Feb 8, 2016

Disclaimer: I will not be releasing any objective details about the album, this is a subjective post about my thoughts on the album as well as my experience only. These are my thoughts based on two listens only.

This is still an early mix for sure, I think this is from right around the time he changed the name to WAVES and dropped Nina Chop from the album (Famous is Nina Chop). Only 5 songs sound close enough to a final mix, but a lot of these are just a mess. This album is NOT meant to be heard in this version (hence why I deleted it and will only re-listen when I cop the final version on Thursday) but even from the rough listen I could tell right away why Kanye is so excited about this release.

Kanye has always furthered the genre though his fearless innovation, but this album almost sounds like he’s furthering beyond the genre, leaving the rest of rap behind. There are a lot of songs carried by arrangement and production alone that each song becomes very much a journey or experience. Right down to the features, no guest artist is used in typical fashion. Rather, their voices are used as instrumentation, whether it be a hook, bridge, or background vocals. We've seen Kanye like this before, but never quite at this level.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but a few more specific details: as was previously revealed by BLB on twitter, Young Thug is on this album (twice). One of the tracks is unmixed and so I only listened once, but he is definitely reigned in on this album by Kanye. On another track with Young Thug, there is a 2nd featured artist that I will not reveal, but that featured artist really takes the track to another level as he often has in his career. Lastly, Fade is something else. I wish snippets never leaked for this, it's a special track.

Wolves is not the version from the live performances or the adidas show. It’s been re-arranged, and yes, Vic Mensa is still on it. But this song is something else. My version of the album doesn’t have ULTRA LIGHT BEAM, so the album ends with this song. And honestly, I have nothing but immense exceptions for ULB because I can’t imagine ending the album on a higher note than this.

Again, I won’t release any specific details because this rollout is different for Kanye. It’s going to be played for the world at the same time on Thursday when he does his show at MSG, and that’s the way it should be heard. I'm not going to ruin this rollout for Kanye. This version of the album should not exist. When Kanye said “album of the life”, I honestly might think that he was right.

When @Ordinary Joel said that "you don't know Kanye if you think you're getting anything less than 11 new tracks", he was right. Man, Kanye is really the greatest of all time. I can't wait until I hear this again on February 11th.

@KanyeSXN

SPOILERS: Receipts to fact check after Thursday to prove this is real:
- This is the Nina Simone sample on Famous (Nina Chop)
- Kanye opens Famous with "For my Southside n----s who know me best, I feel like Taylor Swift still owe me sex". Young Thug is featured on it.
- "Checking Media Take Out. Picture of me drunk walking out with a b----. But it's blurry enough to get the fake out" - 30 Hours
- "But we finna lose all self control, but you aint finna be raising your voice at me, specially when we in a Giuseppe store" - FML
- FML features a Canadian on the hook, I won't say who but it's been correctly guessed on here already.

 

Feb 8, 2016

Last thing, if you have a chance to see this in theatres Thursday, and you DON'T go, please ban yourself irl.

 

Feb 8, 2016

Also, Kanye saw something in Travis Scott, and you see what on this album. And if Kanye was only going to include one Canadian on this album, he picked the right one.

That's all I'm gonna say boys, can't wait for the listening session thread on Thursday. I'm a changed man, this album is like finding out Jesus really did exist.

 

Feb 8, 2016

Depending on how the final mix turns out, imo, it could challenge MBDTF for his best album ever.

 

Feb 8, 2016

Last thing I'ma say until public release.

FML is contender for song of life if you liked Blame Game. It doesn't sound like it, but it takes you to a very similar place.
High Lights is so good. It's Kanye and two other artists.
The features are not excessive on this, they're perfect.

 

Feb 9, 2016

"Serious question, I'm assuming this is THE Mike Tyson, when did he start using forums and doing s--- like this?"

 

Feb 8, 2016

will not read will not read will not read will not read will not read will not read will not read

 

Feb 9, 2016

late addition coming through.

 

Feb 9, 2016

@Mike Tyson the fact that ye tweeted Mike Tyson is completely f---ing with people rn... got people thinking that you've got a face tattoo and talk with a lisp

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=194637761

 

Feb 9, 2016

HAHA, I love this Should give me a verified tag instead of the admin star to further the troll.

 

Feb 9, 2016

most ridiculous album rollout ever. adding and removing songs less than a week before it drops

but hey I'm pumped

 

Feb 8, 2016

Also Famous and Nina Chop are the same song.

 

Feb 9, 2016

^ @KanyeSXN