When a man falls down, what’s the course of action? Do we get back up and go forward as if nothing ever happened, or do we retrace our steps and discover the reason why we sunk to the ground in the first place? Kanye West’s eighth studio album ye uncovers these truths as a distraught West embarks on a dangerous journey into the darkest, most lethal sections of his mind. With the ultimate goal being to reach a point of self-acceptance, West slays his inner demons to feel free. Recollecting on past traumas such as marriage issues and battles with suicide, Yeezy gets up stronger by embracing these flaws and using them as a “super power”. While Kanye’s career has been filled with many ups and downs, this bittersweet seven-song body of work is the most crucial when it comes to the redemption of his character and self-being.
Core Ideas:
- Self-acceptance
- Learning to love yourself
- Embracing your flaws
Key Strengths:
- Constant tone switches and crazed storytelling paints the perfect picture of Kanye’s mental state
- Distorted production perfectly matches the messaging behind Kanye’s heavily alluded to bipolar disorder
Tracklist Ranked:
- Ghost Town
- Violent Crimes
- Wouldn’t Leave
- No Mistakes
- Yikes
- I Thought About Killing You
- All Mine
Rating: 8.0/10