Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (MBDTF) : an album that resonates with nearly all true music fans. Hailed as one as of the best albums of its decade, if not the best according to many. But what actually triggered this album to be produced? Most of Kanye’s fans are established with his drunken antics of September the 13th of 2009. Already making a scene with the infamous Hennessy bottle, then  proceeding to storm Taylor swifts acceptance speech. Kanye West was seen as a disgrace after this night, you could have easily thought this was his downfall, and that would’ve been a safe bet. However this only drove the swollen cheeked Atlanta rapper to create one of the pinnacle pieces of art in recent history.

I will be dissecting each track as this is such a monumental album and giving a rating out of ten.

The album is introduced by a young Nicki Minaj, who brought out her first album the same date as MBDTF. Utilises an unorthodox children’s book inspired spin on establishing the concept of the record, which foreshadows the “dark” side of fame, including “sick addiction” and “twisted fiction”. The song goes down the path of his youth and struggles with alcohol and women. It is an extremely strong opening track, 9/10.

Track 2, Gorgeous, which features Kid Kudi & Raekwon, is a raw take on a country riddled with social injustice. The name of the song is dramatically ironic, seeing as his words completely contradict his nation. With strong features from Kudi on the chorus and Raekwon on a compelling verse himself. 8/10

Now with one of the most famous and most popular Kanye tracks: Power. Just as the simple yet impactful title, the track is an empowering yet existential critical song, with references to the reduction of schooling in his country will lead to the necessity of more prisons opening. But with every song comes a Kanye flex, with the song most famous for the imagery of his massive chains, much like a ruler or god would possess. He seems to be free and “let everything go” as he has finally got them power, and therefore the freedom to do as he wishes. 10/10.

Another massive hit from this album includes “All of the lights” / “All of the lights (interlude), with some of the strongest artists around featuring, such as Rihanna, Fergie, Drake and Kid Kudi. This suffocating instrumental heavy song has a very twisted and deep struggle routed inside the lyrics. Including the struggles that come with the scrutiny of fame, entrapment and domestic violence. The way he brushes of the fact of committing crimes against his girl, goes to prison, comes back and does the exact same thing. Which spirals into legal battles upon legal battles that break his character into pleading to see his daughter. This song once again is a near perfect song, with amazing vocals by Kudi and Rihanna and a personal favourite of Fergie’s work on anything. 10/10.

The next track is described perfectly in the name, as this song is a “Monster”. And yet again a feature heavy, but necessary song, with the best work ever and maybe the best part of this album being a perfect verse coming from Nicki Minaj, aswell as Bon Iver being an amazing fit for the ambience of the song. Also an brilliant, cold verse from Jay Z, who plays the character perfectly. The song is centred around the animosity felt with money, fame and popularity, which can either make or break a person. Nicki Minaj’s verse was so good that it was nearly left off the album as it was feared that it would over power any other work on the song, however thankfully it was left on, solidifying this song as another 10/10.

Another track which takes an insight into the “appalling” side of fame is “so appalled”, which focuses around the idea of monogamy, disloyalties and saturation of money in life. With a shallow character played by Jay Z Aswell as a soulless, numb Kanye West Character. This track plays homage to  LL cool J, with his pronunciation of “Ridicules”. But my personal favourite piece of this song is Pusha T’s verse, which is his view on a money torn drug dealer who should be dead but his own account, a poor man who got rich through grinding himself down to the bone.  However it’s no character, it’s his true past, the fact that he can Import this sense of pain but power is impeccable. 9/10

Some of the best songs of this decade arguments always include this song, “Devil in a New Dress”, many days that this song was an ode to his Ex - Amber Rose. Which depicts a beautiful external relationship, with a perfect scene, however internally is a broken and bitter time, with lack of communication and unhealthy lying. This song is beautifully stringed together by a perfect Mike Dean guitar solo, that sets up brilliantly for Rick Ross to come on and knock this song out of the park, another personal favourite moment of the album is this verse from the godlike performance of Rick Ross, his infamous last lines of “I’m making love to the angel of death, catching feelings, never stumble retracing my steps” with live with me, the delivery is something I’ve never heard before, backed up by the guitar is something of its own kind. 10/10

The next song, maybe my favourite song of all time, one of the most famous intros, which is followed by a perfect song: Runaway. This heartbreaking moment is inspired by his lack of self worth and hate, finally finding defeat in his ways, unwilling to change and accepting the fact. Instead of changing himself, he will either change the person he’s with, or make them “runaway”. At the end of the day, this comes from a misogynist, deeply wrapped in his own mind and has no ability to care for anyone or anything. Another feature that is astounding is Pusha T’s verse, which unsurprisingly is probably his career highlight. Asked by Kanye to play a user, player and selfish man of money, he uses this platform perfectly, putting more time and money into materialistic items. This is the work of 2 men who understood what was the goal, and it was executed to perfection, with pain and irony felt in Kanye’s voice and aggression and impatience felt in Pusha T’s. Aswell as the famous piano chords replaying over and over in the background, until the second half of this 9 and a half minute song. Where it takes an unforeseen twist, with a voice soaked in auto tune half humming half singing the chorus, even though this is ultimately impossible to understand, it’s so unbelievably relatable, the pain and regret conveyed is so strong. If I could give this song more I would, 10/10.

The following song is my personal weakest song on the album, however is still a standout song on any other album. With a grimacing beat, which is at parts hard to listen to, however that is exactly what is meant to be portrayed, a person who is nearly impossible to follow let alone being their lover. With reference to drugs, pussy and money, it’s another materialistic and shallow ballad, with reoccurring pornstars on his mind. 8/10

However, “Blame Game”, which includes the soft vocals of John Legend is the complete opposite of a shallow, controlling character. This song follows a couple who constantly argue, “blame” eachother, call eachother names. But would rather be anything but without one another. It sees a development in Kanye’s character as he isn’t willing to give up on someone, even if they may be toxic, he becomes jealous and longing for the other character in his life. However there are some flickers of his old life, including a small couple seconds of a reference to “all of the lights”, which may be a sign of battery coming into the equation. This is a gentle, somber reminder that everyone has issues, let alone their status in the world. 9/10 for this song.

The last 2 songs, a cinematic masterpiece to close a perfect album. With a soft opening sequence created by Bon Iver, slowly escalated into a surrounding environment for the listener, with echoes of both Bon Iver’s and Kanye’s voices. This song is the start of Kanye’s new life, an actual poem he wrote to his wife Kim before they were together, a woman who he is willing to change for, a woman who he admires and loves, and can give the patience for him to love himself aswell. This beautiful album is a purge of everything his character has become to be and is now a cleaner soul, not as wrapped up in the darkness that once surrounded him, he has survived his darkest days. It truly is a perfect album closer. 10/10.

This album as a whole is a cinematic experience and should always be remembered as Kanye’s apology to the world, a rebuild of a strong yet fragile character. This album will go down in history as the start of his new life, a truly amazing 10/10