Ben Zorn

🔥 10/10 🔥 Very rarely can one call something a classic right off the block. This is one of those rare occasions. It’s chaotic, off the walls, proudly misogynistic, and hallucinogenically wild, which may come off as offensive and grating to those not used to Kanye’s off-the-cuff arrogance. I’m judging the music, not the man. The man is a mess, and so is his music. This album could be titled: “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Part 2” or “MBDTF II.” Ty Dolla $ign shines wherever he appears. They’re certainly a potent songwriting and production duo. (1) SLIDE - 5/5 - Incredible production! Incredible start! (2) TIME MOVING SLOW (ft. The Inter Milan Ultras) - 5/5 - Something about this one is immediately very catchy. Ty Dolla is incredible. And then Kanye has a great verse, very nice. (3) FIELD TRIP (ft. Don Toliver, Kodak Black & Playboi Carti) - 5/5 - That beat, sheesh. Hard not to head bang to this one. Kodak casually comes through with fire. Toliver and Carti with notable contributions. (4) FRIED - 5/5 - That production!! The braggadoccio is full throttle. HARDDDD. (5) ISABELLA - [INTERLUDE] (6) PROMOTION (ft. Future) - 5/5 - Island vibes with Future and Ty Dolla $ign. Kanye comes along for the ride. (7) HUSBAND - 4/5 - “The only thing you really need is a husband” won’t go over well with sensitive people, but I dig the honesty and freestyle vibe. (8) LIFESTYLE (ft. Lil Wayne) - 5/5 - Modern Lil Wayne with a classic verse, very solid. Catchy. A bit of freestyle vibes at the end. There it is again: “The only thing you really need is a husband.” Hmmmm. Ends like the end of Runaway with the tone of 808s and Heartbreak. Crooning Kanye. Raw emotion. (9) FOREVER - 5/5 - Catchy, psychedelic vibes. Love it! (10) BOMB (w/ North West & Chicago West) - 5/5 - Call me crazy, but I think this is one of the most important songs on the album. Ye’s daughters’ contributions are extraordinary, considering their ages. I’m blown away. I can’t get this one out of my head. “There’s only one thing to do! Is is pray!” Love it. (11) RIVER (ft. Young Thug) - 5/5 - Thugger at his whimsical best. Hard not to dance to this one at the beginning. Good vibes, so relaxed, incredible sound. “Free Young Thug.” More psychedelic vibes near the end. (12) 530 - 5/5 - This is Kanye at his best. The flow of consciousness with the sharp lyrics. I feel this one. Classic Kanye crooning near the end. Kanye’s brief prior career as a slam poet shines through. I would believe he did this in one drunken take. Brilliant, creative, dark, mysterious, broken, and hedonistic. (13) DEAD (ft. Future & Lil Durk) - 5/5 - Uh oh. You know this one’s gonna be HARDDD. And the beat drops. Sheeeesh. I see Kanye transforming trap and Chicago rap into this blended, futuristic sound alongside Future and others. Lil Durk delivers. This is Future at his absolute best. And Kanye comes in at the end to emphasize the hedonism and bipolar intensity of this album. (14) FOREVER ROLLING (ft. Lil Baby) - 5/5 (15) SKY CITY (ft. 070 Shake, CyHi & Desiigner) - 5/5 (16) MY SOUL (ft. Big TC) - 5/5