{"id":28845,"date":"2020-04-04T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-04T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=28845"},"modified":"2020-04-03T20:02:32","modified_gmt":"2020-04-04T01:02:32","slug":"ranking-every-kanye-west-album","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranking Every Kanye West Album"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph\">Back in the summer of 2013, one of my best friends played me \u201cYeezus\u201d by Kanye West on a long car ride. It was unlike anything I had heard before, and I knew I needed more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tFlash forward almost seven years and my appreciation for West\u2019s music has grown tenfold. While I don\u2019t always agree with what he says on media platforms, it doesn\u2019t take away the fact that he is a very creative individual and one of the all-time great producers in rap\/hip-hop. And he ain\u2019t a bad rapper either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tSo what better time than now (when we\u2019re all cooped up in our homes and may need some music recommendations) to rank all 12 of his albums from worst to best? Keep in mind that this is just my opinion and if you liked some of the lower albums more than I did, more power to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"439\" height=\"371\" data-attachment-id=\"28849\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/jesus-is-king-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jesus-is-king-1.png\" data-orig-size=\"439,371\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"jesus-is-king-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jesus-is-king-1.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jesus-is-king-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28849\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jesus-is-king-1.png 439w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jesus-is-king-1-300x254.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>12. Jesus Is King<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tWest\u2019s latest outing is shockingly perhaps his weakest. In 2019, West pledged off of secular music and became a strictly Christian artist. His first gospel album,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/music-entertainment\/2019\/11\/05\/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review\/\"> \u201cJesus Is King,\u201d is a total mess<\/a> that brings nothing new to the table and feels like the first Kanye album that didn\u2019t innovate in something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tThe Christian themes are a hindrance, as West refuses to rap about anything meaningful, with many of the lyrics focusing on generic \u201cGod is good\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m never gonna fit in as a Christian\u201d messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8yQVcGkbpAc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You really only need to hear \u201cSelah\u201d and \u201cUse This Gospel\u201d to get the idea behind this album, as those are the lone bright spots in an otherwise boring production. At least it\u2019s only 25 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"472\" height=\"322\" data-attachment-id=\"28850\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/cruel-summer\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/cruel-summer.png\" data-orig-size=\"472,322\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"cruel-summer\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/cruel-summer.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/cruel-summer.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/cruel-summer.png 472w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/cruel-summer-300x205.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11. Cruel Summer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tWhile this is more of a compilation album curated by West, it was still his brainchild and deserves a spot on the list. It features several of his G.O.O.D. Music labelmates like Kid Cudi, Teyana Taylor, Big Sean, Pusha T and John Legend, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All of the big singles from this album are great, such as \u201cCold,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t Like,\u201d \u201cMercy\u201d and \u201cClique.\u201d \u201cTo the World\u201d is another song I really like that opens up the album.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8ZE9vP3pyiw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rest of the album is ok, but nothing tops those first five tracks. That combined with the fact that Kanye only appears on about half of the songs puts this one near the bottom of the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28851\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/ye\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ye.png\" data-orig-size=\"391,287\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ye\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ye.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ye.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28851\" width=\"377\" height=\"277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ye.png 391w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ye-300x220.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>10. Ye<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I liked \u201cYe\u201d when <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2018\/06\/04\/kanye-west-ye-review\/\">it first came out<\/a>. Probably a bit too much, which I place on my desire to hear more new Kanye and the pre-release hype and controversy surrounding it. It started the recent trend of Kanye albums barely going over 20 minutes, and feels a bit uninspired because of that fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It probably doesn\u2019t help that it feels like Kanye is letting the listener tune in live to his mental degradation, as he screams and declares bipolar disorder his own superpower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This album is a lot more consistent than \u201cJesus is King\u201d though. The production features beats that are simple and solid, and West does get a few good bars in here and there. A few tracks like \u201cWouldn\u2019t Leave\u201d and \u201cNo Mistakes\u201d feel like they would fit right in on \u201cGraduation.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4I8gDpuvZt4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, while there aren\u2019t any bad songs on this album, there aren\u2019t very many that I would put in my top 20 Kanye songs. There are no certified hits like \u201cPower\u201d or \u201cGold Digger.