Has the Kanye West Comeback Officially Arrived?

By Jason Newman Posted Jun 28th 2010 05:15PM

Give Chris Brown credit for something at Sunday night's BET Awards: It's damn near impossible, under normal circumstances, to upstage the bravado, hubris and personality of Kanye West. But while Brown's (contrived?) breakdown has dominated coverage of the event, the awards show may have served as the official comeback of Kanye West, not seen on stage since bumrushing Taylor Swift at last year's MTV Video Music Awards.

The rapper had been relatively quiet since the incident, airing out personal grievances and self-reflection on his blog, but generally avoiding major media appearances to focus on 'Good Ass Job', his fifth studio album. Last month, the King Crimson-sampling West track 'Power' was leaked, hinting at the start of West's musical re-ascendancy.

But an Internet leak is nothing compared to West's performance at the awards. Standing defiantly atop a smoke-billowing volcano with flashes of lightning periodically lighting up the stage, Kanye, consciously or not, stood like Zeus surveying the heavens, rhyming more in proclamations than mere sentences. With what looked like an IMAX nature doc film in the background, West barreled through the track, displaying the charisma that helped propel him to one of music's most polarizing and entertaining figures in the past ten years.

Check out Kanye's performance of 'Power' at the BET Awards:

Kanye has always been one to value speaking his mind over the consequences of his actions, though in retrospect, it's bizarre to admit the Taylor Swift incident was the one that forced him into hiding. West has said and done more inflammatory things but, more importantly, other celebrities have done far worse. Kanye was shunned for interrupting an acceptance speech at an awards show. Chris Brown, the other comeback story of the night, pled guilty to felony assault on his then-girlfriend Rihanna. Selection bias aside, the crowd's thunderous applause for each puts what Kanye did (and didn't do) in perspective and says, "If America can forgive Chris Brown -- or R. Kelly or any other celebrity who does the PR shame/redemption dance -- Kanye shouldn't have any problem getting his career back on track."

So the question now is, what should Kanye do from here? Exactly what he would've done had the VMAs never happened. Kanye's popularity, in part, has always been based on his own personality's duality; the public visualization of his battle between id and ego that most of us wrestle with internally. He admitted that alcohol fueled, at least partly, his outburst, so that's a tangible thing to control in the future. But in the end, it's hard to imagine anyone not buying a Kanye album because of lingering feelings over a silly non-controversy from last year. Whether 'Good Ass Job' passes the musical test is what should be the focus on West's continued longevity, or lack thereof.

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Kanye West Photos

Kanye West waves to fans in Hollywood, California. More Kanye photos >>

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Kanye West Snapshots

Kanye West Foundation Chief Executive Officer Joseph Collins (R) and Chicago Public School Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman (second from right) are interviewed with students at the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Kanye West Foundation's 3rd Annual Stay In School Event Farragut Career Academy Chicago, IL United States June 8, 2010 Photo by Paul Warner/WireImage.com To license this image (60680843), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Kanye West Foundation Chief Executive Officer Joseph Collins (R) and Chicago Public School Chief Executive Officer Ron Huberman (L) attend the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Kanye West Foundation's 3rd Annual Stay In School Event Farragut Career Academy Chicago, IL United States June 8, 2010 Photo by Paul Warner/WireImage.com To license this image (60680846), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Musician Lupe Fiasco and musician/actor Common attend the luncheon on behalf of the Kanye West Foundation at Buca di Beppo Chicago on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Kanye West Common & Lupa Fiasco Luncheon on Behalf of Kanye West Foundation Buca di Beppo Chicago Chicago, IL United States June 8, 2010 Photo by Barry Brecheisen/WireImage.com To license this image (60681258), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

CHICAGO - JUNE 08: Kanye West (L) and Common perform at the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kanye West;Common

Kanye West Snapshots

CHICAGO - JUNE 08: Common performs at the Kanye West Foundation's 3rd annual Stay in School event at the Farragut Career Academy on June 8, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Common

Kanye West Snapshots

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2005 file photo, rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight is taken away by paramedics after he was shot in the leg at the Shore Club in Miami Beach, Fla. Knight, was shot once in the upper right leg by an unknown assailant at the star-studded party hosted by Grammy-wining hip hop artist Kanye West. More than four years later, Knight is claiming in a lawsuit that West and the Shore Club's owners failed to provide adequate security. Knight is seeking more than $1 million, including a 15-carat diamond earring he lost in the chaos. (AP Photo/Kim Tumey, File) NO SALES

