Kanye West's new single, 'Clique'

Kanye West isn’t always the easiest guy to like. He’s cocky. He was mean to Taylor Swift. He likes Kim Kardashian without being ironic.

And yet the man mints gold. It’s like he’s incapable of making bad music. Even 808’s and Heartbreak, which wasn’t that good, was pretty damn good. His new single, “Clique,” featuring guest appearances by Big Sean and new BFF Jay-Z, is no exception. Its off-kilter beat is fresh and invigorating, and West’s inventive lyrics are among his most clever: “You know white people / get money don’t spend it … I’d rather buy chains and go ign’ant.”

I won’t wax academic and call that poetry, but come on, it’s funny. It’s funny, and more importantly, it’s smart, because it’s self-aware and self-deprecating and comically accurate.

You win, yet again, Mr. West. You won with The College Dropout, the soundtrack to my sophomore year of high school. You won with Late Registration and the way my friends and I bonded over it like some kind of sacrament. You won with Graduation because you made pop music cool again. And you won with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy because Pitchfork gave it a 10.0. (808’s and Heartbreak was a draw.)

I wish I knew how to quit you.

Check it out below:

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