While many were sleeping Thursday night, Kanye West was declaring
that his hiatus is over as his new single, “Power,” hit the Internet.

We haven’t seen much of ‘Ye since he explained why he interrupted
Taylor Swift at the 2009 Video Music Awards last September on Jay Leno’s
now-defunct prime-time show. West told Leno he was going to take some time off.

Indeed he did, but for the past several months, we have been hearing
about Kanye working in Hawaii with acclaimed producers such as Pete Rock, Q-Tip
and DJ Premier. He was also producing tracks for the likes of Rick Ross and the
Clipse. And he recently popped up in New York to preview new songs.

While just about everyone who’s worked with him has declined to
speak on specifics, people like Preemo and Pharrell Williams have publicly
described the supreme boom bap and hard-core hip-hop edge of West’s upcoming
album, Good Ass Job.

“Power” has the global appeal we’ve come to expect from
Kanye. The beat has furious drums and guitars, a bass line that body slams your
ears and epic wordplay that lyrically releases his frustration.

“I’m living in the 21st Century, doing something mean to
it,” he starts off rapping. “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.”

“No one man should have all that power,” he continues on
the chorus. “The clock’s ticking/ I just count the hours/ Stop trippin’,
I’m trippin’ off the power/ Till then f— that!/ The world’s ours.” Then
comes the vocal sample of British rock band King Crimson’s “21st Century
Schizoid Man.”

Kanye then directs his attention towards “Saturday Night
Live,” which has had no problems making fun of the rapper over the years,
especially in the wake of the Taylor Swift incident.

“F— ‘SNL’ and the whole cast. Tell ’em Yeezy said they can
kiss my whole ass,” West declares. “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.”

As “Power” progresses, the Louis Vuitton Don talks about
his hiatus.

“I just needed time alone with my own thoughts,” he
says. “Got treasures in my mind/ But couldn’t open up my vaults…/
Reality is catching up with me/ Taking my inner child/ I’m fighting for
custody.”

As “Power” nears a close, Kanye once again talks about
being embroiled in controversy but says his fans still love his music.

“They say I was the abomination of Obama’s nation/ Well,
that’s a pretty bad way to start the conversation,” he opines. “At
the end of day, goddammit I know I’m killin’ this sh–/ I know damn well y’all
feelin’ this sh–.”

Kanye’s label, Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, has not yet announced a
release date for Good Ass Job. (Via MTV News)