"Power" was West's comeback single following his 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak and his controversial incident with Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

The song received critical acclaim, and was listed among the best tracks of 2010 by several publications, including Time, Pitchfork Media, Spin, and Rolling Stone.

West performed the song on Saturday Night Live, at the 2010 BET Awards, at the 2011 Coachella Music Festival, and his Watch the Throne Tour.

2009 was a troubled year for Kanye West, who had faced various controversies, including the divisive nature of his previous album, 808s & Heartbreak and his interruption of country singer-songwriter Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards during her acceptance speech.

[2] The ensuing media controversy caused West to exile himself to Oahu, Hawaii and record his fifth studio album mostly in a reclusive nature, shying away from collaborating with artists he was not personally close to.

[7] West also declared influence from his previous singles "Stronger" and "Good Life" from his third album Graduation stating that the track was meant to be inspirational for the listener.

[8] The cover art work for "Power" was produced by American visual artist George Condo, who also designed the artwork for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

[14][15] The song's production is reinforced with a vocal harmony provided by Dwele, with a line delivery mostly inspired by braggadocio rapping methods.

[18] Pitchfork Media's Ryan Dombal described West's delivery as urgent, summarizing the production; More than ever, though, "Power" has Kanye internalizing his multiple minds and coming to an ecstatic peace with them.

All of his various guises-- King of the Assholes, drama queen, Red Bull'd 12-year-old, Next Chappelle, strangely relatable Megaman-- are mashed up in this proudly schizoid roll call.

"[23] Jason Lipshutz from Billboard praised the song, saying, "with its stunning mix of rock-leaning production, memorable rhymes and unadulterated attitude, new single 'Power' is a pissed-off shot of adrenaline that plays upon all of the controversial rapper's strengths.

Rhyming over a soulful vocal harmony and an abrasive sample of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man," West dismisses his doubters, takes a shot at Saturday Night Live and shrugs off his recent hiatus from hip-hop.

"[17] Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media dubbed the track 'Best New Music' in June 2010, and viewed it as an adequate response to West's self-imposed exile and public scrutiny.

[25] HipHopDX writer Jake Paine felt that one of the best moments of the album occurred early on, during "Power" and that track will likely be the most remembered song "in lyrical circles".

Club called the track a terrific single, declaring that it "soars to adrenaline-fueled heights on the strength of urgent, stomping percussion-driven, serpentine electric guitar, and a show-stopping sample of King Crimson’s "21st Century Schizoid Man", stating that the song best showcases West's vision on the album.

[22] MT Richards of Slant Magazine stated that "Power" sounded nothing like any hip-hop song of recent memory, going as far as saying that the single signified that West was in a "league of his own.

"[5] Richards largely praised the song, musing that the "misanthropic 'Power' will surely alienate those longing for another sunny hit like "Hey Mama".

[29] The song was also well received by former King Crimson member Greg Lake, the original lead vocalist and bassist on "21st Century Schizoid Man."

"[37] In January 2011, The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop annual critics' poll named "Power" the fifth-best song of 2010 to find the best music of that year; West's other singles "Runaway" and "Monster" were ranked at numbers four and six, respectively.

At the eve of a new decade with his legacy tarnished and largely unfulfilled, West rewrote the narrative, and changed the course of the music industry as a continually groundbreaking force that could not be stopped.

[49] Following the release of the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the single re-entered the chart at number 57 and as of 23 October 2010 has spent a total of five weeks within the Top 100.

[56] The intention was to release a free new song every Friday for a few months to promote his album, and the weekly tracks generally featured various rappers from his label, GOOD Music, and other artists he usually collaborated with.

[58] West debuted "Power" live at the 2010 BET Awards, where he performed the song atop a mountain-like prop, with a video compilation of footage shot on top of a mountain playing in the back.

[59] West performed the track on Saturday Night Live on October 2, where he also substituted a verse containing profane language, as well as a diss towards the show itself ("Fuck SNL and the whole cast"), with an entirely new version.

"[69] Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone noted that "with its stomping beat and chanted chorus, 'Power'—one of West's most grandiose songs anyway—was an early highlight of his show.

[71] The New York Times previewed a clip of the music video directed by artist Marco Brambilla, featuring Irina Shayk, Jessica White and African-American albino fashion model Diandra Forrest.

[74][75][76] As the music begins, the camera slowly tracks out in one continuous take to reveal West standing at the end of a hallway of black columns, and surrounded by partially dressed female characters.

[77][78] Two horned, staff-bearing figures, loosely resembling interpretations of Isis and Hathor, stand on either side of West; each slowly strikes the ground with their staff, in time to the music.

In it, Kanye West ironically builds an unattainable artistic empire fit for a king (or pharaoh), while condemning the role power plays in our lives.

[76] Hitfix's Katie Hasty mused that West "put on a crown for 'Jesus Walks,' so it was only a matter of time before he ascended into heaven," describing the video as a "little weird, a little funny.