There are two things Kanye West is especially good at: one is complaining about not winning awards; the other is sulking throughout his music videos despite being surrounded by video vixens. “Flashing Lights” changes all of this.

This year’s Grammys were a huge success for Kanye, who walked away with four awards and delivered a tear-filled tribute to his mom. Later that same night, at the Entertainment Weekly after-party, he debuted the video for “Flashing Lights,” directed by the legendary Spike Jonze.

Instead of his usual display of egotism, Kanye is barely onscreen at all. The video opens with a Mustang parking in the middle of the desert at dusk. As the red brake lights turn off, the song breaks into its titular refrain and Playboy model Rita G exits the car dressed in fur and large black sunglasses. She promptly strips down to her expensive lingerie, then lights her clothes on fire.

With flames now at her back and Kanye belting his rap, Rita G glides back toward the car. With her four-inch heels, push-up bra, and the camera speed slowed down just slightly, the viewer is treated to a drawn-out display of bouncing bosoms.

An atypically restrained Kanye finally makes his appearance when Rita opens the trunk to reveal his bound, gagged, and tuxedoed figure. She gives his ducktaped mouth a kiss and retrieves a shovel. As the camera pans out, the Playmate raises the shovel over her head and begins jabbing it into the trunk. The video then quickly cuts to the words “Flashing Lights” before ending over a minute before the actual song would normally stop.

When I heard this song months ago, I figured the video would feature a dark room full of Rita G’s and pulsing, (obviously) flashing lights. Kanye would probably dominate the frame and look pretty pleased with himself. Not so much, it turns out. What did I know?

—Andrew F. Nunnelly