Michael Rapaport has unleashed a scathing rant about Kanye West. “You fat pile of sh-t. You fat, washed up pile of sh-t. What are you – CIA? FBI? You a fed, you fat f-ck? You fat bloated f-ck. Jewish people are going through enough. We don’t need your fat f-cking dusty a– saying anything. If your mother was still alive, she’d be embarrassed. You’re an embarrassment to Donda. You got a new record coming out? Brick. No one’s f-cking with your music. You look like sh-t and I bet you smell like sh-t too,” the actor said.
Rapaport, who has become a viral sensation for his TikTok defenses of Israel since renewed hostilities between Israel and Palestine, was responding to comments West made during a listening party rant for Vultures. the rant took aim at the Jewish community, Adidas, and individuals like JAY-Z and Drake. “N-gga just cause I had a car, n-gga. F-ck everybody, n-gga. That’s what I’m trying to say to you n-ggas right f-cking now, n-gga. Drake, this is what you been waiting for. Jay-Z, this is what you been waiting for. Adidas, this is what you been waiting for. Kim, this is what you been waiting for. n-ggas be hanging around these n-ggas for the money on some Mike Rubin sh-t,” Kanye said in part.
However, Rapaport isn’t the only person coming for Kanye. Azealia Banks took aim at West, specifically for his comments attacking Nicki Minaj. “Okay. Now I’m really pissed the f-ck off. Regardless of how I feel about PF2, did fat smelly loser Kanye west really just try step all over Nicki’s release? Did I hear correctly when he tried to take credit for supporting her career?????” Banks wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Minaj and Kanye are feuding because Minaj refused to clear her verse for “New Body”, a track set to appear on Kanye’s upcoming album, Vultures. “New Body” was originally meant to appear on the unreleased Yandhi. However, it was reworked into a Christian track for Jesus Is King but creative differences between Kanye and Minaj meant that the song was left off the album. Ty Dolla $ign implied on his track “Status” in 2020 that Kanye refused to release the song because it was “generic shit”.
KayCyy is an artist who has been making quite the name for himself over the past few years. Overall, he is an artist who is known for his incredible versatility. From his singing voice to his rapping ability, he is someone who is multi-faceted. With each of his releases, KayCyy has been able to showcase that versatility in abundance. Fans certainly got a taste of that on his latest full-length effort TW2052which is a collaborative project with producer Gesaffelstein.
Furthermore, you probably also know KayCyy from his work on Donda. He was one of the many artists who collaborated on the project with Kanye West. Throughout the album’s creation, KayCyy became an inside source of information on social media. Not to mention, he also got the hook on Keep My Spirit Alive. It was here that a lot of fans were introduced to the artist. However, KayCyy has proven that he can more than hold his own on his own work. He’s an exciting breath of fresh air and many are taking notice.
HNHH got to sit down with KayCyy where we spoke on a plethora of topics. From his latest album to his evolution as an artist, KayCyy had a lot of great insight. Moreover, KayCyy also got to touch on the Utopia situation and how it made him want to stick up for artists everywhere. It was a great conversation that you will not want to miss.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
HNHH: Back in May you dropped off your album TW2052 with Gesaffelstein. How did you get linked up with him in the first place?
KayCyy: It was a connection because we both had worked on Donda and happened to be on the same label. So the CEO kind of just like he put it together in a way that made sense and then when we linked up. It was a really great chemistry. So we kept it going in a way, so I still talk to him.
What was your kind of creative process for that album in terms of the vision and having it all come together?
Just kind of felt like some futuristic type vibes. That’s how I felt as I was kind of new to his style but when I found out it just felt like it was something that’s super in the future. I just tried to match that. That’s kind of why I named it 2052.
How do you feel like your voice specifically fits that futuristic tone and aesthetic?
It’s kind of like sometimes your goal is some dark sounds and I kind of feel like my voice is more like the light. It kind of just matches those dark chords in a way where it just kind of meets beautifully in the middle.
Speaking on other tracks you dropped this year, you also had “My Jeans” which is a funky, groovy, r&b track. Is that a style you are interested in doing more of and maybe even giving fans a full album of?
