For the first time in his storied career — a career that has catapulted his discography into the holy grail of Hip Hop solo acts — Mr. Kanye West does not have the answers.
His semi self-titled ye masterfully arrives after the internet firestorm the 40-year-old maestro ignited through co-signing Donald Trump and other right-wing trolls.
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But when it comes to the moment of truth for an explanation, the 23-minute album glosses over the ongoing narrative of his mental illness and unscripted 400 Years A Slave feature, among other erratic behavior. The usual crop of composers, such as Mike Dean, Benny Blanco, Che Pope and more, all combine for a symphonic auditory trek that’s spliced with pharmaceutical name drops and insecurity masking as invulnerability.
Seeking “the old Kanye” on a new Kanye album is an unfair — and unrealistic — expectation. Both man and artist have the God-given right to grow, evolve and even become products of their own success. But ye as a whole provides a rather deflating experience from an artist who’s enabled his GOAT status by not being naive to the ongoing narrative.
A bouncy track like “All Mine” is absolutely perfect for today’s club circuit, complete with snazzy Auto-Tuned gibberish from Valee and Ty Dolla Sign and instant sing-a-long lyrics from Kanye. But it’s ultimately a fleeting time-waster given the album’s brevity. An excuse to let the people eat cake instead of giving them the food for thought they so unapologetically demand from their Lord Yeezus.
Kanye has no issues in mentioning his Black Brothers in Kardashian Khrist (“Sometimes, you gotta bag the boss up/ I call that taking Corey Gambles” and “All these thots on Christian Mingle/ Almost what got Tristan [Thompson] single” he cracks on “All Mine”) but when it comes to addressing his own controversy, well, *Kanye shrug*.
“They say, ‘Build your own’ — I said, ‘How, Sway?’/ I said, ‘Slavery a choice’ — they said, ‘How, ‘Ye?’/ Just imagine if they caught me on a wild day/ Now I’m on 50 blogs gettin’ 50 calls,” he begins on “Wouldn’t Leave,” before revealing that Kim Kardashian severely struggled with his unfiltered thoughts to the point it opened the conversation for separation talks.
And that’s where the anticipated discernment reaches its peak. There’s no elaboration on why he feels Black people could benefit from being Republicans. There’s no open call to heal the millions who suffer from bipolar disorder or detailing how he was able to avoid complete immolation.
Even Kanye West, who has the ability to emote pop melodies out of Hip Hop arguably better than anyone who ever identified as a rapper, can’t cover such a weighty subject in just 23 minutes.
“Yikes,” the aggressive true opener of the album, finds a triumphant Kanye fully draped in his cloak while proclaiming his mental illness is a “superpower” and embracing his prescriptions with lines like “Tweakin’, tweakin’ off that 2CB, huh?/ Is he gon’ make it?/ TBD, huh thought I was gon’ run, DMC, huh?/ I done died and lived again on DMT, huh” overtop an echoing ad-lib and pummeling bass knocks.
On May 21, a North Carolina man sat down with his family at a restaurant, only to return to his vehicle and drive into the venue, killing his daughter and daughter-in-law. On the dawn of the album, the spoken word “I Thought About Killing You” finds a poetic Kanye revealing homicidal thoughts (largely hinted to be aimed at Kim Kardashian throughout the project) before shifting gears to stop-and-go turn-up flow to appease the kids.
Conveniently using his “superpower” to morph weighty subjects into headnodders is a luxury Kanye long abandoned when he ensured that he would be a legend circa the time executives wouldn’t even listen to his demo. It’s a Peter Parker-sized responsibility Kanye must own up to and has yet to prove he’s capable of, as evidenced by his TMZ interview, where he failed to articulate his slavery streams of unconsciousness.
Sure the heavenly feel of “No Mistakes” harkens back to his gospel soul days, 070 Shake’s passionate cameo on “Ghost Town” unveils a star-in-the-making and honest thoughts about raising North and Chicago on the serene album anchor “Violent Crimes” make for a alluring sonic experience.
