It almost does, but I was even more moved by the shaky YouTube videos of Kanye performing it, sans music, at Facebook HQ. It’s obvious the vocals were laid first and Tip tried to construct around it, giving the song a copy-and-paste-and-hope-it-works feel. The problem? Q-Tip’s beat that comes up short in turning a spirited a capella into the transcendent track it deserves. And then there’s the classic Kanye caveat: “Who knew one day I’d be just like you n-s?” As selfish as West can act at times, he’s always been able to turn the mirror on himself in his music. “Trying to get to know me, homie? / Just kill the charm / You ain’t interested in me / You just tryin’ to f- my mom.” It should surprise no one Kanye has an Oedipus complex, but to hear it articulated so thoroughly in a song is a rap moment. His ability to tap into that visceral anger of a mother moving on from divorce is disarmingly raw. Still, this is one of Kanye’s greatest lyrical triumphs.

“Mama’s Boyfriend” would sound out-of-place on the final tracklisting, as the album sticks to a very specific emotional arc (defiance slowly builds to arrogance and then dissolves into lonely melancholia).

This comes from the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy cutting room floor, where it probably belongs.

Kanye west dark fantasy vocals