Released: November 22, 2010
Genre: Hip hop ・progressive rap ・pop・art pop ・rap opera
Label: Def Jam ・Roc-A-Fella
Producer: Bink ・DJ Frank E・Kanye West・Mike Dean・No I.D. ・RZA ・S1
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kanye West is one of the greatest and most influential hip hop artists of all time. I love to call Kanye the greatest of his generation, due to him mainly shaping the face of music with his timeless records, such as Slow Jams, Jesus Walks, All Falls Down, Heard Em Say, Touch The Sky, Gold Digger, Through The Wire, Flashing Lights, Can’t Tell Me Nothing, Good Life, Heartless, etc. I can go on and on, about the greatness that is Kanye, but y’all already know what’s up.
Kanye’s fifth studio album was titled My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and was released on November 22, 2010 by Def Jam & Roc-A-Fella Records. The rapper started working during a controversial period in Kanye’s life, during which he went on a self-imposed exile in Hawaii. WIth influences of pop, hip hop, rap opera, soul, electro, and baroque, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is truly Kanye’s best work…and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Along with being a genre-bending affair, the album was also heavily influenced by Kanye’s rocky relationship with then-girlfriend model Amber Rose. Thematically, the album exposes the darkest sides of celebrity, fame, self-doubt, escapism, wealth, love, race, consumer culture and the idealism of the “American Dream.”
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was a commercial and critical success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 & Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts with 496,000 copies sold the very first week..blocking Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday from the top spot. It gave Kanye his fourth consecutive number one album and had the fourth-highest sales week of 2010. The album has since been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA, and won Best Rap Album. Everything about this album is amazing. From the controversial ORIGINAL album cover to the lyricism and production. Like this record truly molded the sound for hip hop in the 2010s decade. Legendary as fuck.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
Dark Fantasy
Written by Kanye West ・Robert Diggs ・Ernest Wilson ・Jeff Bhasker ・Mike Dean ・Malik Jones ・Justin Vernon ・Onika Mara ・Jon Anderson ・Mike Oldfield
You ain’t got no Yeezy, nigga?
Kanye West, Dark Fantasy, 2010
**featuring background vocals by Nicki Minaj, Justin Vernon of Bon Ever, Teyana Taylor & Amber Rose.
The album opens with the amazing Dark Fantasy, and the song is lyrically about the fame that we all think about: the glitz, the glamour, the money and wealth. But after you hear Nicki Minaj’s verse at the beginning sets up the tone for the album, that everything isn’t always what it seems. The song contains a sample of In High Places by Mike Oldfield.
Gorgeous featuring Kid Cudi and Raekwon
Written by Kanye West ・Ernest Wilson ・Mike Dean ・Che Smith ・Corey Woods ・Scott Mescudi・Gene Clark ・Roger McGuinn
***the song features background vocals by Tony Williams.
Gorgeous is one of the highlights of the album, and rightfully so. Featuring Kid Cudi and the legendary Raekwon, the song explores the disgusting topic of social injustice in the United States, while calling America “gorgeous” in an ironic way.
The song contains elements of the song You Showed Me by The Turtles.
Power
Written by Kanye West ・Larry Griffin, Jr. ・Mike Dean ・Jeff Bhasker ・Andwele Gardner ・Ken Lewis ・Francois Bernheim ・Jean-Pierre Lang ・Boris Bergman・Robert Fripp・Michael Giles ・Greg Lake ・Ian McDonald ・Peter Sinfield
***the song contains a feature from Dwele.
POWER is a SONG! From a lyrical perspective, the song speaks about the singer’s mental health, critics and the United States as a whole. The song was Kanye’s lead single, peaking at number twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 & Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song contains samples of 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson, Afromerica by Continent Number 6 and It’s Your Thing by Cold Grits.
All of the Lights (Interlude)
Written by Kanye West ・Mike Dean
All of the Lights (Interlude) is an instrumental version of the following song on the album, consisting of a cello and piano playing together to play the haunting record.
All of the Lights featuring Rihanna and Kid Audi
Written by Kanye West ・Jeff Bhasker ・Scott Mescudi ・Warren Trotter ・Stacy Ferguson ・Terius Nash
***the song features additional vocals by Tony Williams, The-Dream, Charlie Wilson, John Legend, Elly Jackson of La Roux, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Fergie, Ryan Leslie, Drake, Alvin Fields and Ken Lewis.
All of the Lights is a musical masterpiece, and I don’t want to be released from its shackles. From a lyrical perspective, the song speaks to Kanye’s uneasy concerns with being a celebrity with personal problems in the public eye, as well serves as a metaphor for his struggles with fame. & he has Rihanna featured on the song. That was enough for me!