Yeah, I do have a whole album in that style that I’ve been working on for the past year. That is the direction that’s supposed to come. So yeah, I just can’t wait to give people more that sound. “My Jeans,” that’s just like a taste. Like the first preview of it.
You said you’ve been working on this project for about a year now. Do you find yourself working on other projects at the same time or do you kind of just focus on one thing and try to get it done?
I think I worked on two or three at the same time. I was working on this other album that didn’t go with that whole style of “My Jeans.” I’d like to make trap stuff like my song “Stay Up” and all that kind of stuff. I just wanted to give a project where it’s more focused on my melodies and stuff like that. I’m still rapping a little bit, but I’m rapping on these melodic beats that are kind of live instruments. But at the same time I’m working on something else where I feel like if I’m in a moment and I do make a song that might not fit this style of this project, I just kind of put it in this next one that I’ve been working on
When you promoted “My Jeans,” you had the album art about not being a backup singer. This was right after not getting your proper feature credit on “Thank God” off of Travis Scott’s “Utopia.” How did you feel about not getting your credit and why did you make that part of your song rollout?
I mean, I just kind of felt like what I said, saying. I felt exactly like the whole world saw. But I do have credit as a writer. It was just more so I just felt like there’s a lot of maybe favoritism that happened in a way where my name was revealed as a feature, or maybe it was just a confusion on that part. That’s all. That’s all I felt at the time and I’m really passed it. But I tied it into the cover art because it was what I truly felt, the whole I’m not a background singer thing. Just for any artist, it’s not easy for smaller artists to do that compared to bigger artists because they’ve had a moment to kind of showcase their talents on different tracks, but it’s like when you have only a few opportunities to do so and it kind of gets a place in the backdrop, It doesn’t really help your future.
Every single year since 2020, you’ve been dropping at least one project a year. How do you feel like you’ve seen yourself evolve as an artist during that time frame?
As I get older I see different things, so I feel like it all correlates for my music. So every project is kind of a different theme. I look at everything as a superhero. I’m kind of Rob. It’s like every project is a Marvel movie or something of another Avengers or another Captain America or something. Like just fitting in your character in these different scenarios. So it’s always something different.
In 2022 I got to see you at Rolling Loud and it was a great performance. Now that you have been on the festival circuit, how has it been growing as a performer and being able to connect with fans on such a large scale?
Especially after this year I grew as a performer. After Rolling Loud I did so many other things like going all over the world in different places. So it was different and going on my own tour kind of definitely shaped me as a performer and understanding what kind of performer I’m trying to be and whatI need to work on and what I’m already good at. The China tour that I just recently did was really good on that because it really just gave me more faith in what’s to come in a way. I’m saying cuz it’s like those are actually packed out shows for myself.So it was interesting to see that all over across the world.
Throughout the years and certain situations, you have gotten an outpouring of support on social media. But sometimes, social media doesn’t reflect real life. But now, you’ve gone on tour and you’ve seen that fanbase materialize in sold out shows. How has it been being able to just get that affirmation that you are on the right track?
I think it just goes what I was saying about faith. I have my discouraging moments in my career, so it’s just like when you have those reassuring moments, it really does help me and put that battery in your back.
One thing that fans remember you for is in 2021 when you were helping Kanye West with Donda. For many, you were a hub of information giving inside information on the album. It is how a lot of fans discovered you. Take me through those days and what it was kind of like being an insider while also being a creative who’s helping with writing the album, but also just somebody who’s kind of connecting with the fans and trying to give them that inside scoop on what’s happening.
I mean, I probably shouldn’t even have been doing that. But I mean at first that’s some stuff that I did get in trouble for but it was out of pure excitement and just being in that vibe. It was dope. I mean, I feel like anything happened. It’s just that whole experience was really a learning experience. Producing wise seeing new things in life. I feel like I can’t take no negative from those moments like everything that I could take from it was positive. I learned a lot.
How did working in that fast-paced, pressured environment influence how you now work in the studio?
