Kanye West, "My Beautiful, Dark Twisted Fantasy" Album Review

"I guess every superhero needs his theme music" - Kanye West

1997. Victory. Biggies most potent verse ever recorded. With Puff Daddy by his side, Mr Wallace was @ the apex of his career. Crushing his competition with a ease, BIG dominated the track and laid the foundation for the Bad Boy legacy to carry on after his demise. His label were the undisputed champions of hits and he was the reigning MVP. Fast forward to 2010 and we find Kanye West in a similar position. The most recognized name in Hip Hop and universally loved or hated, he has collected every award, accolade and recognition imaginable. After 3 stellar hip hop releases (College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation) and a trend setting, emo-rap experiment (808's and Heartbreak), most would assume that Mr. West has nothing else to prove......we were wrong.


The album opens with Ms. Minaj reciting "Cinderella" by Roald Dahl. Kanye goes for the jugular early on with an aggressive tone that is a welcome departure from "808's" often sappy lyrical content. "Gorgeous" is a perfect marriage of past, present and future cultural icons, as Raekwon, Kid Cudi and Mr. West. With a hook proclaiming defiance in the face of those who refuse to admit their faults, Raekwon and Kanye provide thought provoking verses of the guitar-infused rhythm.

Track 3. Power. There is much i can say about this banger that hasn't been written. It is, quite simply, the best hip hop song on the year:

I just needed time alone with my own thoughts/ Got treasures in my mind but couldn't open my own vault/ My childlike creativity, purity and honesty is honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts/ Reality is catchin' up with me/ Takin my inner child, I'm fighting for it, custody./ With these responsibilities that they entrusted me/ as i look down @ my diamond encrusted piece.

Lets stop right here, cuz to be honest its truly a waste of time to dissect a classic album like this single by song. It cant be appreciated by downloading the catchiest cuts on Itunes. It wont be fully understand playing in the background as you kill insurgents in Call of Duty. Kanye created the greatest album of the year, during an era where buy albums isn't cool. Lyrically, musically and conceptually superior to any record available in stores. He has caused a noticeable power shift in the Hip Hop community. The age old debate of "Top 5 dead or alive" must now include Kanye West. Not just as a producer, but as an MC. Yes, accept it. Big, Nas, JayZ, Rakim, LL, Kanye West. He's earned that respect. He's fathered the pedigrees of an entire generation of rappers (Drake, Kid Cudi, Big Sean). He's the MC who DIDN'T sell drugs, DIDN'T murder thousands, DOESN'T rock millions in jewels or sleep with millions of women (just a couple thousand, lol). He is Kanye West, and this is his crowning achievement.

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