1.
2. "Ultralight Beam"
This song made me realize 1) Chance The Rapper is totally underrated, and 2) I wish Auto-Tune was never invented.
3. "Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1" and "Pt. 2"
Cudi took that song to the stars with that hook, that shit makes me wanna turn up. "Pt. 2" was cool too, I didn't expect Ye to hop on that joint. That beat and the energy goes crazy.
4. "Famous"
I love it. I mean, I love pretty much everything Kanye does and this is no different. The whole T. Swift thing is the only questionable part of the song. I truly believe Kanye is very aware of every decision he makes, [I'm] just not sure if they are always the right decisions haha.
But, back to the music. The song comes across almost like a DJ spinning and stitching four completely random tracks together, and while it seems a little messy on paper (seriously look at the credits), it's a pretty good time the whole way through. It works.
My favorite bits are the Rihanna/Nina Simone parts singing "Do What You Gotta Do" (which is a song written by a country songwriting legend Jimmy Webb, who also wrote one of my favorite songs of all time, "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"... obviously go and listen to Glen Campbell's version). Well shit, actually the "Bam Bam" part at the end might be what gets me.... but Kanye's beat is sooo good too. Two thumbs up.
5. "Feedback"
What can I say. This is my shit. It's the only song I like on the record, because it motivates me to get this money and to glo up on all these people who said I wouldn't be shit in life.
It's like one of those songs that's like, "FUCK YOU, PAY ME." I can't wait to see all the white kids go crazy with this one, but after this track I got lost in the sauce so I dunno what type of drug you're on Mr. West but do you. Lots of love from a fellow black man with his feet in the struggle.
6. "Low Lights" and "High Lights"
Okay. "Low Lights," I see him with the lil' soulful prayer joint! I waited for beat to drop, then I realized it's just a prayer and got kind of upset.
"Highlights"—shit's pretty weird, and in the beginning it gets krazy. I super fuck with it, just wish he brought the beginning hook back again.
7. "Freestyle 4"
Having listened to the Kanye album quite a bit over the past few days, I have been having mixed feelings over "Freestyle 4." On one hand, I think it's one of the sonically stronger tracks on the album, but on the other, I can't help but wonder if it's something that never got round to being finished.
I love the effects on the vocal, and the way that Ye flows on the first half of the track over the "Whoo" sample as well. I think the "Freestyle" in the track really begins at the 00:45 mark.
Having seen Kanye perform live a couple of times in my life, I've experienced firsthand his tendency to go off on a tangent at any given time mid-show, and I feel like that's where his head is at for a moment in the track. It really does feel like a proper freestyle, it feels like he's come right off the dome on this one, and then we get introduced to Desiigner's hook.
I reckon this hook was initially laid down to the beat for Kanye to build the full track round, but perhaps after going on a mad one, decided to hit record and really was feeling the freestyle he dropped. And in true Kanye fashion, he thought, "fuck it," I like this and it's staying put, the track doesn't need anything else. It serves as a great interlude but really leaves me wishing there was more. For me this is the essence of what I love about Kanye. His attitude is marked all over this track.
8. "I Love Kanye"
I loved the track in theory but the way it was placed on the album felt like a cop out. Like, it was such a great idea, but as a whole, I would've rather seen it as an outro verse as part of one of the existing tracks with that insane production rather than a capella.
9. "Waves"
Okay, so I just listened to that song and the entire rest of the album. (When you hit me earlier I had only heard around four songs from TLOP). After a full listen through, I would have to say "Waves" is probably my least favorite.
I feel like I understand the purpose it serves for the record: it is a pretty traditionally structured "complete" song compared to all of the more abstract/rough/raw/emotive/freestyle-ish type tracks that the rest of the album seems to be filled with. Because of that I think it made me feel the least.
10. "FML"
In terms of great Kanye songs, "FML" is up there. It has everything you love about Kanye. The honesty, the bravado, the check-a-hoe line to lighten the mood is perfect. The production on this is *phew* wow incredible.
I think people forget Kanye is still human with real emotions behind all the antics. It's also a perfect segue into "Real Friends."
11. "Real Friends"
"Real Friends" is like the culmination of T.L.O.P. It's like Ye talking through his former self. It's where College Dropout Ye is channeled from the perspective of 2016 Kanye.
This album is really the diary of a superstar. The monster and hero that we all helped create.
"Real Friends" is one of those nostalgic moments where you get hit as a Ye fan and remember his beginnings as well as why he appealed to you in the first place. This whole project makes you feel conflicted though, because it'll be some gospel shit and not even five minutes later just some esoteric XXX vulgar shit.
This is one of those songs where you're like, "This is why I root for him." And Ty Dolla $ign's vocal runs on this song are definitely some of my top musical highlights in recent memory.
12. "Wolves"
Ever since TLOP dropped, my brain has felt little like an antiquated computer processing 18 complex equations.
I’m still processing. At times, just simply enjoying having fresh material from Yeezy, pulling serious head nodding (probably disconnecting) faces on public transport. At other times, feeling bafflingly ill-equipped to digest the sheer complexity and moxie of this record.
Therein lies the key to Kanye’s importance and relevance to modern day music right now. He challenges and provokes people to listen repeatedly, even if you don’t end up liking what you hear.
The leaked version of "Wolves OG CDQ" does just that. It’s a beautifully revised version, and its method of release challenges me to think about Kanye’s intent and the creative process of everyone who appears on it, each one adding their own intricate layer of talent.
All the while, I keep bopping my head wondering what it must be like to be so far ahead in your own lane, lighting the way on an untraveled route and still be largely penalized for having your full beams on.
In my book? "Wolves" is yet another welcome addition to Mr. West's legacy.
13. "30 Hours"
Listening to it I got choked up, I couldn't help myself. It felt like Kanye circa 2004, when I first heard College Dropout. Makes me think some of these rappers should put down the lean and pick up some Lexapro.
14. "No More Parties in L.A."
First time I heard "No More Parties in L.A.," I was in the car already driving to L.A. with my art director Sarah Favreau. We played it in the craft five times.
I saw this out the window on the way there. This is how I see L.A., and this record is how I hear L.A.
I don’t spend a lot of time in L.A. The record still good tho. The record still good thoo.
[caption id="attachment_606897" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Image via London O'Connor[/caption]
16. "Facts"
This beat is hard, Charlie Heat is next level. Obviously its a response to "Jumpman," but since Ye's shoes are the most coveted street footwear it's only right he talks his shit. I would too. My old buddies DJDS have production on this album, so LA is reppin'. Stoked to study the album after this media blitz dies down.
17. "Fade"
Pell:
Okay, so you're in Milan for a fashion show. Anna Wintour is your best friend. She hasn't had food all day, but wants to let you know it's because she's been working all day. You saw her beautiful exhibition of designer clothes, and were saddened by her starvation. You make a tribute to let her know she is fierce. Then Ty Dolla $ign calls. Fade.
