"ON SIGHT!"

words.

"The Great Kanyeezian Paradox (traded on the NASDAQ as GKP, invest now) is his ability to work the artistic high- and lowbrow simultaneously, to firmly make a point that unravels all his prior points without blinking. He's a man who can couch his many frustrations over the complicated subtlety of American classism next to a clunky Adam Sandler movie reference ("New Slaves"). He can stuff a video full of white trash tropes and declare it high art ("Bound 2"), or propose to one of the world's most loathed reality stars without fear the relationship will detract from the perception of his own artistic genius. He can write one of the most striking and poignant criticisms of racism ever set to music ("Black Skinhead") and sell it for use in a Motorola commercial. He can repurpose the Confederate flag for his own dark, twisted merchandise.

These contradictions might be more concerning if they weren't so remarkably consistent, fitting tidily under an "All I Want Is Dopeness" umbrella that's become his unofficial life motto. To Kanye, the perfection of his end product justifies the sometimes cloudy and confusing means he uses to get there. You can't tell him otherwise because, quite famously, you can't tell him nothin'."

VILLAGE VOICE: PAZZ & JOP: For the Fourth Time in Six Albums, Kanye West Takes the Top Pazz & Jop Prize

EARLIER:

BOUND: The Albums, 2013: 04/Kanye West/Yeezus

AND

BOUND: The Singles, 2013: 01/Kanye West/Black Skinhead