Lets state some fact and try to connect some dots.

There were so many people bent out of shape over the name of Kanyes Wests new album, Yeezus. Personally, I couldve cared less about the title of this album BUT I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding Wests sixth studio album. Lets go back in time real quick, on May 1st, 2013, West tweeted June Eighteen. This tweet alone created uproar on the internet because the meaning behind this tweet was unclear. Some people speculated that this random date was the date of Wests unborn child when in actuality this date was the release date for his new album. Two weeks late; May 17th New Slaves premiered in sixty-six cities via a video projection on a building. At that point my curiosity peaked; I wondered to myself about what does Kanye West have in store for us (the fans.) In that same weekend Kanye West was the featured artist on Saturday Night Live, along with his guest appearance he premiered another track from his mystery album, Black Skinhead. Black Skinhead was accompanied with some power wordy visuals in the background of Wests performance. The title of the mystery album was finally announced throughout the internet and people lost their

minds over this title, Yeezus. Screw the title, what intrigued me was the mystery behind this album. There wasnt any real lead studio singles or videos for the buildup to Yeezus. We (the fans) havent heard any album previews; the only two things West has given us (the fans) was a video projection of New Slaves and a SNL performance. This album had no cover art, barely any mention of a committed playlist, just a release date with no pre-orders. The hype behind the mysterious Yeezus album only attracted a major countdown to June eighteen. While the masses were so compelled to scream over the title of this album and Wests interactions with the media; I only wondered about two things that were pertaining to his upcoming album. What are we in store for? What is the actual sound of this album?

Now were here, the day after Yeezus has been released to the world. Im not here to sell you guys this album, just want to give it a little breakdown from my perspective. Yeezus is a relatively short album, containing only ten songs. First song up to the bat is On Sight. On Sight is a bipolar work of sound, if that makes sense. From first listen this song have elements of Electronic because of the frantic synthesizer sound then there is a hint of soul that shines through the beat then right back to the frantic, upbeat instrumental; now thats thoroughly bipolar. On

Sight is actually the most upbeat song on Yeezus. After On Sight the sound slowly grows darker. I am not a fan of live music on television; it kind of tarnishes my ears to the true sound of the song. I actually was looking forward to hearing Black Skinhead for the first. Black Skinhead in my opinion is Black Heavy Metal, the electric guitars and drums are nasty on this song. The screaming background vocals direct the dark mood of Black Skinhead. On Sight fooled me as a listener by leading me on to think this album just might be upbeat then follows Black Skinhead; entering the journey through this grim ride of screaming melodies. Continuing the dark tone of this album is I Am God, I feel as though this is a song that Id usually hear in my night terrors with the quiet screams thats accompanied by heavy drums. The beauty of this song is Wests ego luster through the boisterous sound with his aggressive words and overall douche bag attitude. This song really addresses his Godlike ego that sometimes is his strength and weakness. Finally the studio version of New Slaves is here and it is a simple but interested beat. The foreground of the beat is calm with a drum heavy background but the unique style of this beat is the background sound effects. The background effects are so random but are a perfect touch to this song. My favorite part of New Slaves is West and Frank Oceans outro verse because its so random with a hint of classic 70s flavor. Every time I hear New Slaves outro I think of Curtis Mayfields Pusherman for its soulful vibe. Now onto one of my favorite songs of the album, Hold My Liquor is one of the better songs to me only because of Justin Vernons vocals. Vernons vocals are almost like an instrumental because of the way he harmonizes with the beat and the flow of his harmonization is just as dark and somber as the entire song. Here is another song that features Vernons vocals, Im In It. This song kind of reminds me of Nine Inch Nines The Becoming from his 1994 album, Downward Spiral. Im In It have similar elements as The Becoming because of the quiet, calm start of the song with the sensual, chilling background

