SELF-IMPORTANT megalomaniacs are 10 a penny in the hip-hip world, but even so Kanye West takes some beating. Thing is though, he really is that good. Exhibit A: his new album.

Not for Kanye the cultists' cache of digging up obscure breaks and samples. Oh no, he goes straight for the biggies - Curtis' Move On Up (Touch the Sky), Bassey's Diamonds Are Forever (Diamonds), Gil Scott Heron's Home Is Where the Hatred Is (My Way Home), Otis' It's Too Late (Gone). He's also roped in a host of top collaborators from Jamie Foxx (Gold Digger features the Oscar winner alongside samples of Ray Charles, bizarrely), Jay-Z (Diamonds) and his mortal enemy Nas (We Major).

Fact is, West has got the best beats, the best breaks, the best guests and the best schemes.

Nick Churchill