Obviously Ye is one of the greatest if not the greatest producer that’s living. It’’s dope to see how he puts songs together and the process of it and obviously it’s like if you’re seeing somebody that’s considered a genius do that you want to pay attention and let it soak in and obviously I do take some of those techniques and use it on my own music. Alsojust collaboration is what it really showed me, working with more than just one person to get the job done..
Yeah, and that kind of leads into my next question which was who are some of the artists or producers that you’re kind of excited to work with or want to work with in the future?
I really want to work with Rosalia one day. I think she’s incredible. And I feel like the beats that she chooses are very interesting.. I can’t wait to be in the same room with her. I’m saying. People maybe Tyler, the Creator something like that. Those are people who I haven’t worked with.
For sure and just to end off. what did you feel like was your biggest achievement in 2023 and then moving from there, what’s your goal for 2024?
Being able to tour in 2023 was probably the biggest achievement.2024, just praying to put out this album and see what comes from it and hopefully get back on the road. Put out some more clothes. Something I’ve been working on and that’s it.
The replica of Kanye West’s childhood home that served as a key aspect of the set for his Donda concerts is being up for sale. The news was confirmed by Jason Levy of The Levy Recover Group, who will administer the sale. The 900-square-foot modular house will go up for sale on September 25, with an online auction running until October 2. Additionally, the eventual winner can pay an additional fee to have the production company behind the model put the replica together. According to TMZ, the lot is currently being stored unassembled in a Chicago storage facility.
The replica was the focus point of the set for West’s Donda and Donda 2 concerts in Chicago and Miami last year. It is a perfect replica of the house that West grew up in alongside his late mother, Donda. The idea for the replica came about after West tried to bring the original house to Soldier Field. However, the Chicago Department of Housing denied the request, leading the creation of the replica. While West hinted at a bigger tour featuring the model, that never materialized. Subsequently, West’s 2022 became best remembered for his anti-Semitic rants on Twitter.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 13: Kanye West and Bianca Censori are seen on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Meanwhile, West himself is currently enjoying Europe with his common-law wife, Bianca Censori. After being seen in Tokyo last month, the couple were seen living large in Italy earlier this week. Of course, Kanye’s latest relationship is a controversial one. Not only was Censori working for one of his companies at the time, but the pair aren’t legally married. However, the pair appears to be happy enough.
Meanwhile, Fya Man has claimed that West is working on a new album. West hasn’t released a full-length project since 2021’s Donda. Per Fya Man’s Reddit AMA, he described the new music as “Old Ye but new with the times.” Furthermore, Fya Man claimed that West took time away from his recently birthday party to work on the album. “Music was worked on heavily, and the party was amazing.” However Fya Man made it clear that the album was not Donda 2 and that project would remain unfinished for the foreseeable future.
Lil Yachty says that DaBaby outperformed JAY-Z on Kanye West’s track, “Jail,” off of Donda. While JAY is featured on the original version of the song, DaBaby adds a verse in “Jail pt 2,” which comes later in the album’s tracklist. Yachty discussed both verses during an appearance on the A Safe Place podcast.
“Something I’ve wanted to talk about for a long time is the song ‘Jail’ from Kanye West,” Lil Yachty told MitchGoneMad. “In my personal opinion, I think DaBaby had a better verse.”
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 30: Kanye West (L) and JAY-Z onstage at the Tidal launch event #TIDALforALL at Skylight at Moynihan Station on March 30, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
From there, Yachty admitted that the comments could land him in hot water with fans. “I know the conversation of Jay-Z versus DaBaby is ins*ne, but I honestly think his verse was better… I feel that’s gonna get me a lot of heat anyway. Maybe not as heated as the whole Biggie situation I dealt with in 2016,” he said. Check out his appearance on A Safe Place below.
Yachty was referencing a time when he labeled The Notorious B.I.G. as “overrated.” He ended up receiving so much backlash at the time that he eventually walked back his comments. Appearing on Ebro’s Beats 1 show, he said: “I feel like I owe an apology. I didn’t think before I spoke on that topic. I know now how important and just how serious it is to some people. I didn’t want people thinking that I was disrespecting him because it wasn’t a disrespect thing.”
