Reviewed: Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"

The title of the album alone describes Kanye West’s incredible ability to craft and create music. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” is Kanye West’s true expression of music. The album benefits from the shared talents of an arsenal of talented artists to help form an intricate musical breakthrough. However, it highlights Kanye West’s unbeatable ability to construct undeniably great beats intertwined with amazing lyrics. He is pushing his music to the limits with this new album, which is something very few artists nowadays. This album includes superb melodic schemes, harmonious clashes, and unexpected twists. In the media, Kanye West is an egotistical, self-conscious wreck; however in his music, he is a magnificent genius. This is one of the most creative, exquisite, and original rap albums ever.

From “808’s & Heartbreak” to “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” it is a wonderful change for the better. It is great to go from the bleak dark, auto-tuned pop of “808’s & Heartbreak”, to the abstract and captivating beauty of “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”.  This CD features the classic Kanye West, with a darker aspect added to it. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” is heavy on the drums and the strings, with some of Kanye West’s best rhymes thus far. The album is considered to be his finest up until now, and is near perfection. There is only one minor flaw in the entire album, which is the large portion of collaborations. More than half of the songs feature another artist. Although, I feel that many of those collaborators enhance the song’s quality. Those collaborators include the following: Kid Cudi, Raekwon, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver, Pusha T, Prynce Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz, The RZA, John Legend, Beyoncé, Charlie Wilson, and Big Sean. The album does not include a sole standout single, however many of the songs are enthralling. Some of the best songs on the album include “Dark Fantasy,” “Gorgeous,” “Power,” “All of the Lights,” “So Appalled,” “Runaway,” “Lost in the World,” and “Blame Game.” In addition to the fantastic album, Kanye West and others created a thirty minutes short film titled Runaway, which is a visual interpretation of his music. This movie is mystical, boundless, esoteric, and creative. It is definitely worth the time to watch this amazing film.

Track Listing

1. Dark Fantasy
2. Gorgeous (featuring Kid Cudi and Raekwon)
3. POWER
4. All of the Lights
5. Monster (featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver)
6. So Appalled (featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, Prynce Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz and the RZA)
7. Devil in a New Dress
8. Runaway (featuring Pusha T)
9. Hell of a Life
10. Blame Game (featuring John Legend and Pusha T)
11. Lost in the World
12. See Me Now