Tag: Kanye West

audio review : Bully ( album ) … Kanye West

audio review : Bully ( album ) ... Kanye West

This is an album of mostly songlets; few cuts reach the three-minute mark; an increasingly less unconventional rap trend that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s the music that matters most and Kanye West still knows how to make good music. Some of the music may be stolen; he’s back to pitch-shifting old soul samples; but that’s the Kanye way.

College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation, Twisted Fantasy and Donda are all good albums. Bully is too. That makes Ye the rapper with more good albums than any other I know. If that isn’t true, it’s only because he’s become more of a singer. Heil Hitler should’ve been included though. It could’ve replaced CeeLo Green ruining the title track.

my rating : 4 of 5

2026

audio review : Heil Hitler ( song ) … Kanye West

The title, as a response from Kanye West to the countless naysayers he’s accumulated as of late; mainly sensitive Jews; is quite brilliant. The song itself, which comes across more like a demo without a second verse, isn’t far behind. That’s thanks not to the crude lyrics; the “nigga” bits are redundant; but the catchy vocal melodies. This is a sociopolitical anthem of sorts.

my rating : 4 of 5

audio review : Heil Hitler ( song ) ... Kanye West

audio review : Vultures 1 ( album ) … Kanye West + Ty Dolla Sign

audio review : Vultures 1 ( album ) ... Kanye West + Ty Dolla Sign

The 1 means this is supposed to be the first in a set of Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign collaborations, but that seems excessive. This album alone would’ve been better as an EP. There are good pickings; Paid is Friday night club fun and Back To Me ranks near the most beautiful of either artist’s unconventional “love” odes; but not enough to feed the wake.

my rating : 3 of 5

2024

audio review : Poppin Tags ( song ) … Jay-Z + Twista + Killer Mike + Big Boi ( featuring Sleepy Brown )

This song would be better without Twista. That’s not a knock on his rap skills. All four verses are up to par. It’s just that, with Sleepy Brown, Killer Mike and Big Boi already being associated with each other, he seems out of place, especially considering the fact that Big Boi fails to mention him when name-dropping each rapper as if Jay-Z included him as an afterthought.

It’s a good song though, despite Brown emulating the beat on the chorus, which I normally detest. What saves it is the slight alteration in melody, though the song would be less repetitive if there were a new layer; not just Jay-Z ad-libs; added to each break. The title is a reference to buying expensive clothes, which makes this not only baller music but maller music.

my rating : 4 of 5

2002

audio review : The Blueprint 2 [ The Gift And The Curse ] ( album ) ... Jay-Z