In 2008, West released 808s and Heartbreak, which detailed his pain and heartbreak from his previous experiences.

The stakes couldnt have been higher. Upon release, MBDTF was an instant hit, selling 496,000 copies in its first week and debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200. 808s & HeartbreakJesus is kingKanye Westmy beautiful dark twisted fantasy. To redeem his public image, he would need to produce a musical masterpiece - and he did just that, releasing his magnum opus, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy just under a year later to widespread critical acclaim.

truly inspired a generation of artists that have been creating a much more cohesive soundscape within hip-hop. On the 10th anniversary of the albums release, hopefully you can spare an hour and eight minutes out of your day to listen to MBDTF from start to finish, working from Nicki Minajs intro narration to Gil Scott-Herons sample in an emotional, up-tempo Who Will Survive In America.. Your email address will not be published. Booking out the complexs three session rooms 24 hours a day for an extended period, the recording process behind My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was one of inspired creativity as West hopped from room to room, moving on whenever he hit a creative wall with a song. Cooper Guyer, A & E Contributor|October 28, 2021. At around the same time, Kanye had just broken up with model Amber Rose and faced heavy criticism for the Taylor Swift incident at the 2009 VMAs, which needs no explaining. Required fields are marked *. He shares all of the sinful thoughts he had been experiencing and tells it beautifully. Do you have something to say?

Love this piece! In conversations for the best albums of the decade, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasys biggest competitor is Kendrick Lamars 2015 release, To Pimp A Butterfly, but Wests 2010 album has even its fiercest competitor beat in almost every category. Your email address will not be published.

