The wait is over. Late last night a brand spankin’ new Kanye West track leaked on the Internet. It’s called “Power” and it is phenomenal. “Power”, featuring Dwele, tells a mean and gritty and dark tale of Kanye’s controversial life thus far, and he uses it to vent off the negativity that surrounded him previous to his much needed hiatus from the spotlight. It’s a lengthy epic that incorporates heavy drums and guitars and a blasting, deep bass in unique style that Kanye has mastered over the years. And for all you auto-tune/singing haters, Kanye the Rapper is back.
‘Ye starts it off with: “I’m living in the 21st Century, doing something mean to it/ Do it better than anybody you ever seen do it/ Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it/ I guess every superhero need his theme music.” On the Taylor Swift incident: “F— ‘SNL’ and the whole cast/ Tell ’em Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass/ More specifically they can kiss my a–hole/ I’m a a–hole?/ You n—as got jokes/ You short-minded n—as’ thoughts is Napoleon/ My furs is Mongolian/ My ice brought the goalies in. On his hiatus: “I just needed time alone with my own thoughts/ Got treasures in my mind/ But couldn’t open up my own vault …/ Reality is catching up with me/ Taking my inner child/ I’m fighting for custody.” To the haters: “They say I was the abomination of Obama’s nation/ Well, that’s a pretty bad way to start the conversation/ At the end of day, goddammit I’m killin’ this sh–/ I know damn well y’all feelin’ this sh–.” Then there’s the chorus that features a sample from King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man”: “No one man should have all that power/ The clock’s tickin’, I just count the hours/ Stop trippin’, I’m trippin’ off the power/ (21st century schizoid man).” The song closes with a verse from Dwele (who was featured on Graduation‘s “Flashing Lights”): “Now this would be a beautiful death/ Jumpin’ out the window/ Lettin’ everything go .. You got the power to let power go.”
So is this the first single off Kanye’s forthcoming album tentitively titled Good Ass Job? No one knows for sure since this was in fact a leak. ‘Ye’s A&R Plain Pat had this to say about the leak via Twitter: “So waaaack. Working on a record for all those months to see an unfinished leak hit the Net.” OK, so what you’re listening to here is not the final version, but it sounds damn near close to completion. Though Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam has not announced a release date for Good Ass Job, sources peg a late summer drop. After listing to “Power” I pray this album does not get the delay treatment.
Update: Yesterday mid-afternoon Kanye West promised fans that a “mixed and mastered” version of “Power”, the confirmed lead single off his next album, would be released shortly. And here it is. I’ve updated the download link and audio clip below. The mastered track is subtly superior to the original leak and should be replace it in your music library. So what are you waiting for? Have at it! Pasted above is a freaky “Power portait” created by artist George Condo.
Download: Kanye West – Power (Featuring Dwele)
[audio: Kanye West – Power (Featuring Dwele).mp3]
[Via Savagebeatz; MTVNews]
