Kanye West----Yeezus

Kanye West-Yeezus-Roc-a-Fella-(2013)

Artist: Kanye West

Album: Yeezus  

Label: Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam

Producers: artist, Daft Punk, Travis Scott, others 

The ever controversial Kanye West (both good and a bad way) has made a lot of strides in the industry. Starting off producing for Beanie Sigel, took a small hit and come back as one of the most charismatic performers in the industry. He literally took a scene from accepting mistakes and converted them into successes. Album after album has been classic or never classic. From the groundbreaking debut “The College Dropout”, continuous well packaged “Late Registration” and the most recognized “Graduation”, I can run down the whole listen of the full term paying your dues. Can Kanye impressed the fans with the controversial cover and musical content to “Yeezus”

            Actually, the musical content on this album is based on musical experimentation. The album starts off great as the different sounds actually fit the album. The diversity of the album is excellent strategy as hip hop has evolved. Take the electronic influenced “On Sight” produced by French production team Daft Punk. This track starts off energetic and keeps you on your toes as Ye spits that fire: soon as I pull and park the benz/ we get this bitch shakin’ like parkinsons/take my number and lock it in/Indian hair, no moccasins. “New Slaves” featuring Frank Ocean has another different sound that fits the bill where Ye speaks his version of the new slave mentality on materialism and racism.

            However, too much experimentation can suck the energy out of the album. Take “Hold Mhy Liquor” featuring Chief Keef and Justin Vernon. Although the guitar sound is innovative, it’s really forgettable with the annoying auto tune voice. Same thing with “Blood on the Leaves” even though the bassline is sick the auto tune voice throws the momentum off and “I’m On It” featuring Travis Scott sound very bland with a monotonous sound. The album does pick it with an awesome production sound on “Send it up” featuring King L. Although the lyrics are simplistic, it goes well with that hard bass line; sometimes simplistic actually works. Now to end the album is with a funky soul influenced “Bound” featuring Charlie Wilson that wrapped the ending of the album perfectly.

This album can be a hit or miss production wise; it's a good effort but falls miserably short from what we're looking for. Kanye fans wished to have an album entirely produced by Ye but this album can go both ways. Daft Punk did an incredible job with the production that heightens Kanye musical selection choice. Kanye has bridge the borders of experimentation that makes hip hop listenable. Now, people can’t assume because they are not feeling the album they are stuck in the 90’s boom bap wave. After a couple of listens maybe the album can grow on people. I don’t think “don’t knock it unless you try it” phrase stays with the taste of music; just pick and choose your way to things. Maybe artists can learn from Kanye West musically diversity on this album or stick to what they know. It’s a tough battle when critics can either say evolve with your musical talent or just stay in your lane because the new formula simply doesn’t work. To each your zone, Yeezus can keep people interested through some tracks while pressing the skip button on others. It just works that way!  

            Strong Tracks: “On Sight”, “New Slaves”, “Send it Up”, “Bound”

            Average Tracks: “Blood on the Leaves”, “I’m On It”,

            Weak Tracks:  “Hold My Liquor”

            Rating:out of