\u201d Combine that with how uncomfortable the tone can make me feel and the short length, and it doesn\u2019t crack the top ten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28853\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/808s-and-heartbreaks\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/808s-and-heartbreaks.png\" data-orig-size=\"392,328\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"808s-and-heartbreaks\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/808s-and-heartbreaks.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/808s-and-heartbreaks.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28853\" width=\"373\" height=\"312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/808s-and-heartbreaks.png 392w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/808s-and-heartbreaks-300x251.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9. 808\u2019s and Heartbreak<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tNow, I know what you\u2019re thinking: \u201c808\u2019s and Heartbreak\u201d is really good and one of the most influential albums in hip-hop. I agree wholeheartedly with that second point. It\u2019s clear that the 100 percent personal lyrics and mostly auto-tuned singing on this album inspired many of the rappers we have now, like Drake and Travis Scott.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/w8s8_TLp3Mc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If this list was about influence and its effect on the music industry, it would be near the top. But aside from a handful of songs (\u201cHeartless,\u201d \u201cParanoid,\u201d \u201cLove Lockdown,\u201d \u201cWelcome to Heartbreak\u201d and \u201cStreet Lights\u201d), I couldn\u2019t get into it. It\u2019s just not my preferred style of rap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28855\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/watch-the-throne\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/watch-the-throne.png\" data-orig-size=\"390,360\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"watch-the-throne\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/watch-the-throne.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/watch-the-throne.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28855\" width=\"334\" height=\"308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/watch-the-throne.png 390w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/watch-the-throne-300x277.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 334px) 100vw, 334px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>8. Watch the Throne<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tThe long-anticipated collaboration between Kanye West and Jay Z was very good. It didn\u2019t live up to (unreasonably high) expectations, but a lot of the album is a worthwhile listen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cN***** in Parris,\u201d \u201cNo Church in the Wild,\u201d \u201cOtis\u201d and \u201cWhy I Love You\u201d are standouts and songs that still hold up now. \u201cNew Day\u201d and \u201cMurder to Excellence\u201d are two other tracks that are a bit underlooked and the lyrics show a real maturation of both men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FJt7gNi3Nr4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tI really enjoy this album even though there is a little fluff and some tracks that don\u2019t live up to the hype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28856\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/the-life-of-pablo\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-life-of-pablo.png\" data-orig-size=\"391,374\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"the-life-of-pablo\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-life-of-pablo.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-life-of-pablo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28856\" width=\"347\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-life-of-pablo.png 391w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-life-of-pablo-300x287.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. The Life of Pablo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Life of Pablo\u201d is a huge mess. There were a lot of really good ideas for songs on this one that just didn\u2019t pan out. \u201cHighlights\u201d could\u2019ve been really good if it had more time to be fleshed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWolves\u201d is a tragedy. The Vic Mensa and Sia parts originally on the song were cut out and instead, we get Kanye repeating a terrible line three times in a row.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of West\u2019s best tracks from this period (\u201cAll Day\u201d and \u201cOnly One\u201d) didn\u2019t even make it on this album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tThat being said, the highs on this album far outweigh the lows, and I like a lot of what\u2019s being offered here, as \u201cSaint Pablo,\u201d \u201cReal Friends,\u201d \u201cNo More Parties in L.A.,\u201d \u201cFamous\u201d and \u201cUltralight Beam\u201d are bonafide classics. It\u2019s just a shame we get a lot of bizarre filler in-between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NoiJCB-QegE?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interludes like \u201cLowlights\u201d and \u201cSilver Surfer Intermission\u201d suck, and songs like \u201cFeedback,\u201d \u201cFreestyle 4,\u201d \u201cFacts\u201d and both parts of \u201cFather Stretch my Hands\u201d bring this album down in my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tI will say that this is probably the last good Kanye solo album we\u2019ll be seeing in a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28858\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/the-college-dropout\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-college-dropout.png\" data-orig-size=\"391,377\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"the-college-dropout\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-college-dropout.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-college-dropout.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28858\" width=\"375\" height=\"362\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-college-dropout.png 391w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/the-college-dropout-300x289.