The Streets' Mike Skinner is another rapper who has long seemed to grasp the power of the internet to push his artistic wares. After watching the crowd belting out every word to his new songs at bit.ly/kanyenyc, even West's harshest critics may be tempted to doff their caps. Last weekend, West performed an unannounced set at a small New York club. Over 35 minutes, it gives his detractors plenty to scoff at – notably the scantily clad phoenix heroine and West's acting – but the quality of the literate, pop-styled hip-hop soundtrack is undeniable, particularly the deliciously melancholic Runaway. West's site also features his ostentatious new video. At you can still download all 10 of the mostly excellent free tracks he's been giving away each Friday, ahead of his new album. So, while the rapper has made the most of social media recently, it's the typically surefooted new music which is really driving his comeback. And, although West has done plenty of daft things since then, not many have happened in a recording studio. K anye West rose to prominence in 2001 after producing the best tracks on Jay-Z's finest album, The Blueprint.

Jay z blueprint 1 download