Lil Yachty Discusses Kanye West’s “Jail”
Kanye West’s “Jail” went on to win Best Rap Song at the 64th Grammy Awards while Donda as a whole took home nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album. In addition to DaBaby, “Jail pt 2” also features vocals from Marilyn Manson.
The Donda rollout was undoubtedly a messy yet mesmerizing experience. From debuting two separate versions of the project at Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium to its finale in Chicago, Kanye West created a spectacle out of the rollout. However, it didn’t go without its headaches and outbursts. A new documentary clip surfaced this morning that shows some of the behind-the-scenes antics surrounding the project as he rounded up an elite list of collaborators including Fivio Foreign, Playboi Carti, Pusha T and more.
Kanye West left fans disappointed when he replaced Jay-Z on “Jail” with DaBaby and Marilyn Manson, both engulfed in controversy at the time. Apparently, Ye needed his collaborators on stage at the Chicago listening party. “Everybody that’s not here, I’m taking their verses off,” he said. “So, I’m taking Jay-Z verse off. I’m taking – if there’s anybody not here on the porch with me, they’re not on this version.” Afterward, Ye looks at the camera and asks, “How do you even describe these kinds of conversations, bro?”
Although Ye debuted Donda in Chicago without Hov, he released the project with both versions of “Jail.” It marked the return ofThe Throne – Jay-Z and Kanye West’s first collaboration since their underwhelming appearance on “Pop Style.” Earlier in the documentary clip, there’s a scene where Kanye’s working in a classroom-like setting with engineers and producers as they tweak the final product of “Jail.” Around the time, Ye also confirmed that Watch The ThroneII would arrive before the year came to an end, but that never actually happened. There’s still no real update on whether that project will ever come to fruition.
In addition to insight into “Jail,” the behind-the-scenes clip provides some interesting looks into Ye’s creative process at the time. Alongside footage from the studio, the clip also shows Ye visiting his childhood home in Chicago and delivering a passionate sermon to his collaborators. During the speech, he thanks God for his now-estranged wife, kids, and mother, and for becoming alcohol-free. It’s overall an interesting clip that will likely have you revisiting Donda. Check out the snippet above and sound off with your thoughts.
Kanye West put fans through the ringer when he dropped DONDA back in 2021. Overall, the making of this album was genuinely off the wall. Firstly, he previewed a horrifically unfinished album at Mercedez Benz stadium in Atlanta. Subsequently, he delivered a second version of the album that was a lot better. Lastly, he dropped a third preview of the album in Chicago. This eventually led to him dropping the album officially, a couple of days later.
However, the wildest part of this rollout is how he was living inside the Atlanta Stadium for weeks. He put up a bed in one of the locker rooms and made music out of there. Moreover, he put up a livestream in which he could be seen working out and recording with the likes of Lil Yachty and Playboi Carti. During this entire process, camera crews were there to document the entire process. An official documentary had never made it to the airwaves. However, that has ultimately changed as a five-minute clip from the doc has leaked.
As we reported on yesterday, part of this footage showcases Kanye recording the song “Junya.” For those who are not aware, this is a song with Playboi Carti. These recording sessions were fairly intense, and they seemed to be a whole lot of fun. However, Kanye West is very meticulous, and you can be sure that he made a lot of changes to what folks were doing. Either way, fans are just happy that they get to see this new footage.
Kanye West has been known to document his life. Of course, just last year we got the Jeen-Yuhs doc which took a look at Kanye’s early life and career. Unfortunately, things took a pretty harsh turn for him back in November as he went on numerous anti-Semitic tirades. Hopefully, Kanye is able to get his head right sometime soon. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on this footage, down below.
In new leaked documentary footage, Kanye West in seen working alongside Playboi Carti on his song “Junya.” The clip reportedly comes from the unreleased Donda documentary. Footage also shows the rapper at the literal drawing board for the album, screaming at various collaborators.
