KANYE & KENDRICK DROP THE MIC

Announcing the title and featured artist back on 1/8, then hinting last night it was coming "very very extremely soon family," Kanye West finally unleashed the single "No More Parties in L.A." featuring Compton's own Kendrick Lamar early this morning.

It's the first time Kanye and Kendrick have appeared on a record together, and the collaboration is a skilled masterpiece of straight FIRE rhymes (there is truly no other way to say it), with Lamar in his prime and Kanye definitely turning in his best performance in years, while reminding everyone he's aware of that but uh, he's Kanye.

"I know some fans said I'd never rap like this again / But the writer's block is over / MCs cancel your plans / A 38-year-old ate your role," he raps.

Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar continues to search his soul, rapping,"Smoke in every direction, middle finger pedestrians / R&B singers & lesbians, rappers and managers / music and iPhone cameras / this shit unanimous for you, it's damaging for you."

In a further nod to Los Angeles, it's also West's first collaboration with former Stones Throw Records producer Madlib, who along with J Dilla, is someone the rapper deeply respects. He shared that admiration in a 2014 documentary about the pioneering hip-hop label, Our Viynl Weighs A Ton.

This release follows the track "FACTS," which West put out on New Year's Day and "Real Friends" which came out last Friday, although he hasn't made it clear if any of these are part of his forthcoming album Swish, dropping 2/11.