There's that Kanye West we know and love!
MTV gave the Life of Pablo rapper a platform to do whatever he wanted at the 2016 VMAs, which Kanye used to debut his new Teyana Taylor-starring video for "Fade," but not before taking a few moments to give one of his Yeeziest speeches yet.
"I am Kanye West, and that feels really great to say, especially this year," the 39-year-old musician opened the speech. “I came here to present my new video, but before I do that… I’m gonna talk.”
Despite the boasting, however, Kanye did show a surprising moment of graciousness, saying, "Now, later tonight, 'Famous' might lose to Beyoncé [for Video of the Year] but I can’t be mad. I’m always wishing for Beyoncé to win so…"
Besides name checking his ex Amber Rose (and thanking his wife Kim Kardashian West for being "a G" for letting him do so), and doubling down again on the "Famous" Taylor Swift drama -- "That’s why I called her!" Kanye said -- the rapper implored the audience to "have a good time," before shouting out his heroes and loved ones.
"I’m standing in front of my idol Puff Daddy. I’m standing in front of my wife Kim Kardashian West. I’m standing in front of the future, Chance the Rapper. 2 Chainz. Jayden Smith," Kanye said. "We are undeniably the influence, the thought leaders."
After name-dropping Taylor, ET observed some audience members cheering her name, while others booed them down.
And the speech was not without its serious moments.
"We came over in the same boat, now we’re all in the same bed. Well, maybe different boats," he said at one point. "If you think about last week, there was 22 people murdered in Chicago."
"I was speaking at the Art Institute last year and one kid came up to me and said, 'Three of my friends died, and I don’t know if I’m going to be next,'" Kanye continued. "If you’re seeing people dying next to you you might think, what’s the point? Life can start to feel worthless in a way."
As for "Fade," the incredibly sultry "Flashdance"-inspired video features artist Teyana Taylor doing a sizzling dance routine before being met by husband Iman Shumpert and the couple's 8-month-old daughter, Junie.
You can watch "Fade" exclusively on Tidal now.
One fan of the video was Kanye's sister-in-law, Kylie Jenner, who tweeted, "Kanye video CRAZYYYYYYYY wow #VMAs @TEYANATAYLOR @kanyewest.
The 19-year-old reality star also raved about her family's fashion, writing, "Kanye & Kim look so good."
Meanwhile, what we sadly didn't hear was an update on Kanye's 2020 presidential speech, which he announced while accepting the Vanguard Award at the VMAs last year.