The clips surface following a recent paparazzi photo getting fans’ attention, showing Ye appearing in good spirits alongside Ice Cube. Ice Cube had spoken out about Ye’s claims that the rapper inspired him to make antisemitic comments on social media. “I didn’t put the batteries in his back. Please leave my name out of all the anti-semitic talk. I’m not antisemitic and never have been,” Ice Cube previously wrote on Twitter. Earlier this week, Ye also gave paparazzi a piece of his mind while they snapped photos of him on his way to church. Like, seriously bro, all of you motherf*ckers, stop following me!” he yelled.
Kanye West was also sued by a third former-Donda Academy teacher last week. Timanii Meeks cites various alleged safety hazards at the academy, and claims that they improperly let her go from her position at the school. “The addition of Ms. Meeks to the complaint only serves to reinforce the nightmarish conditions for staff and students at Donda Academy,” attorney Ron Zambrano stated. He went on to say that “all three [teachers] were given the same retaliatory and unlawful treatment merely for trying to stand up for the students’ rights to a meaningful education.”
On a recent episode of The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian also revealed more about her divorce from West and feeling the need to protect her children from his various public scandals. “I still feel the need to not talk about it and protect it from my kids and I always will feel that way but God, if people knew,” she explained, “I would just never do that to my kids.”
Kanye West, known as Ye, has been in the press for several wrong reasons over the past few years. However, there’s no denying his status as one of the greatest artists of all time. The Chicago-born creative icon released his debut project, The College Dropout, in 2004. Since then, he’s created classic after classic. Largely regarded as arguably the greatest musician of the past century, his sound gravitates from soul-induced raps to heavy drill bangers.
In fact, Kanye West isn’t shy to boast about his GOAT status. As far back as eight years ago, he went on the Sway in the Morning show and compared himself to Shakespeare or Walt Disney. Say what you want about Ye’s rampant ego, but he’s only solidified that point since that statement. Today, we’re taking on the impossible task of ranking Kanye West’s deep discography. Let us know where you agree (and disagree) in the comments below!
13. Jesus Is King (2019)
Amid Ye’s newfound embracement of Christianity, he released Jesus Is King. Using a tunnel vision approach to integrating gospel music, The Sunday Service Choir is all over the record. Watery synth leads and psychedelic vocals fill the record. While several fascinating sonic elements or ideas exist, the grand-scale results are mixed.
Unfortunately, Jesus Is King reads as an interpolation of Christian values or gospel sound rather than a record that feels like Kanye West. If anything, Ye’s lyricism seems to come from a man trying to convince himself of his religious devotion. This is especially apparent in “Closed On Sunday” or “God Is.” His vocals meander and riff without a sense of direction through much of the record, making Jesus Is King arguably his weakest overall vocal performance.
For all its downfalls, Jesus Is King still contains listenable elements. “Selah” does the gospel genre more justice than any other track here, with epic battle drums and a confrontational tone. The Pierre Bourne-produced “On God” comes straight out of a retro video game, with peaking synths and a booming 808. “Use This Gospel” features solid vocal lines and beautiful keyboard notes on the Clipse reunion. While flawed, Jesus Is King has its share of quality Kanye West songs on a record representing his return to his spiritual faith.
12. Cruel Summer (2012)
Cruel Summer was a collaborative project released under the G.O.O.D Music collective. Advertised as a larger-than-life project spearheaded by Kanye and Jay-Z, the project ultimately didn’t live up to fans’ expectations. The record is best remembered for “Mercy” and “Don’t Like,” two legitimate bangers maintaining a timeless sound today.
Sure, you have your chart-topping hits. That was bound to happen when you have a Chief Keef remix and an all-star lineup of MCs. However, the mixtape ultimately failed to deliver a consistently engaging piece of art. From the jaded R. Kelly intro to the awkward interlude “Sin City,” it’s an exhausting direct listen. In addition, the project seems to lack an underlying purpose, reading as aimless grandiosity. For example, Jay-Z oddly appears less on the project than the likes of 2 Chainz. Cruel Summer is often forgotten in Kanye’s discography for good reason.