vocals and as the song builds it becomes louder and cruder. This song is actually sexy in such a somber manner. Ive always enjoyed Wests Nina Simone soulful samples; Blood On the Leaves have elements of classic Kanye West production. Actually Blood On the Leaves have elements from all of his previous albums; the soulful vibe of the first three albums, the off key auto tune singing of 808s and the Heartbreaks, and the heavy southern drums and drum rolls of My Dark Twisted Fantasy. Can a song be somber but excitedly hype at the same time? If so, this is that song because it is somewhat doleful but body moving. As were continuing to fall down this well of solemn were about to hit Guilt Trip with featured vocals from the king of depressing music, Kid Cudi. Kudis despairing vocals really are depressing to listen to on a regular day; so featuring him in this song is perfect! That is the purpose of Guilt Trip to make the listener have a moment of reflection of heartbreak and loneliness. Out of the ten tracks on Yeezus, Send It Up is my least favorite song on the album. The beat is good but the content is what rubs my ears the wrong way. I honestly do not care to hear about the lavish lifestyle of Kanye West. Are you (West) going to reflect on somber moments or boast about random nothingness in your life? Yeezus could have done without Send It Up. Finally were at the end of this beautifully, dark journey; Bound 2 is the end, the last song. There is a wonderful sample from Norman Whitesides Aeroplane thats accompanied by the legendary vocals of Charlie Wilson. The duality of Wests off beat lyrical flow and Wilsons lovely soulful voice makes this song MAYBE the best song off of Yeezus. What grabs out to my ears are Wilsons vocals; his featured is the real highlight of Bound 2. Wilsons vocals are perfect for the soulful melody and amazing sample that composes this great song. Bound 2 is in a battle with Hold My Liquor for favorite song off of Yeezus; both songs are truly amazing.

At the end of the day, I could give two f*ck about Kanye Wests interaction with the media because all I am only here for is his music. Yeezus is surprisingly a great mystery that was kept under wraps because the actual sound of the album triumphed over the mystery marketing scheme, his media fallouts, and all that is Kanye West. Yeezus is in my opinion is the Hip-Hop version of Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral. Both albums are heavy with the drums, dark melodies, industrial drums that are accompanied by background white noise blasts, low quality instrumentals, haunting, chilling background vocals, and crude, abstract lyrics; Yeezus is a wonderful dark, abstract, artsy piece of melancholy sound. Yeezus is one of Wests first albums that he used outside producers for the entire album; just to name a few producers, Daft Punk, Travi$ Scott, RZA, TNGHT, and Rick Rubin. Using a diverse group of producers in my opinion was a great idea and also really created an over welling, raw sound. The overall sound of this album is bigger than the hype that was surrounding it; the sound is even bigger than Wests lyrical content. The Industrial Alternative sound that this album gives out actually has created a new sub genre for Hip-Hop, Abstract Hip-Hop. This newfound genre is great strength causing a

mixture of Alternative Rock, House, Electronic, Dub Step, Drum & Bass, Acid House, Trip-Hop, Industrial Rock, and southern Hip-Hop blended together to create this beautifully grim sound that is Yeezus. My overall grade for Yeezus is an A-; the only reason for my grade approval is because of Wests overall lyrical content. The albums lackluster lyrical content is one big reason why I havent really went into detail about Wests lyrics. I wasnt impressed by his boasting attitude, simple at times vexatious lyrical content, and sometimes off beat lyrical flow that is delivered by West. I see it like this, this is the same Kanye West talking about the same Kanye West things; if youve heard Graduation, My Dark Twisted Fantasy, and Watch the Throne then you know what youre in store for lyrical wise. We all know there is no one else who can talk about Kanye West better than Kanye West. When there is bad there is always some form of great; one interested featured that might go unnoticed is the ad-libs and background vocals of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Vernons vocals on Yeezus really played a great part to few of the melodies and flow of instrumentals. His (Vernons) unique vocals are as beautiful as Yeezus grim instrumentals. The sublime beauty in the way Vernons vocals are able to harmonize over melodies and at times his vocals were the setting point to the somber mood of a song. Yeezus overall sound with help from a diverse group of producers who made this a great album is truly amazing but Wests lyricism is subpar. Seriously this just might be Kanye Wests masterpiece album, his Sistine Chapel. Hey, dont take my words for it, give Kanye Wests Yeezus a listen for yourself and let us know what you think.