But ye merely excels in surface-scratching instead of the transcendent territories that spawned the Kanye everyone loved. Sometimes less does not equate to more.
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Fair
I agree
I second.
It was cool. Still disjointed like pablo imo. I’m not going to just yet invite him to the cookout tho. I do want to hear what this new Nas is going to sound like. If its Daytona levels of beats I’ll be more than intrigued but Ye is in a different place these days. Hopefully he’ll get some peace and balance in life. 3/5.
You tell em Curt.
Excellent, 5/5 because it deserves more than 4 and can’t do 4.5/5. deffinetly not perfect but close enough
That’s one thing we can agree on.
He’s gone ya’ll, I can’t even put it completely on Kim anymore, he’s just in a different place mentally. Sonically it’s cool, but he’s not really saying shit they way he needs to, to justify all the outlandish shit he’s been on recently. He had the opportunity and dropped the ball badly. I’m cool, I got Graduation, MBDTF, my personal favorites. But from the guy who made Jesus Walks & Crack Music…he really don’t got shit to say anymore….
“He’s just in a different place mentally”…. no shit he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
You can rock with that bullshit if you want, but if he does I’m pretty sure he had it his whole career
He’s not BIPOLAR hes just a stinky narcissistic NEGROID SCUMBAG
Wow I’m an asshole.
Unfinished mess.
Nah. Ill do w/ 7 tracks better than nothin
I love the album. I just can’t bring myself to give it a 5 because its so frustratingly short. He could have and should have done more than one verse on “No Mistakes”
But I’ll do with this for now until Kids See Ghost
Yeah he touches and makes you think about a variety of serious topics on here but it is too short. All these albums are gonna be too short which bothers me because they all have potential to be 9/10 – 10/10. But just as you get into it it’s over. Still loved it, first listen I wasn’t that impressed but it grew on me.
It definitely did.
Meh
Mehhhhhhhhhh it was aight.
Mehhhhhhh it was aight.
Lackluster.
Filibuster.
Filibuster
Well after listening to again and taking some substances it’s the opposite of lackluster….whatever that is.,,,,,
Your writer isn’t good at this.
Enjoyable? .. this shit is garbage .. how much Kanye paying u to give it a 4.0? .. get off dudes nuts .. album is trash ..
Considering the amount of time he had to work on this, and the seclusion he gave himself, I was expecting a lot more. He had so much much life experiences he could’ve drawn from but failed. His mental health, relationship with Jay, relationship with his wife, politics..So much he couldve touched on… or just an uplifting song about mental health. Production is good, but falls flat right after. Very disappointing. This lands on the near the bottom of his catalogue. Before listening to this, give college dropout a listen, then Ye, then listen to Daytona. You’ll see where he’s missing.
The only stands out are the last 3, no mistakes, ghost town, and the one about his daughters. But only ghost town really hits home.
3/5
weak album
On second thought I actually liked it.
This site needs to completely quit doing reviews. It’s just recycled lines from other reviews and some unorigninal content. The fact that a 7 song ep like this full of terrible beats and horrid lyrics would get a 4 speaks volumes. I don’t know why I even read the reviews anymore, because they’re horrifying and biased. For the sake of your viewers dx either stop publishing reviews or hire on an actual music reviewer who’s familiar with the rap genre and what a four star rap album consists of. Because I can assure you without reading the comments very few if any will ageee with this rating, and a majority of the commenters are real hip hop fans. Not these lil uzi vert, young thug, tekashi 69 wanna be rappers fans.
This album is cool but if you’re judging albums on some pure boom-bal criteria, then you probably should have stopped listening to Hip-Hop in the 90’s. The game has changed so much added so many layers that you can’t just base it of how lyrical and how hard the kick and snare hit. Just my opinion and I’ve been following Hip-Hop since it started. I’m old lol
You are right.
7 songs doesn’t make a release an EP. Same as Pusha. The Grammy’s recognizes a project as an album if it’s 5 songs and over 15 mins in length.