11. Donda (2021)
Everything about Kanye West’s tenth studio album was exhausting. From multiple wasted nights praying for its release to its chaotic promotion, its eventual release, if anything, warranted a sigh of relief. However, Donda would continue down this trend of chaos. Compiling two hours of music, there’s seemingly no purpose to the order of the tracklist. Ye would continue to toy with the arrangement of Donda months after its initial release.
Named after his late mother, grandeur listening events and cryptic social media posts followed the project’s rollout. An adventurous blend of euphoric highs and confusing lows, Donda features the best and worst of Kanye’s character. “Off the Grid” is the former, a Pop Smoke-tributed drill banger with a career-defining verse from Fivio Foreign. Then, “24” is rooted in gospel, a track that feels like a fully realized version of what he was trying to do on Jesus Is King. “Moon” blends harrowing vocals from Don Toliver and Kids See Ghost-esque guitar strings into a beautiful ballad.
Donda is a mess. However, it’s Kanye West’s mess. Narratively blending religious tropes with tributes to his late devoted mother, the curse-free record reads a genuine portrait of his current mental state. Picking and choosing from various soundscapes, the project’s lack of cohesion leaves it well behind Kanye’s best work. Ultimately, Donda is a record full of great ideas and features that fall short of its potential.
10. Watch The Throne (2011)
Leaving Watch the Throne this far down the list certainly wasn’t an easy decision. Kanye West feels as alive as ever, adding some of his most menacing verses. Two titans are at the top of Mt. Rushmore, Kanye and Jay-Z. However, some believe the project is a Kanye record featuring Jay. “No Church In The Wild” will have listeners envisioning speeding down a highway with menacing synths and harmonious Frank Ocean vocals. “Otis” contains a classic Jay-Z sound, with taunting piano chords and plenty of quotable lines.
While Kanye had detoured from 808-based bangers over the past few years, he just wanted to have fun on Watch the Throne. A record that appeased the “OG hip-hop” portion of his fanbase, the project sounds flat-out expensive. The two rap over pristine Otis Redding samples, trading verses addressing their financial aspirations. While you can argue that the two’s egos have hindered their respective careers in the past, the two discarded their respective mantras for an hour of fan service.
9. Ye (2018)
The 24-minute ye symbolized a pivotal moment in Kanye West’s career trajectory. Creating the album in a matter of days, the project was only one of his numerous creative outputs over the summer of 2018. In addition, he produced projects for Teyana Taylor and Pusha T while putting on the finishing touches of the Kid Cudi-collaborated Kids See Ghosts.
There’s no doubt that ye was rushed. There’s a wild, uncalculated nature to much of the production. Essentially, the project is a brief snapshot of his mental state during this time. There are plenty of cringe-worthy bars on ye, notably on the opener “I Thought About Killing You.” You also have the messy “All Mine.” The minimal beat and silly vocal leads make it a low moment on the record.
For all of the downfalls of ye, its unparalleled darkness and intimate snapshot into his mindset make it one of the most fascinating albums to date. Featuring significant pushback due to his endorsement of Donald Trump and erratic interviews, ye reminds his audience that he’s humanly flawed. “Ghost Town” and “Violent Crimes” feature booming vocals, a family man who secretly just wants to be a kid again. “No Mistakes” is downright gorgeous, featuring reverbed synths and snappy drums. One of his most intimate projects, ye has an odd way of getting better with every listen.
8. Yeezus (2013)
When Kanye West presented Yeezus to Rick Rubin back in 2013, Rubin was faced with an album that was less than half finished. Even more dauntingly, Ye had a week to finish the project somehow. However, Ye has a proven track record of working well under time constraints. With Rubin’s creative vision, he put out what was his most sonically experimental project to date.
No project divided Kanye’s fanbase more than Yeezus. The average dedicated fan was disappointed with the project upon its initial release. That conversation hasn’t morphed all too much. Critics label the album messy and lyrically disappointing, while others hail it as Ye’s best project. When discussing the mixed reviews, he stated, “I’d rather piss a bunch of people off than and make myself happy than make everyone else happy and be pissed off inside.”
