There’s been outbursts on chat shows and Twitter, there’s been nude pictures, there’s been surprise performances at Facebook’s office and over the tannoy on a Delta Airlines flight. These themes are scattered throughout the album showing that the cold and calculating media master really is human and in a way, these types of verses reveal his insecurity and vulnerability.Kanye West’s fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, has had the most extravagant press campaign in musical history behind it. It’s introspective, witty, honest and even strokes his trademark ego as he refers to himself as “Malcolm West”. “ Is hip hop just a euphemism for a new religion?/ The soul music of the slaves that the youth is missin’?/ But this is more than just my road to redemption/ Malcolm West had the whole nation standing at attention/ As long as I’m in Polos smilin’, they think they got me/ But they would try to crack me if they ever see a black me“ Take for example an excerpt from his excellent verses on Gorgeous: Previously, I threw Kanye in the growing pile of great producers who had mediocre mic skills with a few notable exceptions but this is the first Kanye album where I felt the outstanding production didn’t overshadow his sometimes glaring deficiencies as a rapper. While never considered a lyrical wizard, I think ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ is one of his strongest efforts lyrically. Even though I’m a huge fan of RZA and the Wu, his voice is not great and Swizz is just annoying so to bring them onto a song to only do the chorus just doesn’t make sense to me. So Appalled features Jay-Z, Pusha T, CyHi Da Prynce and two totally unnecessary appearances from Swizz Beatz and RZA, who each take a turn with the repetitive and corny chorus. The second posse cut is by far my least favorite song on the album, though still not a bad song overall, which is a testament to how strong this album is. While I feel that Kanye had the best written verse and the smoothest delivery of the three, Nicki unquestionably steals the show and commands your attention with her crazy vocal inflections. It’s clear here how much of a difference mic presence can have on the listener. The simple beat allows the stars of the song: ‘Ye, Jay and Nicki to flex their lyrical muscles with typical braggadocio. The first is Monster featuring Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and Bon Iver. Sitting right in the middle of the album are two huge posse cuts, which are actually two of the most traditional hip hop songs on the album in terms of structure and sound.

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