This album was horrendous as shit on so many levels. this shit proves that this website is straight dumpster juice served with a hot plate of baked squid assholes.
hahahaha so do you like it or not dx wtf… the title of your article screams you like it yall r the ultimate trolls make up your mind damn
This ish was fire. Yall enjoy hatin.
The fuck are yall bitchin about this was a great album.although to short he ranges through many topics..from his stance on subjects to what he says jeperdizing things with his wife an remaining loyal,to hos metal health,to him raising his daughter fearin the will meet men like him to mich more i thought 6 out of the 7 were great.only track i didnt like was ghost town, 12 ttacks wouldve been just right but just as he was hopin he packed the content short an sweet with seven got his point across without any leftover,i put this above pablo an yeezus.u guys needa put the politic bs to the side an listen to it for what it was he gave us to great albums his an pushas this year.next up im lookin foward to out the rest is his collab with cudi album,an him EP the new nas but from what ive heard so far hes 2 for 2 with 2 of the best albums this year thus far..lets debate..an please no drake talk..hes holdin a L until further notice
Great production, lyrics are simple but great, great use of features, and concise. Great body of work
5/5. The album is a classic. Daytona and ye rule this year so far. Nas and cudi will own the year too. GOOD MUSIC!
Wheres drake? Oh yeah, pusha t made him go from champagnepapi to dead beat papi :0) PUUUUUUUSH!
Fuck you mean the OTHERWISE enjoyable album?? The part I enjoy the most is when ye is shedding light on his mental health. Wh
How’re y’all hating? This shit is original artistic fire and everyone’s just being unappreciative af
What is so original about it?
umm have you heard ghost town?? Fuccin idiots
It’s enjoyable for what it is but it’s not Kanye West’s best project.
Favorites songs: Yikes, No Mistake, Ghost Town (this one got a great hook from Cudi)
„His semi self-titled ye masterfully arrives after the internet firestorm the 40-year-old maestro ignited through co-signing Donald Trump and other right-wing trolls.“ I mean, it‘s not trolling if he‘s serious about it. We can‘t just label all his bullshit „trolling“ and act like he was just joking or some shit. Oh, and if this was some unknown rapper‘s project, you wouldn‘t have given it as much as 2/5, let‘s be real.
I hate listening to “ye” album. It’s awesome.
I will say that if you are a stinky Black Jigaboo Negro behind on his or her child support payments, if you use an EBT card every day, if you eat watermelon and fried chicken obsessively, if you often like to exclaim, “Hodee do’! Hodee do’! Conebread! Conebread!” for no apparent reason while shucking and jiving all over the street, you will like this album. Otherwise, you will hate this album.
I liked violent crimes coz it reminded me of Nas – Daughters record. Otherwise it was weak by Kanye standards but alright if you compare it to whats out right now.
This was definitely kanyes worst album and one of the biggest piece of garbage I’ve ever heard. People dick ride kanye talking about he’s a genius idk just cause he produced some good shit in the past, sounds like it was executive produced by kim kardashian lol wack as hell
This EP isn’t anything but a rich person trying to relate to his old piers. News flash Kanye you no longer can. He’s the same insecure man who hasn’t grown mentally since puberty. I don’t believe he has a mental illness. I think he alienated so many people trying to be different he is now coming to grips that he’s not only alone, he’s lonely. Jay-Z’s “4:44” was materful and spoke on all levels of growth heart ache and pain. This Kanye “Ye” album is nothing but the same talking points with no real insight.
I’m a big fan of his music, but can’t even say it’s ok. You people claming this is great should be honest. Kanye is genius but This is not his best work clearly. If it didn’t have kanye’s name on this album, nobody wouldn’t give a shit
But I’ll deal with it for now.
Its definatly better than “Watch the Throne” and Yezuz
I’m calling it. On Dayton Ye says “Goin’ for six rings like what Phil told Mike”…..I’m saying there is a 6th release in this batch that we don’t know about yet…..
4 out of 5??????? This sh*t is cheeks.