as one of the primary inspirations in utilizing instruments and samples not traditional to hip-hop to create albums such as. On the other hand, a song like Runaway goes in-depth about his arrogance and insecurities. Privacy Policy Accessibility Advertise, Donate and support The Daily when you shop on Amazon. This album has a unique aspect where Kanye makes himself vulnerable enough where you can see his sensitive side, yet he still has control of the album where it has an upbeat vibe to it and makes you feel powerful. Your email address will not be published. Towards the end of the album, Kanye turns to more of darker type of music and production, which closes out the album with mystery and wonder of what to expect next from Kanye. . November marks the 10th anniversary of what many consider to be Kanye Wests magnum opus and the greatest hip-hop album ever produced My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (MBDTF). The star-studded group included Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Pusha T, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi and countless others, among them producers and artists known worldwide like as Mike Dean. The relentless focus on perfection pursued meant that each song on the album took significant time to produce - the track Power alone taking more than 5000 hours. s most interesting qualities lies in its sampling of unorthodox songs and sounds that traditionally werent viewed to be part of the hip-hop scene. Colby Guy, Features EditorNovember 22, 2020. It also sprung Kanye into the GOAT discussion for the history of hip-hop and rightfully so. Enlisting a diverse roster of all star talent, the album was able to transcend boundaries of genre, whilst also maintaining a firm focus on rap through its use of complex lyrical themes and inclusion heavy hitting features from Pusha T, Rick Ross, Jay Z and Kanye himself. The album, which as discussed dropped to near universal critical acclaim, wasnt free from controversy and chief amongst the controversy, was its artwork. The amount of depth Wests album has compared to. These unused pieces of art were later used in other projects such as the single cover for the song Power and Wests Twitter. 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In the sketch featuring Chris Rock and Salma Kenas at the end of the song, Salma Kenass character butt-dials him and Kanye is forced to listen as his imaginary girlfriend flirts with another man. is insane to the point where nearly every song on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a perfect 10/10. This album was one of a kind and may never be seen again in rap history. President Barack Obama even voiced his displeasure with West publicly. He delves deeper into his feelings of abandonment and alienation from America on Gorgeous and Lost in the World (and its outro) reflecting further, and less specifically, on the social climate that cast him out, before careening back to the self. From the number of hits on this album to the meaning behind it, this album should automatically be on the top of everyones list of best albums of the decade and it still holds up ten years later. He is currently a junior who is studying journalism with a minor in communication. changed the rules of that game altogether, expanding hip-hops raw confessionalism while making it sound bigger than arena rock. The iconic moments of Minajs incredible verse in Monster as well as the quaint voice of Bon Ivers Justin Vernon weaved masterfully into the fabric of Dark Fantasy garnered the affection of listeners and created a beautiful blend of contrasting music styles. A&E: Why Van Halens self-titled record changed music forever, Kanye Jeen-Yuhs documentary provides a different perspective, Ranking All of the Live Action Spider-Man Movies, BOOKLIGHT: Rust in Peace: The Inside Story of the Megadeth Masterpiece, BOOKLIGHT: Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere, The Voice of the Bellwood-Antis Student Body, Your email address will not be published. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Looking back almost a decade after its initial release, we hope to examine some of its influences on modern hip-hop and music production. s biggest competitor is Kendrick Lamars 2015 release. Lets talk about the old Kanye the dark, twisted and introspective Kanye. Aside from its lyrical implications, the album not only assisted in keeping veterans Jay-Z, Rihanna, Raekwon, and the RZA relevant, but it also helped to elevate the careers of artists in Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi, CyHi the Prince, Pusha T, and Bon Iver. Each of these songs has its own personality that allows each of them to stand alone. It goes without saying that Kanye is a once-in-a-generation influencer. This time though, if West was going to make music he would be facing higher stakes than ever. Straddling the chart-savvy and the underground, Kanye Wests My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy remains a masterpiece thats both amazing and appalling. The mood the album gives off is a mix of emotions that couldnt be matched by any other album, because that is the type of artist Kanye is hes unique, hes masterful at all aspects of the art of music, and he can tell his story in a unique way that can fit any mood at any time. This was until his now infamous outburst at the 2009 MTV awards. (2014) continued to grow on this idea, exhibiting the unique sampling of lavish orchestras, R&B/soul tracks, as well as presidential speeches and romantic dialogue. The albums cover immediately catches the eye, with its lewd depiction of Kanye entangled with a winged woman. This move was mindless and West received heavy backlash following his actions. The album got mixed reactions at its release but ended up aging very well commercially, with Kanye earning a VMA award in 2009 for his work. From the club hit All Of The Lights, to melodic rap in Lost In The World, Kanye refuses to let MBDTF be defined by a single style. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Retreating to a self-imposed exile in Hawaii, Kanye began crafting an album that would in his own words win back the public. And he did just that. definitely brought back the idea of concept records, while also inspiring the complex, opposing themes we see in todays music. His career began with the college trilogy of The College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduationin 2007. 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A mood designed to instil a work ethic that per Wu Tangs RZA, was at the time almost unheard of in the production of Hip-Hop. In spite of all these qualities, perhaps the most prevalent influence of MBDTF is in its production quality. This level of hate and negativity sent West into a deep depression, which caused him to quit music and move to Hawaii and live on his own for months. He flew dozens of notable artists and producers down to Hawaii to work on the album. The way West can portray the emotions he went through, both the good and the bad, in a way that created an array of amazing songs is something that cant be matched by any other album. All in all, MBDTF changed the meta of production hip-hop for the decade that followed. He then relocated to Italy, becoming an intern for Fendi - chasing a newfound interest in fashion design. Your email address will not be published. Released at the time to rapturous critical response (it received a perfect 10 from Pitchfork and topped many end-of-year lists), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy amazed and appalled listeners in equal measure, and remains the most lauded and debated album of Kanye Wests illustrious career. Just think about whatever youve been through in the past week, and I have a song about that on my album. This stance of appointing himself in direct relation to the listener, as opposed to the drastic divide many of the bling-era rappers painted, represented a substantial change in how relatable a successful rapper could be. In an interview with Sway in the Morning, Chris Rock recounted his experience: He had his whole crew wearing suits he set up a mood.

