Wednesday, April 27, 2016

The Life of Pablo

by Cameron Holcomb



Kanye West’s new, highly controversial album The Life of Pablo is one for the ages… or one of his worst pieces of work. It all depends on the listener’s taste and expectations for music. Most people are accustomed to hearing a certain style of music, so when a song or album using this typical style is released, the listener can enjoy it. However, Kanye West changed it up. He has brilliantly created a new style of music, not just following the crowd but creating a new crowd. In order to truly enjoy this masterpiece, the listener has to be willing to accept this new style of music. In order to stand out rather than blend in, West mixed Gospel, Hip Hop, Rap, R&B, and Soul into one Kanye West genre. Not only did he create beats and choose the right notes that will surely be stuck in your head all day, but he also brings across important messages in his lyrics.


Someone who does not accept or appreciate new styles of music will most likely not enjoy this album one bit. This is the reason that the album is so controversial. To one ear, the album could be one of the best of all time, but to another it could sound like a clutter of rhythmless beats and off pitch notes. Kanye did not intend for his album to sound like top chart songs but to create a new top chart with his music. Kanye has always been one to create new trends and styles and he has definitely lived up to his reputation. This new element to West’s album is meant to change the game and begin a new era of music.

Some of the popular songs on the album such as, “Waves”, “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1”, “Pt. 2” “FML”, and “Ultralight Beam” have certain elements that add up to make the album so genius. “Waves” uses an intense beat and meaningful lyrics to create a strong message to be heard by the listener, while “FML” uses a soft beat to bring across a serious point. “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt 1.” And “Pt. 2” both use a quick and loud beat to add a fun element to the album.  Last, “Ultralight Beam” uses perfectly mastered beats and faithful lyrics to add an element of relaxation and speak to the listener.

While Kanye West’s new album The Life of Pablo is extremely controversial, it adds a new style to today’s music keeping his work interesting and entertaining. He uses his obtained popularity to spread his love of music and new styles to others throughout the world.

Album Link (Apple Music):

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