(Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Kanye West is BIG TIME back. He's joining Twitter. He's VISITING Twitter. He's rapping in Facebook's conference room. He's Ustreaming. He's studying up on the ancient Egyptians. He's getting SUPER into art. He's coming clean and getting all emo over second, third and fourth chances. He's declaring jeans over. He's jogging in Lanvin and getting in tip-top shape before he releases his fifth, still-untitled, album this fall. And he's giving it away, musically speaking.
Just today, Kanye released "See Me Now," another track from his upcoming album, which MIGHT be out November 16. "See Me Now" features Beyoncé and Uncle Charlie Wilson -- of soul great The Gap Band. It's a feel-good throwback track, soulful through and through. In it, Kanye likens himself to a black, boat-shoes-wearing Socrates, cuts down Nobu to mere Whole Foods proportions, name drops the Lourve, and leaves Fossil watches in the dust. Kanye calls out his late mother who's looking down on him. Who doesn't get love? All those brand-new friends who wanna be friends with your brand-new money.
If "The Good Life" was Kanye's declaration that he'd passed through the gates that separate the unwashed masses from the finer things in life, "See Me Now" is Kanye's declaration that he basically now owns those gates. And he's having them redone in a Lagerfeldian black lacquer with a high gloss.
Listen for a great, tongue-in-cheek "I'ma let you finish" direct reference. And, yes, that's Beyonce saying the N-word.
+ Listen to "See Me Now" on Kanye's blog. (WARNING: NSFW!)