Innovation isn’t always a positive thing but for Kanye West, it seems like the only thing and he has made this clear as he dropped his sixth studio album Yeezus this week. Kanye has delivered a sound fusion that breaks the barriers of genre. Few artists are given the artistic freedom from their fans and labels to sway completely from their fanbase’s taste buds and still be forgiven after the fact of putting out a terribly-received project but Kanye is indeed, respected for his creativity.
It seems that much of the hip-hop community isn’t claiming the album but if you look at Ye’s project as a hip-hop album, it is easy to down-play it. The vocals and flow will seem amateur and beats will seem overdone coming from any place that isn’t an open mind. Kanye is coming from a dark place beyond his twisted fantasy, which is obvious in all of the 10 track lyrics, topics and the eerie, gritty, serious vibe released from each electronic beat.
Nina Simone sampled “Blood On The Leaves” and surprisingly, the Chief Keef featured “Hold My Liquor” are highlights of the dark project, giving the hope that there are club hits that we’ll be able to hear the project in spots other than our own ipod and 6am basement after parties. Bound 2, featuring Charlie Wilson is the preview that we needed of the only Kanye to show that he’s still there and capable of putting out music with his old sound, just that he’s on a new path.
Through the jungle of heavily produced beats, Kanye touches on topics of race (Black Skinheads), materialism (New Slaves), and sex (I’m In It) but although it is a dignified attempt to draw attention to such issues, it comes across as Ye calling the kettle Kanye. At some points, it seems that even Kanye seems confused about the music he’s making and the position of his own life, causing the question to be asked: is this Kanye’s midlife crisis?
