It’s been almost two years since Kanye West released his last full-length studio album “808’s and Heartbreaks.” The album exposed a side of West, a darker more emotional side that was not heard on previous albums as he had made it after two traumatic events, a bad break up and the loss of his mother. Still, it fell short with expectations from the fame-level West had risen to.
West released the single “Power (Remix)” on Aug. 20, not through an album, but through his blog. The rapper promised via Twitter to release one song every Friday (dubbing it Good Fridays) until his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” is released Nov 22.
West has not only released songs every Friday like promised, but made them available for free through downloads on his website. It is hard to fully judge the songs released as a complete entity, because of the uncertainty of what will make the cut on the full-length album. But so far, the songs have re-sparked a fervor that once exuded from West.
Though the heavily auto-tuned, simpler and more pop-like 808’s seemed more purpose-driven than past albums, it lacked a certain passion and energy that was heard on previous songs like “Good Life,” “All Falls Down” and “Spaceship.” 808’s should have made West grow as an artist, but instead it felt more like it distracted him. But Good Fridays releases have reminded us of the mega hip hop star West is, lyrically and musically showcasing his ability to collaborate with a collection of diverse artists.
It is West’s second Good Fridays release “Monster” featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver that stands out as one of the most powerful tracks so far. Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon opens and closes the song with his soulful voice over hip-hop beats and West confesses on the chorus, “Everybody know I’m a muthaf***ing monster.” But it’s the angst and hype that comes from each of the lengthy verses from Jay-Z, West and Minaj that hype this song up. With Minaj’s being most abrasive, she toys back and forth with her vocals ranging from a fury to cute, girlish talk. She raps, “First things first I’ll eat your brains then I’mma start rocking gold teeth and fangs.”
Another track that earns heavy play is “Christian Dior Denim Flow” with John Legend, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, Lloyd Blanks and Ryan Leslie. The track is an ode to West’s love for the fashion world. The emotion-evoking ballad with a violin, “I got the world in my hands…” mixed with heavy drum beats and catchy percussions was worth the extra day West waited to release the track due to a hacking.
Good Friday’s energetic tracks have seemed to slightly humble West from the egomaniac he is. OK, if you follow him on Twitter he isn’t that humble, but at least he is confessing to some pretty bad faux pas in the past. And on these tracks he owns up to his out of control ego, “No one man should have all that power…Stop trippin’, I’m trippin’ off the power.” Although if there were ever a time he should be giving himself kudos it’s now.
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