Yeezus sees Ye fully dive into electronic soundscapes, bringing in Daft Punk to help bring his vision to life. However, it’s not like Yeezus isa complete departure from anything he did in the past. Jarring and acidic in nature, Kanye blends his family life with his erratic nightlife. “New Slaves” is one of his darkest songs, as he’s subtly self-destructive about his desire to be high. Even for his most experimental project to date, the chart-topping “Black Skinhead” proved that Ye was still capable of creating a hit.
7. 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
There’s a real argument to be had that 808s & Heartbreak is Kanye West’s most important record. Is it his technically best album? Probably not, as his adventure into auto-tuned vocals yields mixed results. Ye is mourning on his fourth studio album. After creating three consecutive chart-topping hip-hop albums, his overarching message on 808s & Heartbreak is, “Was it all worth it?”
Reflecting on the loss of two of the most prevalent women in his life, Kanye is lost. Turning to the only thing that can comfort him, oddball vocal pitching and distorted production artistically express his feelings of estrangement. His hyper-emotional balladry would later translate into the sound of contemporaries such as Drake and Future. Kanye himself would build on the soundscapes of this record by releasing Yeezus five years later.
Ye is at his absolute lowest by the album’s end, as he states, “I see myself on the TV and I see nothing” on “Pinocchio Story.” The sentiment that fame doesn’t equate to happiness is a well-forged trail. However, hearing a man who’s often idealized fame or fortune admit that he’s deeply depressed makes this his most heartbreaking album to date.
6. The Life of Pablo (2016)
The paparazzi based The Life of Pablo saw Kanye detour from some of the more existential sonic directions he took on previous records. Shifting the sound with each of his releases, he reflects on his influence on the project, stating, “See, I invented Kanye, and now I look and look around, and there’s so many Kanyes.” The Life of Pablo reads as a record where Ye is (to an extent) looking to have fun again. Take “Pt. 2,” where he remixes Desiigner’s one-hit wonder, “Panda.” Back to his unapologetic flexing, we also get the likes of “Famous” and “Waves.”
The Life of Pablo contains a sort of freewheeling energy. Discarding the tight-knit conceptual releases over the past few years, the record is a calculated mess. This was especially the case after its initial release in April of 2016, which was blatantly unfinished. However, the finished version would cement the project amongst some of his best work. Kanye has always had a knack for pinpointing the right guests, and The Life of Pablo is no different. Chance the Rapper gets the spotlight on the epic intro “Ultralight Beam,” while Chris Brown delivers a surprisingly heart-warming hook on “Waves.”
The Life of Pablo feels most narratively grounded when Kanye speaks about his jaded relationship with his family. Admittedly not as present as he’d like to be, he references suffering from the same “workaholic” element that kept his father out of his life on “Father Stretch My Hands.”
5. Graduation (2007)
Kanye West’s third studio album, Graduation, saw him replace smooth acoustic strings with alien synth patterns. Once again pushing the boundaries of hip-hop, it’s a record best listened to during a night drive without a pinpoint destination. Many of the electronic undertones of Graduation would influence later generations of artists such as The Weeknd.
A record full of Billboard smash hits, “Stronger” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” symbolized two additions to his growing list of street anthems. “Flashing Lights” sees him glorify his newfound lifestyle as he embraces his wealth by purchasing hoards of “shoes and cars” while being “flashed by the paparazzi.” Ye’s lyricism takes a backseat to melodies on Graduation, as he was more focused on creating a series of crowd-pleasing tracks after touring with stadium-rock act U2. The dialed and sharp nature signified an artist who was nearing his peak.
Graduation solidified Ye as a superstar without reason to look up to Jay-Z. By his third album, they were creative equals. However, this would begin a new era for Ye, as implied by the blissful “Good Morning.”
4. Kids See Ghosts (2018)
The relationship between Kanye West and Kid Cudi has been a tumultuous one throughout their respective careers. Amid Ye’s many controversial statements over the past few years, that relationship is currently non-existent. From a musical perspective, that reality is an absolute shame when considering how fantastic the Kids See Ghosts project was. Releasing a mere week after Ye, it’s the best work to emerge from his Wyoming era.
