Kanye has blessed us this New Year’s Eve with a song. It’s called “Facts,” and, well, it’s not what you would expect from the most creative man in music. Regardless, Ural Garrett and I are here to present our facts, and because we know you’re busy pre-gaming this holiday we’ll cut right to the chase.
Is “Facts” A Return To Form For Ye?
https://youtu.be/5STQCznvrHI
Ural: I’m estimating that Yeezus may be the last “old industry” Yeezy we see in quite some time. There seems to be an honest struggle he’s having balancing so many projects at once. Hence delaying Swish indefinitely and making Pusha T the new president of GOOD Music as his role in fashion becomes more noticeable than his actual musical output.
“Facts” literally sounds like it was recorded within the past few weeks for better or worse. Regardless of how solid the production assistance from Southside and Metro Boomin is, it doesn’t sound too far off from current Atlanta trap standards. Strange considering how forward Ye’s sonic ambitions have been in the past. Then there’s the “Jumpman” cadence that has Billboard’s Top Ten Rapper of all time playing follower to both Future and Drake?
And that’s where things start to make a little sense despite feeling like an uncomfortable listen. Kanye has always been known for being off the cuff in interviews, speeches and everything in-between. For the first time in his music career, he’s less calculated output wise. Music could be considered an afterthought for Ye. Then again, Ye’s afterthoughts are better than a lot of full-on attempts. Not only did Mr. West earn GQ’s Most Stylish Man Of The Year, but the Yeezys won a Footwear News Achievement Awards for Shoe Of The Year. All while his partnership with Adidas became well known as a significant reason Nike fell in sales this year. Makes sense as to why Nike would be the perfect target for his last single for 2015. All West’s complaints about the Swoosh company over the years as far back as “New Slaves” led to him finally feeling as he came out as victor. That was teased earlier this year through his guest verse on Tyler, The Creator’s “Smuckers” track. So yes, we get it: He checked Nike. Between those accomplishments and child number two with the internet’s most legendary thirst trap, Ye is being the overwhelmingly petty asshole we all know and love. Just disappointing that the music doesn’t really reflect all of that much, even with halfhearted bars about Bill Cosby and Steve Harvey.
Andre: The short answer is no. This one’s not a song, really. It’s more like the awkward conversation you have with a friend of yours when you’re so-so and need to get some stuff off your chest. The most disheartening thing is that Ye´ seems to have put this one without much thought. That’s strange for Ye, since all his moves are carefully calculated except when they’re not. It slanders Nike, sure, but if you’re in a better place then why are you still talking about your ex?
In a lot of ways, despite me writing a piece stating I was worried about Yeezus, Kanye’s had a pretty good year. His production has been top notch. His guest verses have been fun asides dripping in Kanyeisms. His fashion moves have been brave save that stripped down post-apocalyptic stuff that was Yeezy season 2.
This, though, isn’t particularly good. It’s a riff of Future and Drake’s “Jumpman” that has hints of jealousy. There are moments there, where he transforms his voice that you can’t help but think if Yeezy wishes he made that song. That’s strange for Ye. He’s always been about one-upmanship, but “Facts” felt like a stiff case of FOMO.
All-in-all, I’ll pass on this one from our emperor, and I won’t go so far as to say Yeezy is lost, but I will say that he’s looking for something and he is not finding it.
Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
Ural Garrett is a Los Angeles-based journalist and HipHopDX’s Senior Features Writer. When not covering music, video games, films and the community at large, he’s in the kitchen baking like Anita. Follow him on Twitter @Uralg.
Bro I love Ye, I bump most everything he releases. I didn’t even mid Yeezus even though it was straight ass. This shit THIS SHIT is GARBAGE.
this is Kanye straight up trying to imitate Drake. he sounds horrible. The flow is a total jumpman bite but it sounds horrible. I feel the same way about “all day” – its garbage. Yeezus is actually a great album but everything ive heard from Kanye the past year says hes falling off. Id be surprised if SWISH is good
Listen to Kanye’s verse on They Say and tell us who stole who’s flow/cadence
This song sounds like he is really missing the music. It would be fine coming from someone else, but not Kanye. We expect so much more from him. He dipped his toe in the water, but better come with more before he jumps all the way in.
I think this track is like Kanye’s touchdown dance. He put the “numbers on the board” and now he’s making sure they recognize it, specifically, Nike. His designs have been validated both critically and commercially: FACTS. He uses the jumpman flow because it’s recognizable and is a good lead into saying the Yeezy (the name of his shoe/brand) is now bettering Jumpman (A Nike shoe/brand). It’s his Terrel Owens TD celebration in the Dallas Cowboys Star. Good for the moment, but really how many times would you watch that celebration? All he does is stand in it.
The song isn’t good. All that other shit is irrelevant musically.
Ok-you don’t like the song, that’s fair, it’s your opinion.
To your second point, I agree -no- this isn’t a song that will move anything forward musically. My question to you is, why does it have to? Did J.Cole or Kendrick move anything forward musically when they dropped their Black Friday remixes? No. They were dope and we moved on.
