SNL Featured Kayne West Singing Power and Runaway (with Pusha T) from His Upcoming Fifth Studio Album

SNL featured musician Kanye West performing Power and Runaway (with Pusha T) from his upcoming fifth studio album (which has yet to be named) Saturday night on NBC. The controversial singer who shamed himself for interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards put on two incredible shows on the comedy program. Yes, the performances of Kanye West on SNL were a unique treat for the eyes as well as the ears. The hip hop artist didn't perform on the traditional stage set up that one usually sees on the NBC show and his more controversial and profanity-laced lyrics were "noised out".

Kanye West Sang Power and Runaway on SNL in a White Box-Like Structure, with Pusha T Appearing for the Latter Rendition

Just before "Weekend Update", the singer came out dressed up in a red suit and lots of sparkling gold jewelry around his neck. He was surrounded by women clad in white one piece bikinis doing various moves as he sung Power. The enclosed "boxed stage" that West sang in was all white, which provided unique visuals for the eyes as the powerfully-crooned out tune was sung with force and attitude. Nonetheless, viewers didn't get to hear the more candid lyrics that were laced with profanity and a terse message to SNL itself (you can "Google" Power's lyrics for full context). One can assume that the powers-that-be on the comedy show didn't see that dissing to them as a reason to not let him perform.

Kanye West closed out his appearance on SNL with Pusha T (who is part of the duo Clipse), singing the sexually-charged Runaway, some of whose lyrics were also "noised out" for broadcast television. Once again, West sang out of the white box-like structure, with the women clad in white tutus to help underscore the song. For some of the song, West was all alone surrounded by white. But Pusha T did come out for a spell to do his part in a tune that had a lot of sound effects, and sounded at times, very robotic, yet haunting in scope.

Source for this article about the appearance of Kanye West on SNL:

"Musical Guest: Kanye West", Saturday Night Live, October 2, 2010, NBC