We're not going to lie: The MTV Newsroom has been more than a little obsessed with Kanye West's new song "Runaway" (which premiered at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards and has since been circulating around the Internet in finished form). There are any number of reasons why it has become a huge hit among the MTV News team, including but not limited to its excellent use of "scumbag," the haunting beat, Kanye's soulful delivery, Pusha T's dour guest verse and the content of the entire first verse (which is decidedly filthy, heartfelt and hilarious).
In fact, we're so wrapped up in "Runaway" that it makes us wonder: Is it Kanye West's best single of his career? We know that's a pretty loaded question to ask, especially considering the number of huge, sweeping, genre-bending hits West has churned out over his career. Consider the cavalcade of hits like "Gold Digger," "Jesus Walks," "Stronger," "Love Lockdown" and even his breakout track "Through the Wire." He has managed to collaborate with a number of eclectic artists (from Jamie Foxx to Adam Levine to T-Pain to Twista) and has made hip-hop fans out of people who wouldn't otherwise be hip-hop fans (West's "Stronger" was famously picked as the single of the year by alt-rock magazine Spin).
But there's something about "Runaway" that makes it feel just a little bit more special, like it could really end up in the pantheon of great hip-hop moments (both for West and for the genre itself). Perhaps it's just the thrilling newness, or maybe we're still transfixed by his ballerina-assisted performance at the VMAs, but "Runaway" feels like a massive moment right now.
Of course, we'll leave it up to you. Vote for the greatest Kanye West single in the poll below, and let us know your arguments (or any tracks we egregiously left off) in the comments.