, why did you choose to specifically single out those? That wasn't clever in any way. And hahaha @ calling a break-up a 'tragedy'. Get over it, Katie, Kanye West fucking sucks.

    Oh and he proudly doesn't read books. He's said so.

    May 28, 2010 at 1:43PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Fabulous-stains_talkback_profile

      katie, a princess I chose 'em because they have that specific Kanye bile. I don't recalling referring to them as "clever."

      I'm already over Kanye West's break-up, it took legions of therapy.

      May 28, 2010 at 1:53PM EST
  • Default-avatar

    Ryan

    "Defiancy"?

    May 28, 2010 at 2:07PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Fabulous-stains_talkback_profile

      katie, a princess you know, like what it takes for a writer to put a y where an e goes.

      fixed, thanks.

      May 28, 2010 at 2:11PM EST
  • Default-avatar

    Justin

    Yes. Specific Kanye bile toward SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Way to channel that RAGE, Kanye! Get em!

    Retarded.

    May 28, 2010 at 3:33PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    daggor

    Pathetic. Rakim, Chuck D, Mos Def, Jay-Z, MF Doom... all better rappers that this fool. Why do you listed to this faker?

    May 28, 2010 at 5:59PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Mars

    OMG This is tight as tight can get!!! LOVE IT!!!! Listen to Jean-Luc king Brown myspace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    May 29, 2010 at 12:09PM EST Reply to Comment

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