How about we stop looking to musicians and actors as the primary catalyst for social change is a better question. History put forth social activists and community leaders embedded in local politics, community organizations, religious affiliations, and economic powers. Why in today’s age must we seek the same guidance from entertainers? They have followers yes, but lack the real life experience in the issues they support or defend. Kanye west has no basis to be a voice for anyones struggle but his own at this point. In feudal times people didnt idolize the court jester they merely utilized them properly as a distraction from life’s stressors. Today we have superceded political activists, scientists, and community leaders in favor of athletes, actors, and musicians and herein lies the problem
This album straight garbage. was a huge Kanye fan but now he puts out albums that are horrible. He can cough and yawn on a track and its called a classic. The genius in Kanye started to leave him after “Graduation”. The fact people think this album is great shows music done fell ALL the way off. smh
“Surface scratching” that earns a 4 out of 5? Call this what it is…filler.
Great album, gets better and better with repeated listens. Probably his most honest since the college dropout.
Cant lie I like Kanye but this album was garbage
I lied
His great album record stopped when My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy dropped. Anything after that has been pure Caca with the exception of Watch the Throne…
Probably Kanye’s worst album alongside Yeezus…that said still better than 90% of that ish out here.
most influential person in hip hop
That’s not saying much in these times. Not saying anything at all actually. Your rating indicates you never heard an actual classic album before.
This album is terrible like all his albums, but the sheep worship this dude. This album is maybe a 2 . Thank god I know what good music is and where to get it. Dude should be laughing to the bank. lol
so where do i find this “good music” ?
Soundcloud there are like 100 dope artist their
Why do they have to make these reviews so fucking wordy and complicated?…..
It’s called journalism, which is based on, well, words. If you find this complicated, you’re either very young, or not very educated. Lives matter; but intelligence does as well.
I only like the young and humble Kanye. The old Kanye and this album is straight garbage.
Doodoo
Wahhhhhh, I only like the Kanye I “thought” was a pro black sheep…congrats, you helped Trump get elected
how do you fumble and still get a 4? this is a solid 2/5. Ye’s worst by far
I will say that if you are a stinky Black Jigaboo behind on his or her child support payments, if you use an EBT card every day, if you eat watermelon and fried chicken obsessively, if you often like to exclaim, “Hodee do’! Hodee do’! Conebread! Conebread!” for no apparent reason while shucking and jiving all over the street, you will like this album. Otherwise, you will hate this album.
Seek therapy immediately. You are lost.
yikes is the only decent track
I’m not a ‘Ye fan, but admittedly, I’ve bought all of his music because I’m music fan. MBDTF aside, his music grows old on me quickly, but I actually like this project. I may not play it much down the road, but musically, it’s very strong. Kanye’s irony is his musical genius subtracted by the fact that he’s a horrible vocalist (he can get lyrical, but his voice is horrible). Yet, he somehow manages to reach plateaus beyond the grasp of most artists, as exemplified by Ghost Town. As for his mental status, one thing is clear – he has been in a deep manic state for the past couple of months, which is likely why he’s putting out so much quality music during one quick period.
Album is solid.
Its simlar imo to College Dropout. 9 out of 10 for me.
Solid yet you give it 9 out of a possible 10? Solid is a 5 or 6 on a 10 scale.
+Mathematics. Word! So f#&king annoying when people do that. Call an album “okay” or “decent” and give it 5/5.
Or when people give 5/5 to “balance the hate” when their honest score is lower. That gets annoying, too.
I know cuz black people wanna hear Kanye tell them why they should be republicans…you fuckin serious?
3.5.
g.o.a.t
Great album
Best album i’ve heard, i regret making a ice cube rip-off song
Loved this album, better than scorpion :/
5/5
FIRE
Ok, he is great
This album is overwhelming
i highly reccomend this
i highly recommend my balls
Controversies and outrage aside this album is really sincere and revealing, Ye never stopped making good music.
A bunch of fake 5/5 reviews. SMH. HipHopDX doesn’t police this?
So this is a 4 and Rocky is a 2.9? I guess it’s a matter of taste.
