Released - 11/22/10
Label - Roc-A-Fella Records
BLURB - Where to begin with Mr. West? "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is by far, the best hip hop album to come out in 2010. West has the unmistakable knack for delivering on every album he's put out. He's in total control of every note, sample, beat, verse - nothing gets by without the 'Yeezy' stamp of approval, and it shows. This record flourishes with diversity, creativity and originality. Some tracks come with an old school Wu-Tang feel, while others are incredibly modern and progressive. Swagger and coolness are literally pouring out of the album as each track delivers verse after verse of stellar rhymes and innovative beats. Even my bosses can't stop listening to "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." Love him or hate him as a person, but you can't deny the greatest rapper alive of his masterpiece.
Rating - 10 out of 10
FULL STORY - First I'll explain my bias. Kanye West has been my favorite rapper for as long as I can remember. I own everything he's ever put out, and will continue to buy every album he makes. There's just this unique and distinct talent that you have to acknowledge when you're talking about Kanye. What people don't realize is that at his core, West is a premier songwriter and something of a musical genius. He produces all of his tracks, creates all of his beats, coordinates all of the instrumentation, and oh yeah...he raps too. There's something to be said about someone who is in that much control of their music. He is wholly responsible for every note on every album. For me, to see someone take such ownership and pride in something and not accept anything less than the best, is not only admirable but a model everyone should use in life.
As long as I can remember Kanye has been a veritable 'hot button' for many people, and I've never fully understood why. West developed this unflattering reputation over the last few years as being a jerk and an egomaniac that is constantly stirring up controversy with some of the things he says. Granted, he is a little crazy, like all geniuses, but he has always stood by his words and actions. If nothing else, Kanye is probably the most honest and forthcoming public figure out there. He received endless criticism for upstaging of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the VMA's when he interrupted her collection of thank-you's, to inform her that in reality, her song wasn't that great and shouldn't have won the award. Now I know there's got to be a better way for him to handle that, but in all seriousness - he was right. And in some bizarre way, that exchange only made me like him more.
But enough history, let's get to the album. Kanye always does a great job prefacing his records with a welcoming opening track that readies the listener for the rest of the album - and this is no different with 'Dark Fantasy.' The opening track has a laid back groove and swagger that immediately makes you glad you hit the play button. West also throws around some clever wordplay that can't help but make you laugh as your nodding your head up and down. Case and point, this gem:
"...too many Urkels on your team - that's why your wins low...."
I've been noticing that the second song on the record, 'Power,' is quickly becoming one of the better sports anthems of the year. I hear it everywhere - on SportsCenter, at NBA games, in the background of football games. The track samples the obscure King Crimson's 'Twenty First Century Schizoid Man' and has an energy and enthusiasm that is all too tangible. West does a great job changing tempos and throwing in several interludes and bridges that grow on you with each listen. If nothing else, the switches employ a great supply of diversity, never allowing the listener to lose interest. To boot, the track provides the typical confident and arrogant lyrics that have made West the rapper he is:
"They say I was the abomination of Obama's nation, well that's a pretty bad way to start the conversation. At the end of the day, god dammit I'm killin' this shit. I know damn well y'all feelin' this shit."
'All of the Lights' might be one of Kanye's greatest feats. What eventually turns into one of the best pop songs of 2010, begins with a surreal interlude of strings and pianos that gently float through the speakers. As the song begins, a french horn casually belts out the best hook on the album and you're sitting there thinking to yourself, 'wait, was that a french horn?' But in all reality, that sound and the tone of the horn is perfect and I can't think of any other instrument delivering that riff. This introduction alone sets the tone for the song as something triumphant and regal. The cast of guests on the track only confirms this, featuring Rihanna, Fergie, The-Dream, Elton John, Ryan Leslie, La Roux, Charlie Wilson and even Elton John! Once again the song is creatively structured with numerous breaks and shifts in pace, instrumentation and tones - making 'All of the Lights' Kanye's greatest pop record to date and impossible to get out of your head.
If 'All of the Lights' is West's greatest pop effort, then 'Monster' is his greatest rap effort. Filled with dark and eery samples and an insane old school beat, the track takes on a ominous personality. The track has an all star cast providing verses and rhymes that all stay within the dark theme of the song. Nicki Minaj quite possibly made her career out of her verse on 'Monster,' as she delivers line after line of forceful dialect. Everything about 'Monster' feels right. You can almost make the argument that the track could be about how the media perceives West as a monster of sorts. Even the chorus kind of addresses this metaphorically (at least it does in my head) as Kanye more or less says, 'you guys can call me a monster...but you're still going to my concerts and listening to my music...':
'Gossip, gossip, niggas just stop it. Everybody knows I'm a motherfuckin' monster. Imma need to see your fuckin' hands at the concert. Imma need to see your fucking hands at the concert. Profit, profit, nigga I got it. Everybody knows I'm a motherfuckin' monster."
'Devil In a New Dress' is one of the many surprises on the album. The track is a laid back, breezy six minutes of absolute bliss. The backing samples and instrumentation casually motor the song as you can't help but relax and nod your head up and down. If I was rich I would hop in my Benz, light a cigar, drive 55 mph on the highway with the windows down - blasting 'Devil In a New Dress.' As is one of the developing themes with the album, 'Devil In a New Dress' goes off into several variations, yet never straying from the original beat. As one of the later interludes appears to be finishing up, the electric guitar solos, pianos and strings intensify and build in strength. Just as the music is peaking we're met with a surprise, show-stopping verse from Rick Ross that reels us right back into the song and leaves us saying, 'where the hell did that come from?'
Kanye digs out the auto-tuner for 'Hell of a Life' and yet again pens up another hit. The song is the most electronic on the album with fuzzy synth bass lines and arpeggiators everywhere. Kanye, wisely, only uses the auto-tune for the chorus - but his mastery of this effect is worth note. If you use it constantly (see 808's and Heartbreaks), the effect can become annoying and cheesy very quickly. But when used briefly like on 'Hell of a Life,' you can really liven up the track and enhance not only the sound, but the feel of the lyrics.
I could go on for days about why 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' is the greatest hip hop album of the last decade, maybe even of all time. I didn't even get a chance to talk about the breakout single, 'Runaway' or the dazzling collaboration West did with Bon Iver in 'Lost in the World.' Kanye continues to prove that he is the best at what he does with this album as each track leaves me selfishly wanting more. The originality, ingenuity and foresight that he applies to his music is second to none. And he does all of this with a level of passion and commitment that simply put, just doesn't exist in the music world today (or at least as much as we would hope). Kanye completely buys into everything that he does - so it's no surprise that we're all buying his records. Is it cliched to say 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' is anything but the best album of 2010?
Tracks
1.) Dark Fantasy
2.) Gorgeous
3.) Power
4.) All of the Lights (Interlude)
5.) All of the Lights
6.) Monster
7.) So Appalled
8.) Devil in a New Dress
9.) Runaway
10.) Hell of a Life
11.) Blame Game
12.) Lost in the World
13.) Who Will Survive in America
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