This won’t make a lot of sense to most but Kanye’s new album just makes me sad.
Kanye is many things. Untalented isn’t one of them.
Despite his flaws, he has made some music that was downright stellar and groundbreaking. He has had moments of soaring musically.
1/
Kanye is many things. Untalented isn’t one of them.
Despite his flaws, he has made some music that was downright stellar and groundbreaking. He has had moments of soaring musically.
1/
In the early 2000s, Kanye was on another level.
Jesus Walks was transcendent.
Late Registration was rich and listenable from top to bottom.
He had radio hits and deep cuts. He mixed it up and kept it fresh. His album drops were an event.
What’s Ye gonna do next?
2/
Jesus Walks was transcendent.
Late Registration was rich and listenable from top to bottom.
He had radio hits and deep cuts. He mixed it up and kept it fresh. His album drops were an event.
What’s Ye gonna do next?
2/
In 2007 though, Kanye West’s mother died after a surgery.
After her death, he released My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
It was a masterpiece.
Rich, layered, produced and slick. It had hooks for days.
Woven into the tracks was a deep pain though. A man undone by loss.
3/
After her death, he released My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
It was a masterpiece.
Rich, layered, produced and slick. It had hooks for days.
Woven into the tracks was a deep pain though. A man undone by loss.
3/
🎶 How’s Ye doin’?
I’m survivin’
I was drinking earlier
Now I’m driving 🎵
And
🎶 It would be a beautiful death
Jumping out the window 🎵
Lost in the acclaim was how clear it was that he had been pulled loose by his mother’s death like a ship unmoored from its dock.
4/
I’m survivin’
I was drinking earlier
Now I’m driving 🎵
And
🎶 It would be a beautiful death
Jumping out the window 🎵
Lost in the acclaim was how clear it was that he had been pulled loose by his mother’s death like a ship unmoored from its dock.
4/
In the past decade, as we all know, Kanye has been all over the place.
It has often felt like the work of a mind-numbingly egocentric, selfish artist convinced he truly is Yeezus.
It’s hard to see that and not be put off by it.
5/
It has often felt like the work of a mind-numbingly egocentric, selfish artist convinced he truly is Yeezus.
It’s hard to see that and not be put off by it.
5/
Beneath it though, all I see is the same complicated guy who made some of the most enduring hip-hop singles of the past two decades drifting away from emotional health.
It is incredibly sad.
It is like something broke when his mother passed. He hasn’t been the same since.
6/
It is incredibly sad.
It is like something broke when his mother passed. He hasn’t been the same since.
6/
The new album sounds like just so much searching.
A man trying to find grounding in faith while posturing like he has it all figured out while, in reality, his world is swirling in ways he can’t manage.
I don’t envy him. The public eye is no place for struggle.
7/
A man trying to find grounding in faith while posturing like he has it all figured out while, in reality, his world is swirling in ways he can’t manage.
I don’t envy him. The public eye is no place for struggle.
7/
This new album is going to get savaged.
Lyrics like “Closed on Sunday / I’m your Chick-Fil-A” will get ya that.
And who knows how that public bashing will hit Ye.
I just feel sad for the guy.
The days of “Stronger” seem so long ago as to be another person altogether.
Sad.
//
Lyrics like “Closed on Sunday / I’m your Chick-Fil-A” will get ya that.
And who knows how that public bashing will hit Ye.
I just feel sad for the guy.
The days of “Stronger” seem so long ago as to be another person altogether.
Sad.
//