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. The College Dropout<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kanye\u2019s first album hits right in the middle of the list. At the time it was revolutionary and put West on the map. He rapped about more personal topics and shied away from the violent imagery present in the majority of rap lyrics from his contemporaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tracks like \u201cThrough the Wire,\u201d \u201cJesus Walks,\u201d \u201cFamily Business\u201d and \u201cAll Falls Down\u201d stand out as some of the rawest and most personal tracks from West\u2019s discography. It also helps that they are instrumentally interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AE8y25CcE6s?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I don\u2019t care for a lot of the skits and there are some filler tracks in here that keep the album from going higher on the list. However, 55 of the 76 minutes of this album are very good and \u201cThe College Dropout\u201d may be one of the best debuts ever from an artist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28860\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/graduation-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/graduation.png\" data-orig-size=\"391,381\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"graduation\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/graduation.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/graduation.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28860\" width=\"323\" height=\"315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/graduation.png 391w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/graduation-300x292.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Graduation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tWest\u2019s third record caps off the college-themed trilogy and cuts out the filler songs and skits and makes a very cohesive album. This was West\u2019s attempt to create an album full of arena anthems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While \u201cStronger,\u201d \u201cFlashing Lights\u201d and \u201cHomecoming\u201d fit the bill for this sound, there are plenty of more intimate songs like \u201cChampion\u201d and \u201cEverything I Am.\u201d The album has a very consistent sound and there are only two songs I don\u2019t like here (\u201cDrunk and Hot Girls\u201d and \u201cBarry Bonds\u201d).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/q4qlqQmBync?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tI don\u2019t have a lot more to say about this album except that it is one of the easiest listens and underrated pieces of the Kanye catalog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28862\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/kids-see-ghosts\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/kids-see-ghosts.png\" data-orig-size=\"390,331\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"kids-see-ghosts\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/kids-see-ghosts.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/kids-see-ghosts.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28862\" width=\"351\" height=\"298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/kids-see-ghosts.png 390w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/kids-see-ghosts-300x255.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 351px) 100vw, 351px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kids See Ghosts &#8211; Topic)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Kids See Ghosts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\t\u201cKids See Ghosts\u201d is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2018\/06\/11\/review-kids-see-ghosts\/\">perfect collaboration album<\/a>. Both West and Kid Cudi complement each other and hide their weaknesses. Like \u201cYe,\u201d the album is a quick 24 minute listen with seven tracks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tHowever, this release is much stronger and every song is a direct hit. \u201cFeel the Love\u201d is a great opener, with Cudi\u2019s singing on point, a nice guest verse from Pusha T and Kanye making some fantastic gun imitation noises. \u201cReborn\u201d really feels like both men moving on from their struggles throughout 2016-18.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hQC8COGQ4BM?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kids See Ghosts &#8211; Topic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tEvery song is musically interesting and has at least one great bar from either man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> The singing is quality, the rapping is great and the production is fantastic. I only wish we got seven more tracks of this quality as the short length keeps it out of the top three. This is definitely an elite Kanye release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28864\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/late-regristation\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/late-regristation.png\" data-orig-size=\"392,361\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"late-regristation\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/late-regristation.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/late-regristation.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28864\" width=\"332\" height=\"306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/late-regristation.png 392w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/late-regristation-300x276.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 332px) 100vw, 332px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2018\/08\/30\/henrys-time-capsule-late-registration\/\">Late Registration<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tThe follow-up to \u201cThe College Dropout\u201d improved tenfold upon its predecessor and is one of Kanye\u2019s best albums. West includes a 20 person orchestra accompaniment and a slew of guest performers, including Jay Z and Nas, who were embroiled in a feud at the time, to prop this album up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tThis album also includes some of the most overlooked songs in Kanye\u2019s career, such as \u201cRoses,\u201d \u201cGone,\u201d \u201cAddiction\u201d and \u201cLate\u201d that should get more love. The singles of this album (\u201cGold Digger,\u201d \u201cTouch the Sky\u201d and \u201cDiamonds From Sierra Leone\u201d) are also fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TwPCaWQIJME?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> \u201cLate Registration\u201d proved that West wasn\u2019t a flash in the pan and showed that he had more than one trick up his sleeve. The skits are short and there\u2019s not really a bad song here. I feel this is the best of the first four Kanye albums and it gets slept on too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28867\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/yeezus\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yeezus.png\" data-orig-size=\"393,376\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"yeezus\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yeezus.