KANYE WEST - RUNAWAY

We could start this article a lot of different ways. Like how — minus a Leno appearance with Jay-Z and Rihanna — this was Kanye West’s first television appearance since he turned Taylor Swift’s life around for the better (sorry kids, just telling the truth). Or that, based on his past VMA’s performances (see 2004, 2007, and 2008 for example), it was anyone’s guess as to what shocking, apocalyptic-like performance the Chicago MC would pull out of his ass this time around. Or, even better, it was anyone’s guess as to what shocking, apocalyptic-like performance the Chicago MC would pull out of his ass to save this train wreck of an awards show.

“Runaway”, the song which West chose to close out the 2010 VMAs, was the climax of a 12 month period which has seen a public meltdown turned into a self-imposed exile tuned into glorious explosion of creativity. It also marked the next progression in the journey of a man who has chosen self-depreciation and humility as a means of restoring his image. Whereas Taylor Swift’s “pardoning” of West earlier that evening felt contrived and over dramatic, West proved to be the realest thing of the entire evening. I mean, he did apologize to both the world and himself.

“Let’s have a toast for the assholes, let’s have a toast for the jerkoffs, lets a toast for the scumbags… baby I got a plan, runaway as fast as you can,” sang West amidst a smorgasbord of samples, autotune, and a guest appearance from Pusha T. It was an encyclopedia of all things Kanye, a compilation of his skills, persona, and even faults, wrapped into one sincere, showstopping moment of clarity.

If you still hate, you’re just trying too hard.