Naked Women, Kanye West, and an Album of AutoTune

at the Ace Gallery in Hollywood, a warehouse-like space where a few hundred music industry types were herded up a ramp and confronted with about 35 motionless and completely naked (except for their high heels) ladies. But there was nothing to say to them, because we were all there to hear the world premiere of Kanye West's forthcoming 808s & Heartbreak, with the stationary models as a sort of accompanying art installation, as imagined by Italian artist Vanessa Beecroft.

The women stood motionless as most of the album played out, backlit by a large, glowing screen controlled by a visual DJ in the corner. The crowd -- which included hip-hop luminaries like Rick Ross and Will.i.am -- gathered around the dimly lit gals in a semi-circle, as guards paced an invisible perimeter to make sure no one tried to engage the models.

West finally appeared after the album had run through in its entirety and offered some explanations. "I've always been a fan of Vanessa's work and its strong imagery," he told the crowd, explaining that Beecroft had only had a week to put the event together. "I liked the idea of nudity, because… in society, they tell us to wear clothes at a certain point… Crazy is anyone who breaks from the norm."