A look at Kanye’s new album ‘Ye’
After a month of controversial rants, interviews and tweets, Kanye West finally released his long-awaited album, “Ye” on June 1. At 40 years old, this is his eighth studio album — it has seven songs and runs for a little over twenty-four minutes.
The intro song to this project is “I Thought About Killing You.” Similar to the intros on some of his other albums, this song combines spoken word with rapping. The sounds, vocals and production of this song are beautifully layered and blended, establishing themes of beauty, freedom and contradiction that continue through the album.
“Yikes” is the second track and is about the effects of psychedelic drugs. The first line sets the tone with “tweakin’, tweakin’ off that 2CB, huh?” The song also discusses the public responses to his behavior. Electronic sounds are fused with the sounds of more traditional rap, while also maintaining an up-tempo beat throughout. It ends with an out-of-breath statement: “That’s my bipolar shit, that’s my superpower, ain’t no disability I’m a superhero.” Kanye seems to recognize that his behavior, while it fuels the adoration of his fans, can be destructive.
“All Mine” is the song casual fans will gravitate towards the most. With Ty Dolla $ign’s high, distorted vocals on the hook, it is a song about sex, women and Kanye’s love of both.
“Wouldn’t Leave” discusses his “free thinking” and the subsequent public reaction and the toll it has taken on his marriage. He expresses his struggle with this in the line, “they want me working on my messaging, when I’m thinking like George Jetson and sounding like George Jefferson.” With beautiful guest vocals from Jeremih and PARTYNEXTDOOR, the song ends with a monologue from Kanye where he celebrates his wife standing by him through everything.
Featuring Kid Cudi, in “No Mistakes,” Kanye reflects on his past year. Through it, he struggled with bad press, debt and aging. He assures he’ll be okay and won’t “take advice from people less successful than me.” With one verse, this song was carried by soothing vocals from Kid Cudi and Charlie Wilson and by transitions between beats filled with bells, pianos and loud, cutting samples.
“Ghost Town,” talks about the contradiction between personal freedom destruction. The song is filled with lines that show the battle between his growth and immaturity. But the stand-out performance is by the featured 19-year old New Jersey artist, 070 Shake. She sings about her freedom and the fearlessness it brings. With guitar riffs filling the background, this sounds like a rock song: it’s a song that could energize a stadium, something that Kanye aimed to do with his songs on “Graduation.”
“Violent Crimes” is a song dedicated to his daughters. With a soft melody and gentle beat, Kanye raps about how fatherhood has transformed his perspective: “Now I see women as something to nurture not something to conquer.” He discusses how, as a father, he will always protect them and expresses honest thoughts.
“Ye” sounds amazing. With great production and features, all of the songs sound good. It isn’t the best lyrically, but has the honest self-reflection Kanye is loved for.
Ye is a story about his struggles with drugs, his insecurities and his darkest thoughts, set alongside his thoughts of love for his family, his futuristic vision and feeling as good as a superhero: “The most beautiful thoughts are always besides the darkest”.
While his past month has been highlighted by his opinions and subsequent controversy, he showed self-examination and awareness. Like most of his projects, “Ye” is an album that will gain better perspective as time goes on.
All in all, it was a great album. Kanye was Kanye.
Jalen Nash is a junior political science major. His music column appears biweekly in Pulp. You can email him at janash@syr.edu or follow him on Twitter @ja_nash3.