With the two generation-defining artists in peak form, Kids See Ghosts blends the harmonious vocals of Cudi with psychedelic production chops from Ye. Reflecting on societal pressures and mended past relationships, the two dive into their psyches’ darkest (and brightest) corners. “Reborn” remains a generation-defining track, containing one of the most recognizable choruses of the past ten years.
Kids See Ghosts is the perfect blend of experimentation and reflective lyricism. Eclectic sample choices, from Kurt Cobain to 1930s Christmas carols, fill the record. The tight-knit project doesn’t have a weak point. From the booming drums on “Freee (Ghost Town Pt. 2)” to the acoustic banger that is “Cudi Montage,” the timeless project’s only downfall is that it’s too short (which is a good problem to have).
3. Late Registration (2005)
While many of Kanye’s albums have presented a different stylistic direction, Late Registration wasn’t that. Instead, his sophomore project saw him refine The College Dropout, a project that is once again full of ’90s soul samples and booming horns. With his debut project a smash hit, many still wondered if his sound could transcend streaming charts for years to come. Late Registration proved those doubts wrong, with tracks such as “Gold Digger” and “Touch the Sky” solidifying his status in the industry.
Now over 15 years old, Late Registration still sounds as fresh as it did in 2006. One of his best lyrical feats to date, there are plenty of quotable and hilarious bars throughout the project. Ye brings out the personalities of his feature list, a department of his creative output where noticeably improved since his first effort. Whether it’s Jamie Foxx screaming “She take my money / When I’m in need” on “Gold Digger” or Brandy harmonizing her vocals on “Bring Me Down,” Ye has morphed himself into more of a creative sniper.
While Late Registration is best known for his chart-topping hits, Ye is noticeably more reflective than his debut. Take “Roses” or “Hey Mama,” two deep cuts where he discusses the death of his grandma and his love for his mother, Donda. There’s no denying that it’s one of his best projects to date.
2. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
Living out of a Hawaiian recording studio, Kanye put thousands of hours into his fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. It had been a rough few years for Ye, who was still in the spotlight for his embarrassing and hilarious T-Swift Gate incident at the 2009 MTV Music Awards. Topping that with a tumultuous breakup and the death of his beloved mother, Ye secluded himself back to what he did best when he created MBDTF.
That isolation and pain would generate one of the most powerful records of the 2000s. Surrounded by contemporaries such as Jay-Z and Rick Ross, MBDTF saw Ye pour his soul into creating Picasso-level of art. Drawing the line between rawness and refinement, he humanizes his many flaws by utilizing a variety of sonic pallets. From the wonky sampled pitching on “Devil In A New Dress” to the absolute anthem “POWER,” MBDTF was an ambitious attempt from Kanye to create one of the greatest albums ever.
Kanye hit the reset button when he created this project. Making a grand return to hip-hop, the album was a long-awaited meditation on fame that fans were waiting to hear. Glossing over his flaws on some of his recent mixtapes, hearing him as honest as ever was refreshing.
1. The College Dropout (2004)
Ye’s debut studio album, The College Dropout, instantly succeeded. Without a close look at his upbringing, fans could be fooled into believing that his instant fame came relatively simply. However, many doubted his talents before the record was officially released. Waltzing around Roc-A-Fella records in New York, the 27-year-old received more eye rolls than compliments as he blasted future hit “All Falls Down.”
However, their reaction isn’t overtly ridiculous when you consider the context of hip-hop at the time. Specifically in New York, the bling era was in full force. The soul undertone of tracks such as “All Falls Down” or “Slow Jamz” wasn’t exactly accustomed to the sound of the times. One of the best artistic statements of all time, The College Dropout, shifted the music paradigm. As implied by the title, he’s critical of the educational system.
The College Dropout saw Mr. West cement himself as a force, changing hip-hop’s soundscape for years to come. An overnight success, Ye spent thousands of hours curating his production and lyrical delivery before his first record even came out. As he states in “Family Business,” The College Dropout was “a creative way to rhyme without using nines and guns.”
(@nojumper)
