If you’re as fascinated by the life and world of Kanye West as I am, then you’re probably aware the Chicago rapper is slowly gearing up for the release of his fifth studio album, tentatively titled Good Ass Job. Last week, West reportedly previewed several of his new songs for friends at a night club in New York City. And today, we got a taste too.
“Power” hears West teamed up with “Flashing Lights” collaborator Dwele and features a sample from British prog-rock outfit King Crimson’s song “21st Century Schizoid Man”. The track hearkens back to some of the rapper’s earlier material, made up of some good ol’ rap behind a mixture of beats, choruses, and real instruments, aka a piano. Yeah, no Auto-Tune here.
As for the actual rapping, West looks to be as aggressive and dark as ever. He dissects his own recent struggles, “Lost in translation with a whole fuckin’ nation / They say I was the abomination of Obama’s nation, well that’s a pretty down way to start the conversation,” while still maintaining his self-referential edge. He raps, “I’m living in that 21st century doin’ 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.”
As the song progresses, West focuses on the idea of a power and what happens when there gets to be too much. Embodying those characteristics in a first hand narrative, West grows more irrational through out — “Where the bad bitches, huh? Where you hiding? / I got the power to make your life so exciting” — and ultimately contemplates his end: “Now this will be a beautiful death.” Moral of the story? Power can get to your head.
At least for now, however, West is alive and well, and come June 8th, you can reportedly pick up “Power” as his newest single. Good Ass Job is set for later this year.