Monster featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver
Written by Kanye West ・Shawn Carter ・Mike Dean ・Patrick Reynolds ・William Roberts II ・Onika Maraj ・Ben Bronfman ・Daniel Lynas ・Harley Wertheimer
My presence is a present, kiss my ass!
Kanye West, Monster, 2010
Monster is definitely the standout track on the album, with features from Rick Ross, Bon Iver, Jay-Z & then newcomer Nicki Minaj, who ate up everyone on the track, including ye. From a lyrical point of view, the song discusses horror like concepts. The song peaked in the top twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 & Hot Rap Songs charts, and was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA.
So Appalled featuring Swizz Beats, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Cyhi the Prynce and RZA
Written by Kanye West・Ernest Wilson ・Mike Dean ・Shawn Carter ・ Terrence Thornton ・Cydel Young ・Kasseem Dean ・Robert Diggs ・Manfred Mann
So Appalled is a song that touches on the issues that come from being famous & social concerns. The song contains a sample of You Are- I Am by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.
Devil in a New Dress featuring Rick Ross
Written by Kanye West ・Roosevelt Harrell ・Mike Dean ・William Roberts II ・Carole King ・Gerry Goffin ・Malik Jones
Devil in a New Dress is one of my favorite Kanye songs ever! From a lyrical perspective, the songs speaks to lust, heartache, love and religion. Featuring Rick Ross, the song contains a sample of Smokey Robinson’s Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
Runaway featuring Pusha T
Written by Kanye West ・Emile Haynie ・Terrence Thornton ・Jeff Bhasker ・Mike Dean ・Malik Jones ・Peter Phillips ・John Branch
***the song features background vocals by Tony Williams and The-Dream.
Runaway is one of Kanye’s best masterpieces, and I have to explain why. The progressive rap song contained elements of pop, dance, trip hop, art rock speaks about the criticism that was aimed at Kanye at the time and serves as a toast to the “douchebags.” The song also served as a centerpiece for a short film of the same name.
The song peaked in the top twenty on the charts, peaking at number twelve. Also, the song has been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. The song contains a sample of Expo ’83 by Backyard Heavies, Introduction to Startime by James Brown and excerpts of Mary Jane (Live) by Rick James.
Hell of a Life
Written by Kanye West ・Mike Caren ・Sylvester Stewart ・Tony Joe White ・Terence Butler ・Anthony Iommi ・John Osbourne ・William Ward・Ernest Wilson
***the song features additional vocals by Teyana Taylor & The-Dream
Hell of a Life is a song that explains a story of Kanye marrying a porn star and the traumatic events that follow. The song draws inspiration from Kanye’s relationship with Amber Rose, who was a former stripper. The psychedelic rock record was a fan favorite by critics and fans alike.
The song contains samples of She’s My Baby by the Mojo Men, Stud-Spider by Tony Joe White & Iron Man by Black Sabbath.
Blame Game featuring John Legend
Written by Kanye West ・Justin Franks ・Chloe Mitchell ・Mike Dean ・John Stephens ・Richard James
***the song features additional vocals by Chris Rock and Salma Kenas.
Blame Game is a song okay! It can be interpreted in many ways, including Kanye speaking in regards to his relationship with fame, and a woman in his life. The song contains elements of Avril 14th by Aphex Twin.
Lost in the World featuring Bon Iver
Written by Kanye West ・Jeff Bhasker ・Manu Dibango ・James Brown ・Gil Scott-Heron ・Edwin Bocage ・Alfred Scramuzza ・Justin Vernon
***the song features additional vocals by Charlie Wilson, Kaye Fox, Tony Williams, Alicia Keys and Elly Jackson of La Roux.
Lost In the World‘s verses initially began as a love poem that was emailed to Kim Kardashian, who would later become his wife. After verses from the song were leaked, the song was divided into two parts. The song contains samples of Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango, Think (About It) by Lyn Collins, Woods by Bon Over and Comment No. 1 by Gil Scott-Heron
Who Will Survive in America
Written by Kanye West ・Jeff Bhasker ・Gil Scott-Heron ・Edwin Bocage ・Alfred Scramuzza
***the song features additional vocals by Charlie Wilson, Kaye Fox, Tony Williams, Alicia Keys and Elly Jackson of La Roux.
The album closes with part two, which is Who Will Survive In America. The song is built around a sample of Gil Scott-Heron’s Comment No. 1. The song practically sums up the album and paints a cold outlook for Kanye’s future.
With My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye proved that despite the outrageous things he does, it should not overshadow his legacy and his genius as a whole. I’ve been a Kanye fan since the beginning and being able to see his growth as an artist has been tremendous to see. A true legend at heart. -MW.
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