Kanye West‘s latest album Yeezus doesn’t “officially” get released until June 18, but the highly anticipated project managed to leak days before. With fans, artists and critics all foaming at the mouth to hear the latest offering from hip-hop’s most acclaimed and polarizing superstar, one couldn’t help but imagine the project, which promised to be something of a departure from West’s previous albums, would be just as acclaimed and polarizing as the star himself.
Boy, is it ever.
The dark, angry sixth album from Mr. West finds the rapper lashing out at numerous targets. He blasts consumerism and racism (of both the “rich n___a” and “poor n___a” variety) on “New Slaves,” wallows in his own hedonism and inflated ego on “I Am a God” and, on “Blood On the Leaves,” manages to turn one of the most iconic protest songs of the 20th century into a whiny AutoTuned lament about marrying a woman he had more fun just sleeping with.
Yeezus is definitely guaranteed to divide fans, but that says more about fan expectations than it does the album itself. It’s not some left-field departure for West — perhaps not even as much of a shell-shock as 2008’s 808s and Heartbreak was for many listeners. And there are some that will bemoan the fact that it’s not “traditional hip-hop;” though in 2013, what does that even mean, really?
Working in the album’s favor is the roster of guest stars, which unlike most mainstream hip-hop releases circa 2013, is driven by creativity, not commercialism. So there are appearances by everyone from Bon Iver to Chief Keef, and producers Rick Rubin and Daft Punk bring their distinctive talents to the musical proceedings as well, helping Yeezy flesh out this ego-driven masterpiece of pomp and ridiculousness.
This is compelling music, even if what makes it compelling is the unbelievable arrogance at it’s center. Of course, some listeners will be turned off hearing West indignantly scream “Hurry up with my damn croissants!” while likening himself to a deity, but aside from the rage and adolescent sense of persecution (which are Yeezy trademarks at this point) there is an album that manages to be both the next step in West’s musical evolution and also a summation of everything he’s done musically up to this point.
The industrial crunch of “Black Skinhead” recalls Saul Williams’ collaborations with Trent Reznor from several years ago; but it also has an ancestor in West’s own anthemic “Power.” The spirit of 808s and Heartbreak hangs over “Blood On the Leaves” like a specter; meanwhile, “Bound 2” hearkens back to that vintage soul ‘Ye that some fans have been begging to return since 2007. “On Sight” is co-produced by Daft Punk, who Kanye famously sampled on “Stronger” from his Graduation album, and sounds like a twisted continuation of that sound.
But there are some other things you should know about Yeezus if you haven’t heard it yet. Here are 10 factors you should bear in mind while listening …
