Album title: ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’

Artist: Kanye West

Genre: Hip-hop/Rap

Sounds like: Kanye West on symphonic steroids

Soundwaves:  4.5/5

Release Date: Nov. 22, 2010

‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ is a spectacle to behold. It is a grandiose, egotistic, conflicted and surprisingly self-aware portrait of a man who has come to embody all of those traits. It is also the best album of Kanye West’s career. From a musical perspective, ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ boasts the finest production of any hip-hop album to date. Those who can put personal views of West aside and just listen to the music will be rewarded with an exhilarating, stunning aural experience.

For all those who gossip, West has three words: Just stop it. Everybody knows about his ego problems, the incessant self-posturing and the outlandish public persona. If ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ proves anything, it’s that such criticism only serves to motivate and inspire him. This is West and his music, which are truly one and the same. The ego cannot be separated from the music — not when both are so big, so sprawling and so complex.

West attacks ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ with a sense of aggression and hunger that we haven’t seen or heard since his debut album, ‘The College Dropout.’ Throughout the album, it sounds as if he is conducting a classical hip-hop symphony, black ties and all. Introductory track ‘Dark Fantasy’ features a chorus of singers asking, ‘Can we get much higher?’ Then the beat drops, the drums kick and the concert hall sonically transforms into a flashy Lamborghini Murcielago, cruising through the streets of Chicago as the bass thumps out of the trunk.

A fusion of classical concerto and hard hip-hop, the introduction demonstrates an ambitious and artistically inspired West. Fortunately, he erases any lingering doubts about regaining his touch after 2008’s rapping-devoid CD, ‘808s & Heartbreak.’ Lyrically, West is back and better than ever, lacing his verses with double entendres, clever punch lines and biting social commentaries. Regarding the influence of music in modern society on the Kid Cudi-aided ‘Gorgeous,’ West wonders, ‘Is hip-hop just a euphemism for a new religion? The soul music for the slaves that the youth is missing?’

Similar thoughts arise on lead single ‘Power,’ which declares ‘the system’s broken, the schools closed, the prisons open’ over a gargantuan beat that features tribal chanting, hand claps and rock-metal sample from King Crimson. Such is the nature of the production on ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,’ which brings out nearly every influence in West’s musical dictionary.  ‘All of the Lights’ is the shining star: a stadium-sized romp, combining horns, 808 drums (without the heartbreak), crazy breakdowns and a motley crew of guest vocalists, such as Rihanna, Fergie, Alicia Keys and even Elton John.

On that note, the guests in West’s fantasy are all terrific. Each visitor fits a certain role within the context of each song, be it rapping or singing. Take the hard-hitting ‘Monster,’ for example, which has newcomer Nicki Minaj stealing the show with her schizophrenic and stellar verse. Likewise, West coaxes brilliant performances out of Jay-Z and Pusha T on the dark and foreboding ‘So Appalled.’ ‘Devil in a New Dress’ is a throwback to days of old, with West manipulating the pitch of a Smokey Robinson sample and lacing a beat that should come with complimentary wine and candles. Rick Ross seamlessly floats into the song’s third act, delivering a burly and confident verse that only adds to the grandiosity of the show.

But this is still West’s show. His power, influence and ego allow him to take his music wherever he wishes. West does sing throughout this album, and surprisingly he actually sounds pretty good. Unlike ‘808s and Heartbreak,’ West sings here to accentuate emotions and reinforce thematic content, not to draw sympathy and irresponsibly experiment with Auto-Tune. Integral album pieces ‘Runaway’ and ‘Blame Game’ feature the emotionally broken-down and remorseful West singing mostly without vocal effects. Without the honest delivery, these songs would not work.

‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ is a complex work of art that demands repeated listens, just as a great novel warrants multiple re-readings. Hip-hop music has never sounded this expansive and wide-ranging, and West has never sounded better. This is a man who has mastered his craft, fully immersed himself in his music and creative vision, and finally delivered the magnum opus we have been waiting for. Like him or not, West has raised the bar for hip-hop once again. Such is the work of a true monster.

ajhaeder@syr.edu

Published on November 29, 2010 at 12:00 pm