Welcome to the second-to-last Split Record Review! In light of the controversial new single by Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, we have three writers listening to his 2016 album “The Life of Pablo” for their respective opinions.
Often cited as the beginning of the end for his career, this album had a wild rollout with multiple updated versions being uploaded to Tidal and other streaming services throughout the first half of the year, along with brazen lyrics like “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex.” With that context out of the way, Ky’Lynn and James will get right into it tomorrow, but for now, kick us off, Henry!
Henry’s Response:
Well, this will certainly be interesting! I guess we’ll start with the obvious: At this point, it’s quite reasonable to denote Kanye West (or Ye) as the most controversial celebrity of the decade so far. Though he was no stranger to controversy throughout his career, his new endeavors as a reclusive white nationalist are certainly taking things up a notch.
It’s horrific to hear any hateful rhetoric, but from one of the most platformed artists of the 21st century feels more dire. This should go without saying, but none of the opinions presented in this review reflect our personal feelings toward the opinions of the artist formerly known as Kanye West.
With that being said, “The Life of Pablo” is a strange point in his discography. Undoubtedly, West’s deteriorating mental health is reflected in his music here. Shortly after this record was released, he was admitted to a mental hospital for erratic behavior and sleep deprivation.
Now, onto the music itself. It’s a mixed bag. Some of the bigger hits like “Famous,” “Waves” and “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” are incredibly well produced and effortlessly catchy, though their lyrical content can be eyebrow-raising.
Many of the songs deal with Kanye’s stardom and the struggles he dealt with because of that. Though it may not be as polished as his previous work, there are a few tracks here that articulate his feelings well.
Ye’s writing varies from witty and over the top to introspective and vulnerable. Many of his lyrics showcase his sense of humor, which was evident in his earlier releases. However, his more serious points offer a window into his thoughts, for better or worse.
Tracks like “Wolves” complement the ruminative content of their lyrics, whereas the grander and ego-driven tracks like “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” make the listener feel as on top of the world as West felt.
With an album like this, it’s hard to do a track-by-track breakdown of everything like I would normally do, since Ye’s work has been so universally scrutinized in every way. From trying to diagnose undetected mental illnesses to analyzing the nuances in his producing style, every second in this 66-minute record has been explained somewhere on the internet.
A lot of Ye’s sampling choices are more subdued, preferring the minor key over a grandiose show of prestige a la “Power” from his 2010 album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” though his braggadocious attitude remains unwavering.
Ye also takes a lot of inspiration from gospel music, reflecting his increasing Christian identity and serving as a precursor to further Christian-influenced releases like his 2019 album, “Jesus is King.” Though Ye was never a stranger to introducing faith into his music, “The Life of Pablo” was a watershed moment in his music and life.
It’s incredibly difficult to separate the art from the artist, especially with this album. Knowing this was the start of his downfall, it’s hard for me to enjoy the record. Although I can acknowledge that there are some ethereal and otherworldly moments throughout, it’s both saddening and angering to see the path West has taken lately, and in many ways, this record was both a warning sign and the first step of what was to come.
Rating: 3.75/5