Kanye West was in an uncertain place when he began work on his fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. In referring to the albums lyrical content and his character, Kanye. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), NEW MUSIC who are you most excited for??! His album prior to MBDTF, 808s & Heartbreak (2008), was no different. from a pure objective standpoint, theres no dbout that to pimp a butterfly is a much better album in every department. The more introspective Blame Game deals with the fallout of the break-up of his relationship with Amber Rose, while All Of The Lights featured guest turns from a galaxy of stars including Fergie, Alicia Keys, Elton John, and Rihanna. Kanye Wests discography is widely regarded as one of the best in hip-hop history. Whilst claiming he was done with music, finding other mediums far more interesting to work in, West later revealed to Complex that he had been conceptualising music that would have melodies like those in 808s and heartbreak, mixed with the raw drums of Mobb Deep. The primary of these was a cartoonish illustration of a man, seemingly meant to be West, with a humanoid armless Phoenix. The result of it was an artistic masterpiece that encapsulated everything West was going through during that time. MBDTF would eventually flower into an undeniable piece of art, so compelling it would eclipse all of his perceived missteps and reassert his prominence in our culture. Possessing a level of mass appeal that allowed it to enter into the cultural zeitgeist whilst also maintaining its status as a fan favourite. West was escorted from the award show. Colby Guy is the Features Editor for the University Press. The album itself won numerous awards in the industry, including Best Rap Album in the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, Best Album at the 2010 HipHopDXAwards, and CD of the Year at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards. For example, a song like POWER gives off this energetic mood that makes you feel like you can take on the world, while a song like Blame Game has that type of feel where West shares some of the struggles hes been through. Ten years later, it stands alone as the greatest rap album of the 2010s. Kanye really captured the feeling of regret and shame from his previous action very well in this piece. Verse 2 of Power), Kanye feels no remorse firing shots at his critics and reasserting his status as the greatest in the game. And Kanye who in spite of his recent stumbles remains an exemplary showman delivered on every count. Kanye Wests production of this album was masterful as well. Ever since, Kanye has gone on to perfect his musical craft by experimenting with the harsh drums and tones of Yeezus, the critically acclaimed psychedelic, out-of-this-world vibe of Kids See Ghosts and even gospel music in his most recent project, Jesus Is King.. It goes without saying that Kanye is a once-in-a-generation influencer. Lorde is of, Final jazz notes from @oddity.mp3 to close the sho, T-MINUS 1 DAY UNTIL LAUNCH Songs like Runaway and Blame Game walk thin lines between the raw and the refined, humanizing Kanyes most inhumane impulses as he works out his struggles with romance, arrogance, and self-acceptance. Having returned to the US from his self imposed exile, freshly inspired to make new music. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Your email address will not be published. In spite of all these qualities, perhaps the most prevalent influence of, is in its production quality. would eventually flower into an undeniable piece of art, so compelling it would eclipse all of his perceived missteps and reassert his prominence in our culture. Photo courtesy of Def Jam Recordings/Universal Music Group. On Nov. 22, 2010, Kanye West released his fifth studio album. The songs all had beats that perfectly matched the stories being told through Wests lyrics and it flowed perfectly. Emotionally raw after the break-up of his relationship with model Amber Rose, his public image had been tarnished by the infamous Taylor Swift incident at the 2009 VMAs. West shares the highs and the lows of this interesting time of his life in a way that no other album could match. Some of the most well-known songs that came from this album are All of the Lights, which featured Rihanna, POWER, Monster, and Runaway, which were all US Billboard Top 40 hits. Glaive). Aside from its lyrical implications, the album not only assisted in keeping veterans. Ian Park is a high schooler writing as part of The Daily's 2020 Summer Workshop. Over breakfast, they sit there, they talk about what they want to do, what they did and how to make their music better., In addition to the albums already impressive tracklist, Kanyes music label GOOD Music had a promotional series of free music releases every Friday throughout the production of the album called GOOD Fridays. This changed Kanye and his music forever and his work took a much darker turn after the incident. FAU Football: Previewing the offensive line, Beach Volleyball: Steve Grotowski set to become new head coach, FAU Baseball: Gabriel Rincones Jr. selected in the 2022 MLB Draft, FAU Football: Previewing the defensive backs, Conference USA inducts Joan Joyce into Hall of Fame, FAUs early voting poll station moves from Boca to Jupiter, Students organize carpool to protest for abortion rights, FAU pauses national search for the next provost. This further proves the amount of passion and effort that West put into his work here. Just think about whatever youve been through in the past week, and I have a song about that on my album. This stance of appointing himself in direct relation to the listener, as opposed to the drastic divide many of the bling-era rappers painted, represented a substantial change in how relatable a successful rapper could be. He relocated to Hawaii and invited a plethora of fellow producers and artists among them Rick Ross, Drake, Jay Z, Rihanna, Elton John, Bon Ivers Justin Vernon, RZA, Q-Tip and Madlib to join him in a self-styled rap camp at Honolulus Avex Recording Studios. To Kanye, MBDTF was more than just a throwaway album it was a career-defining moment that would either solidify his legendary status or cast him away into the abyss of forgotten names in hip-hop. He delves deeper into his feelings of abandonment and alienation from America on Gorgeous and Lost in the World (and its outro) reflecting further, and less specifically, on the social climate that cast him out, before careening back to the self. November 22nd marked another full year that has passed since Kanye West dropped one of his greatest pieces of work, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). , Kanye created an introspective masterpiece that melds pop potency with an epic splatter derived from alien electronic, R&B ballads, and classic rock. After the release of the hugely influential 808s & Heartbreak in 2008, it felt like Kanye was on top of the world - perceived to be at the height of his stardom with nothing left to prove.