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers Kanye West, Tony Bennett, Jennifer Hudson, Al Jardine, Jamie Foxx, Carlos Santana and others perform "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" pose for a group picture following the recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480499), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers A.R. Rahman, Gladys Knight, will.i.am, Toni Braxton, Brian Wilson, Kanye West and others perform at the "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480685), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers Wyclef Jean, Kanye West and Jennifer Hudson perform at the "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480534), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Singers Natalie Cole, Kanye West and Jennifer Hudson perform "We Are The World 25 Years for Haiti" pose for a group picture following the recording session held at Jim Henson Studios on February 1, 2010 in Hollywood, California. "We Are The World 25 Years For Haiti" Recording Session Jim Henson Studios Hollywood, CA United States February 2, 2010 Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com To license this image (59480776), contact WireImage.com

Kanye West Snapshots

Tags: BET Awards, Kanye West

Comments

(210)

Wednesday 30 June

By em

Vote down Vote up Report this

Most people blame Bush for EVERYTHING! Their own poor choices, reckless debt, not getting educated, buying houses they never could afford, and on and on.
As far as Clinton - people have forgotten that NAFTA sent millions of jobs overseas (Bush's fault). Clinton refused to see terrorist threats and deal with them (Bush's fault). Obama has neglected to have the largest skimmers deployed in the Gulf (its Bush's fault b/c of deregulation - but no one has cited what was actually de-regulated and why with such a large super-majority in Congress since 2008 it wasn't addressed immediately? (that too, Bush's fault) Bush stunk. Obama stinks. The oil flows and Obama golfs, parties, and fund-raises.

By Ray

I stand corrected, I meant all you crazies that agree with donna take your meds please!

By Dennis

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I'll never forgive Obama....

Monday 28 June

By ***STEPHANIE***

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Kanye's performance was excellent! I thought the BET awards show was superb!!! Fantastic job BET--keep up the good work!!!

Tuesday 29 June

By tilly

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Are you crazy he sucks he should go away again

By Primianoman

I love to read the Politics when ever the public has a means to post their feelings. Always Republicans against Democrats and visa versa. Just like it was designed. The American People have to unite and awake to realize that both parties do not represent them. Take the time to watch a video. Search "Obama Deception" on Youtube. Watch the full lenght video. It is not a slant video against any one party...It explains why..who..and how...Both parties are working together to destroy the United States intentionally. It was an eye opener!

By Bam

....Kanye Who?

By peter

i hope mr. west stays retired................or gets lost.

By Rick

He was racist. If the same thing happened the other way around, they'd have to flee the country.

Never having anything to do with anything that says his name on it again.

By Joan

Yes I love Kanye. Glad he is back.

By Dog Paws

Does Kanye own a mirror? Can't he look in it and see that he's an average-looking, fat-lipped, baboon? And what's with that tribal crap he's waving around? Oh, yea, Kanya, you're such an AFRICAN. You're about as African as Dolly Parton. You're a marginal talent with a borderline antisocial personality and a dull-normal intellect. Oh, yea, and a big fool when you drink. Most of all, Kanye, you ain't good looking. That's the truth.

By Amanda *OZ*

I refuse to listen to racists, no matter what their color is, no matter how appealing their music is. Music is too powerful a tool to infuse it with such dangerous, ignorant messages.

By Lindi

get the mother off my PC, who wants to see the bastardo? NOT ME!!

By Jimbo

Kanye needs to go back into seclusion forever. He crossed the line a year ago. We haven't forgotten what the little wanna be did to Taylor. How would he feel if Taylor did it to him? What would he do and what would he demand of her?
Kanye is a weak talentless fool. You can take the fool out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the fool named Kanye.

By Nico Toscani

He should try putting out a good album, like his debut. That might help.

By Bill

Never heard of Kandye West. Who is she?

By BaK

Kanye West sealed his deal. Who wants to watch a rude, arrogant 'performer' anyway? Look where he is standing for his first big performance - he thinks he's some kind of God and above everyone and all the rules. I wouldn't click on that to watch him unless they told me he fell into the volcano!

By SeeMan

F*CK Kanye !!

I saw him at Bonnarroo a few years ago and he has absolutely no respect for his audience. More to the point, his music was so tired and derivative....

He is another artist that should just go away. Maybe he could join Courtney Love on the "One Last Check" Tour she is currently on.

By Alva Goldbook

The most important thing that Kanye's done in his career is rip off The Police and ruin Taylor Swift's special moment. This moron should stay gone.

By John

How many times does this guy have to show the world he's an ignorant loudmouth before you equally equipped "experts" in the media stop giving him second, third, fourth, fifth etc... chances?

Will you only stop putting a microphone in front of him perhaps when he ... oh I don't know.. kills someone in a "drive by" (I think they call that "bustin a cap")or will that act increase his "street cred" making him an even better story for you?

Problem is... there are two sub intellectual elements here Mr. West and the author of this "waste of time" story.

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