But what about for the Hip Hop culture though? I think it does move it forward and inspires artists like Drake (Nike), Kendrick (Reebok), etc. (Personally, I don’t like the skinny jeans, men’s dresses, and wearing female fashion that may come from it but I’m not an artist.)
So, you tell me, why Kanye getting on a track that sounds like “Jumpman” (which obviously was inspired by Drake’s partnership with Nike and the Jordan brand) to talk his shit about his Yeezy shoes being more “liked” in 2015 than Jordan brand shoes is an issue for you?
Shit is wack homie lol, give it up
Ok you operate off feeling. First feeling- shit is wack/trash. Nothing wrong with that. Don’t quite understand your logic, but hey who cares about that part?
jake these mf are dumb ass ego maniacs stop arguing with them
twitter.com/deadhampton
Ur not me
Kanye needs to stop and fire all of his southern ghost writers!!! He needs to hire his NY and Chicago ghost writers he had back in the day cause these future/logosmigos writers aren’t cutting it
U forget he’s not fuckin with anyone from the Roc anymore. There goes your answer my dude
I see what your saying Hip-Hop DX staff. My first reactions of the song was discomfort. At first, it definitely sounded like he was biting Jumpman. But then I remembered that Kanye has been talking about “Jumping over the Jumpman” for a minute now. He dropped a similar line on New God Flow. He also gave Drake a bit of a shout out. After I heard that, I calmed down a little bit haha. It started to grow on me after a couple more listens.
Garbage! Garbage! Garbage!!! He’s keeping up with the kardashians more than he does with rap. Won’t be surprised if I see a fetty wap or young thug feature on SWISH.
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This article proves DX is on Kanye and Jayz nuts HEAVY. Kanye Farts: DX first reaction, kanye blessed us again. FOH
um 50 cent, game, stitches etc… DX jumps on every bit of hype it can so what this aint nothing new
twitter.com/deadhampton
Nahhhh. You guys haven’t put enough thought into this. Contrary to what you guys think, Kanye calculated almost everything in this song: who he’d diss, how he’d diss them, why he’d diss them. Think about it; everything is coherent. From getting the same producer to clone the beat he made for Drake, who reps Nike. He’d DISS Nike with this doppleganger beat. His lyrics were too ill and true when he dissed Nike. And he dropped it right before the new year! Come ON. I’m disappointed in the authors.
The song isn’t good. All that other shit is irrelevant.
Dale is that you? Do you still masturbate to Kim’s naked pics?
P.S. He didn’t bite Jumpman! He’s satirizing it! There’s a difference! And naw, ya’ll only felt discomfortable because ya’ll heard a hard, strong, coherent diss by Yeezy! Ya’ll so unsophisticated. Smh.
YESSS
Kanye west verse on they say.. Drake stealing kanye flow.. Kanye taking it back
this is better than Jumpman,facts
the beat is hard
my son is in his bag..the spash part is hilarious
Jus took the ride from queens to brooklyn, threw this back to back..
This the new back to back for the moment.. #facts
I swear the editor’s of this site be off sometimes
This covered all hip pop quota lol
They really sat up and wrote an article on this?
Facts: This song is trash
You guys are lame (writer’s of the article) for not being able to recognize Kanye’s calculation in trying to paint himself in the light of “man vs corp.” How can you say he put this out without much thought? Rappers beefing with rappers and gangs and bitches etc and instead the guy went the “me vs Nike” route. That and he is actually spitting factual information — which in these days — I guess doesn’t mean much to rap “fans.” He used a record like Jumpman to say he’s shitting on Jumpman…. yet you can’t see the reasoning behind it?
read the comments on this site and you see the crowd HHDX appeals to. most of these psychos dont understand sociology, psychology, civilization and how music ties in with them.
Can’t even lie the last thing I like from kayne album wise was mbdtf, and that was 2010
BRO YEEZY’s CLASSICS
1.GRADUATION
2.808’s & HEARTBREAK
3.THE COLLEGE DROPOUT
4.LATE REGISTRATION
5.YEESUS…*smile…BLOOD OB THE LEAVES LIVE….best YEESUS “DIME DEACADE” song
6.MDTF…the AMBER ROSE ALBUM….#BRO YEEZY 2020
SWISH better be GREAT…..b/c DRAKE..LUPE…and even BIG SEAN will do damage in 2016…
THE GOD MC KENDRICK…is co-signed by BARACK OBAMA…nuff said…LOL
This song is sick. Kanye is making more money than ‘DX.
Andre Grant and Ural Garrett are terrible at articles though. Can’t wait for ‘DX to refresh their staff.
Kanye doesn’t get that nobody gives a fuck.about his beef with Nike and the fashion industry, nobody gives a shit. Kanye.fell off really.hard. I hope Kim K doesn’t turn him into Caitlin Jenner like.her mama did.with.Bruce Jenner