Kanye West’s first gospel album?
Through numerous delays and drastic changes fans have continued to anxiously await the release of Kanye West’s new album The Life of Pablo.
T.L.O.P. is West’s seventh studio album, which was finally released on Valentine’s Day. It is only available on Tidal, Jay-Z’s subscription music-streaming service.
The recording process began in 2013, and the tentative name of the album was So Help Me God. The name then became SWISH. And when West released the track listing, he renamed it Waves.
A day before it’s scheduled release, Feb. 11, West announced the new name would be The Life of Pablo.
On this album, West discusses his relationship with God, his family and his wife, Kim Kardashian.
West recently stated on Twitter that his latest release would be a gospel album, and it feels grandiose in scale.
He begins with the song “Ultralight Beam” backed by church organs and choir. The song expresses an appeal to God for direction, but throughout the album West loses his sense of purpose and sinks back into his infamous narcissistic claims.
This album feels like West’s most introspective work, but it also qualifies as his most egotistical.
These ideas conflict in the songs “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1 and 2.”
In the first, West focuses on a relationship with a model he doesn’t love. He then switches gears in the second song to contemplate his relationship with his parents. This kind of conflicting subject matter is consistent throughout most of the album.
The song “Famous” is a controversy-seeped highlight, where West begins his verse with “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex, I made that b## famous.”
The line has caused an outcry from Swift fans, accusing the rapper of being misogynistic.
The record was increased to 18 tracks after West’s Madison Square Garden debut. Songs like “FML” and “Low Lights” have been modified frequently by West, and seem dynamic to the point of excess.
In the song “Real Friends” West seems to have a moment of self reflection as he laments about his inability to see his family, or remember their birthdays. This quickly devolves into how other people are to blame for not considering how busy he is – and how famous.
Kanye West’s new album may be conflicted and controversial, but his ambition manages to shine through.
As fans pour over the underlying messages in his works, only time will dictate how significant this new iteration will be.