Stop dickriding trash albums
GOAT
This album is awful. Damn the bar is low today.
AMEN.
SO true Wayne could drop a album that is just him taking a 70 min straining dump on the toilet and they would call it ground breaking sh** G T F O
Good music!!..The best album this year so far!!
Thought this album was stupid first time I heard it. But after running through it 10+ times and really listening to the lyrics and how the songs evolve I really dig this. I never expect crazy bars from Kanye. Leave that for Pusha and Nas this summer. However he does talk a lot about personal stuff which I appreciate.
Album is incredible. Yall rated this too low : your reasons are based in ideological opinions (could’ve done more for mental health, should’ve addressed the critics on the politics.) Although these suggestions are valid generally, you are supposed to review the piece of music, period-which was flawless.
Garbage
below average. im disappointing
On second thought its pretty dope.
dat ass kissing boy keep it up the kanye worshipping dick rider
To quote someone else down below; “you are supposed to review the piece of music, period” – the problem is the music itself is garbage and this shit isn’t even mixed right. If this was someone’s debut they’d be laughed out of town.
I don’t get it, but I can’t stop listening to it…… It’s like trying to listen to a paranoid schizophrenic who kind of knows what they’re saying. I personally don’t like the minimalism in the production….. Yeezus was already enough of that. This review is on point, especially the part about him not explaining why he said that bullshit he said. I still give him the same 4.0 cause it’s still good, but not what it should be. The 7 song shit is excellent as far as marketing goes (streams × replay = platinum/ Grammy), but if those snippets ain’t banging all the way through, then it’s a let down. Come on, Joe….. Give us that old shit back.
I love this
Kanye album
it’s trash
I will say that if you are a stinky Black Jigaboo Negro behind on his or her child support payments, if you use an EBT card every day, if you eat watermelon and fried chicken obsessively, if you often like to exclaim, “Hodee do’! Hodee do’! Conebread! Conebread!” for no apparent reason while shucking and jiving all over the street, you will like this album. Otherwise, you will hate this album.
I remember when the shit a rapper was spitting, educated the youngins coming up, gave em game, direction, hope. This new wave of music be crazy AF!
If you don’t like this, you don’t get Kanye. Appreciate it for what it is.
This is the summer of G.O.O.D Music.
throw it
Was a little let down its on 7 tracks but over all its a fun listen. I give it a 4 out of 5 for sure. Kanye trying something a little different with the intro and to give you an idea where the album is going. I love yikes and all mine, but after that it goes a lil soft. The Kim song is decent. I think no mistakes is probably the least favorite of mine on the album. Ghost town is refreshing as hell to hear. Almost like a rock indie song. Very angsty anthem and the final song was nice but could have been better
Loved the album. Takes a couple listens to fully understand it, but it def grew on me. The production is top notch like you can expect from ye, and he’s coming from the heart talking about his struggles. Best tracks are ghost town, yikes, violent crimes, and wouldn’t leave.
And this gets a 4/5 but Asap Rocky gets a 2/5, and it seems from what I’ve read they got a similar problem, but I guess you expected more from Asap than Ye plus Rocky album was longer found more filler. I haven’t listened to the album because to support his new crazy just wanted to point my observation.
Great album
I gave it a 4.4/5
How you give a 7 track album with two good songs a 4/5. Straight trash.
Not as good as Yeezus.
Growing on me more each day. I love 5 out of the 7 songs. I like KIDS SEE GHOSTS more though
This is one of the cruddiest rap albums from a rapper that I like that I have ever heard. The Kid Cudi record is aight, though.
Album grew on me, really like, along with Pusha, Cudi and Nas album, all are really good, Kanye did great job with these projects, wish they had 10 tracks though.
It’ssupposed to be a hip hop album but it’s all singing. bollocks
Sounds like you aren’t feeling the album…yet 4 out of 5?
Too much hate. Not great but not a 3.88
Hating on Kanye is the new Olympic Sport
7 songs of trash
BETTER THEN KAMIKAZE
Good album, just not great