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Kanye West unveils new song at secret, all-formal party in New York

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Kanye West is at a point in his career where he’s ensured that even his most mundane moves will be breathlessly rehashed on websites ranging from minor to major. After all, such is the public fascination with a man who delineates the thin line between dope and disastrous.

If Kanye decides to follow someone on his Twitter account dedicated to his love of fur and the awesomeness of being Kanye, you’ll hear about it. If Kanye flies Bon Iver out to Hawaii, you’ll hear about it. If Kanye takes a meeting at Facebook, you’ll hear about it. If Kanye decides to premiere a new song at a top-secret, last-minute, after-hours, all-formal-wear party at New York’s Box nightclub, you’ll hear about it. And with the magic of YouTube, you’ll see what kind of tie he wore.

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Last night’s gig was not disastrous. At least, if one is to believe all accounts of the early morning soiree, which featured cameos from West affiliates Pusha T, John Legend, Estelle and Consequence.

There was a performance of ‘Mama’s Boyfriend’ (warning: contains strong language), a new West song that delves into the difficulties of being a child of divorce and forced to deal with his mother bringing a boyfriend home. Sonically, the sprightly piano line recalls an outtake from ‘Late Registration,’ when West and Jon Brion conceived a vision of hip-hop at its most orchestral and baroque.

Thematically, it appears that West was a huge fan of ‘Cyrus’ -- which makes sense considering West reportedly joked that his currently untitled album will be called ‘African Child,’ a reference to ‘Get Him to the Greek,’ which also starred Jonah Hill.

The other clips reveal Kanye at his most elegant and restrained. Though judging from the clips, he still retained his trademark grandeur and grandiloquence. After all, minimalism doesn’t exactly suit West -- unless it’s the name of a new line of Louis Vuitton. Note: These clips have a couple of dirty words that you might not want your cubicle-mate, boss or child to hear.

-- Jeff Weiss

Photo: Kanye West peforms ‘Power’ at the BET Awards on Sunday, June 27, 2010 in Los Angeles. Credit: Matt Sayles / AP.

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