Kanye, Stop Fucking With Us

Yes, we realize this is viral marketing, but yesterday we received an email from “Kanye West” with a new track attached titled “rough.mp3.” We scanned it for viruses, opened it, and sure enough it sounds like Kanye. The artist is labeled Tokin’ Black Guy. (He has a Myspace page and is on Kanye’s record label–suggesting Kanye could have a new alter ego.) You can give it a listen at Allie is Wired who evidently received the same email that we did:

nooooo, only 2 days? make sure to contact me before the session we have to discuss “spaceship” i will upload them when i have time.
On Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 1:16 AM, TBG wrote:
I need the ones from the show the night before. Yeah They Did a piece, Relay the message to Warren for the mail. Also the mixed version I need because I am meeting with John tomorrow, he is only in town for 2 days.
On Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 1:11 AM, Kanye West wrote:
The rest of the pictures will be in your inbox for tomorrow. Congrats I read Your piece on MTV.COM
–
G.O.O.D MUSIC

http://www.myspace.com/kanyewest

kanyeuniversecity.com

Later in the afternoon, we received another email from “Kanye West:”

Unaware as to how you may have receive one of my emails, thank you for respecting my messages. As for the rough version of the song, it is out there now, so you may use it for personal use or have it as a stream on your website please.
Thank you and wish everyone nothing but the best.
Side Note: People Stop sending me Spam, it is uncalled for.

As we said, this has got to be a publicity stunt which makes the whole exchange even more annoying. We love you Kanye, but do you really need publicity this badly? Turns out, many of us like you already and are listening to your records.
That said, Kanye has claimed in recent weeks that his Gmail, Twitter, and MySpace accounts have been hacked. Some are suggesting that his account is being used to promote another artist, though we don’t buy it for a second. The track we received sounded too much like Kanye, despite the Tokin’ Black Guy moniker.
Waddup Kanye? We’d just begun to forgive your mullet and your excessive use of autotune. Now, you’re sending us spam and telling us to call you “Martin Louis the King Jr.” (See vblog below.)
Kanye, Martin Louis the King Jr, Tokin’ Black Guy, whoever the hell you are… we love you, man. Now, stop fucking with us. And to quote you: “stop sending me Spam, it is uncalled for.”

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