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yeezus.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28867\" width=\"350\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yeezus.png 393w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yeezus-300x287.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>2. Yeezus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\t\u201cYeezus\u201d was the album that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2018\/06\/22\/henrys-time-capsule-yeezus\/\">got me into Kanye<\/a>, and it is one of his best efforts. It came in 2013, at a time where he gained public scrutiny due to his disrespect of Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs and other various comments that upset people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tDuring this time, West made his first forays into the fashion industry with middling results. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/style\/2013\/06\/kanye-west-yeezus-fashion-industry\">The tumultuous time<\/a> is best reflected in the album\u2019s incredibly raw, angry and ugly lyrics, such as the shots West takes on the industry in \u201cNew Slaves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vQ0u09mFodw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s an industrial sound to this album and it includes a lot of Kanye screaming and some of his craziest lines. While this was a negative to some, I kind of love how crazy and off-kilter West\u2019s lyrics can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\tIt released with little fanfare and while it was loved by critics, the general public was divided on the abrasive sound. I love this album and find something great in every song here.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> It\u2019s Kanye arguably at the craziest, most creative and most polarizing (before 2018) period of his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"387\" height=\"365\" data-attachment-id=\"28869\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/entertainment\/2020\/04\/04\/ranking-every-kanye-west-album\/attachment\/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy.png\" data-orig-size=\"387,365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy.png\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy.png 387w, https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-300x283.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px\" \/><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most rankings of West\u2019s work end the same way, with \u201cMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,\u201d the 2010 album that spawned a short film and several massive singles at the top spot. I\u2019m gonna agree with the masses here, as this is Kanye at his very best, as each song slaps and there is no filler at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tJKNcI6jC6A?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The album kinda seems like an apology letter from West, whose public struggles and controversies compelled him to record it in Honolulu, Hawaii. His creative process was unique, in that he had several guests in the studio, such as Rick Ross, Drake, Jay Z, Rihanna, Elton John, Bon Iver\u2019s Justin Vernon, RZA, Q-Tip and Madlib, and would go from room-to-room, ironing out different beats and verses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He\u2019d present an idea to a committee, and concocted an album that is an exercise in how to do excess right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most songs last at least five minutes and have a feature. Each one offers something worthwhile. The beats are loud and bombastic, the guests provide some of their best work (Rick Ross on \u201cDevil in a New Dress\u201d and Nikki Minaj on \u201cMonster\u201d especially) and West spits some of his best bars ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Musically, lyrically and aesthetically, this album is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.udiscovermusic.com\/stories\/kanye-west-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy\/\">masterpiece<\/a>. I challenge even the non-Kanye fans to listen to this and try not to fall in love with just one song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SUtf9Ajlno4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>(Source: Youtube\/Kanye West)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All in all, it\u2019s never boring being a Kanye fan. No two albums are the same, and he\u2019s always doing something to catch the eye of the news. Unfortunately, <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/music\/news\/taylor-swift-kanye-west-phone-call-leaks-read-full-transcript-1203541363\/\">recent developments<\/a> in the never-ending saga between him and Taylor Swift are disheartening.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While we\u2019re all shut in right now, I recommend you to give him a chance if you haven\u2019t before. Listen to one of his albums, and see what you think. Certain pieces of Yeezy\u2019s catalog might just become part of the soundtrack of your life if you\u2019re not careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Henry Wolski<br><\/strong>Staff Writer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Back in the summer of 2013, one of my best friends played me \u201cYeezus\u201d by Kanye West on a long car ride. It was unlike anything I had heard before, and I knew I needed more. Flash forward almost seven years and my appreciation for West\u2019s music has grown tenfold. While I don\u2019t always agree [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10416,"featured_media":28847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2104,3935,3523,2144],"tags":[2000,113,468,1384],"class_list":["post-28845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-media","category-media-reviews","category-music-entertainment","tag-henry-wolski","tag-hip-hop","tag-kanye-west","tag-opinion"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":false,"source_text":false,"source_url":false},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5s3vR-7vf","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/6035187824_b2b0803942_k.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10416"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28845"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28845\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28871,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28845\/revisions\/28871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}