Kanye keeps it real with "The Life of Pablo"

After almost three years of work, countless collaborators, several last-minute name changes and a stir of controversy, Kanye West has finally released his seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo.

The Life of Pablo showcases Kanye’s ability to assemble an eclectic mix of musical styles and genres in one project, recruiting the best talents in the world to contribute.

The opening track, “Ultralight Beam”, is a beautiful gospel ballad that features artists Kelly Price and Chance the Rapper. Price brings her powerful melodies to the churchlike chorus, while Chance showcases his trademarked spoken-word style rap in the second verse of the song. These different sounds and styles come together to form a beautiful and powerful gospel ballad that sets a high standard for the album.

The next two tracks, “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1 & 2”, slowly move away from the gospel sound and begin to blur the lines of genre. Part 1 features production from hip-hop mastermind Metro Boomin, while Kid Cudi jumps in with a catchy hook and West spits a verse about a mysterious model. Part 2 features G.O.O.D. Music’s own Desiigner and comes off as a hard-hitting Atlanta trap song that will surely be a hit at clubs.

The first three tracks showcase The Life of Pablo’s mix different musical artists and genres, and while some critique the album for its lack of consistency, its kaleidoscopic musical range is the precise reason it is so memorable and remarkable.

Other memorable songs include “Highlights”, a well-produced, constantly beat-switching masterpiece filled with some of West’s best verses on the album and Young Thug and The Dream adding their unique sounds. “Waves” is a sonically- pleasing Metro Boomin produced track, featuring Chris Brown’s longlost pop/R&B singing.

The album’s hit singles include “Real Friends”, “Wolves” and “No More Parties in L.A”. The tracks are all unapologetically honest accounts of West’s feelings, where he recruits help from the likes of Boi-1da and Madlib for production and Frank Ocean, Ty Dolla Sign and Kendrick Lamar on the verses. In the songs, West talks about relationship struggles with friends and family, frustrations with Hollywood and fake celebrities and emotional problems that all listeners can relate to.

It’s no question that The Life of Pablo features some of the best production we have ever heard on any album ever, as West solidifies himself as one of the best producers to ever make music and utilizes various samples and help from countless talents to further enhance the sound. Unfortunately, The Life of Pablo does fall slightly short when it comes to West’s lyricism.

After albums like Late Registration and The College Dropout, fans have witnessed West’s ability to spit bar after bar of hard-hitting rap, but that ability is rarely heard in The Life of Pablo.

Unlike previous Kanye West projects, the rapper that many consider ignorant and rude jokingly admits to some of his mistakes and flaws in The Life of Pablo with such lines as, “I love you like Kanye loves Kanye.” Though it may be very easy to judge someone as publically criticized as Kanye West, it is important to remember just how influential and talented the Chicago- born rapper is. And while this album might not be his best, The Life of Pablo showcases Kanye West’s unique ability to bring together a variety of musical styles into one fine-tuned project with legendary production and remarkable talents.

It might be easy to judge Kanye West for the mistakes he’s made and the flaws he has, but as Mr. West exclaims on the The Life of Pablo, “name one genius that ain’t crazy!”

The Life of Pablo is currently available on the music streaming platform TIDAL.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5