Life of Pablo, 808s, Dark Twisted Fantasy, Yeezus
(2010's Kanye Era)After a year spent mostly out of the spotlight, Kanye's return to the VMAs stage was a minimalist spectacle of sound and vision with an unapologetic chorus you just couldn't shake: "Let's have a toast for the douchebags." "Runaway," an early taste of his future album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, set the tone for the campaign that followed, including a mini feature film and a Saturday Night Live performance. "808s & Heartbreak" (2008) marked a significant departure from Kanye's previous sound, incorporating more electronic elements and auto-tuned vocals. "Yeezus" (2013) is the panicked sound of that ensuing free-fall, a rush of angst and despair with absolutely nothing left to lose. "The Life of Pablo" (2016) was a highly experimental album that showcased Kanye's versatility as an artist.
| 808's and Heart Break |
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy |
Yeezus |
The Life of Pablo |
| Say You will |
All of The Lights |
Guilt Trip |
30 Hours |
| Love Lockdown |
Devil In A New Dress |
Boun 2 |
Saint Pablo |
| Bad News |
Runaway |
Blood on The Leaves |
Famous |
808s & Heartbreak
Perhaps the best comparison for 808s & Heartbreak is when Bob Dylan went electric in 1965. Like Dylan Kanye didn't need Fame or credibility. His 3rd album "Graduation" had come out only a year earlier, and he's already established himself as the kind of visionary who cold steer the conversation while hovering some what above it. Like Dylan the new direction made him a genius to some, a traitor to others. The album has become" a blueprint for an entirly new wave of rap". Kanye said,"I started exploring melody because thats how teachers taught concepts to me when I was a kid, learning through song".
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
(Apples 100 Best Albums) The most expensive Hip-Hop record ever made, Kanye Wests 5th album wasw a 68-minute LP pulsing with the rapper's singular mix of the self-aggrandizing and the confessional.Despite its ostentatious appearance, the heart of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasyis that of raw honesty, with West's frayed ends of reflection, self-criticism, relationships, and moments of anger. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy would forever change the landscap of hip-hop.
Yeezus
"Yeezy season approaching," warns Kanye West over the buzzsaw synth and jittery beats of "On Site." It's an apt opening statement for Yeezus, wests sixth studio album. By the time he reaches the third track, "I am God," it's clear we're dealing with gnashing of teeth variety. The album features a run through of 80's acid house, chicago drill music, and 90's industrial.
life of Pablo
Despite its turbulent gestation, The Life of Pablo crackles with twitchy genius. Kanye described his seventh record as a "Gospel album with a lot of cussing," and spiritual inflections course through the albums best moments. The Life of Pablo is a luminescent glimpse into Kanye's constantly evolving worldview.