By Alex Nnabue’18

Even after the hype and then controversy surrounding the February release of Kanye West’s seventh studio album, “The Life Of Pablo” (TLOP) stands up to the high expectations. Departing from the experimental electronic tones of his last album, “Yeezus.” “TLOP” is a versatile record that noticeably reflects elements from his fifth studio album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” such as soul, symphonic tones, and strong electronic beats. “TLOP” is highly unpredictable and is able to shift into unique movements throughout each song.

Also similar to “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” West relies heavily on an array of guests including Rihanna, The Weeknd, Chris Brown, Frank Ocean, and Kendrick Lamar. “Ultralight Beam,” featuring Chance the Rapper, opens “TLOP” with memorable gospels and R&B tones while delivering a Christian message. This is a change from “Yeezus” because his last album is often referred to as anti-Christian since he constantly referred to himself as a god. The next two songs, “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” and “Pt .2,” feature Metro Boomin and boast a strong bass and uplifting lyrics. “Famous,” which features Rihanna, adds to the blend of styles, with West opening up with a controversial diss to Taylor Swift, claiming that he made her famous after the 2009 Grammy’s. The slow and downbeat “FML” featuring The Weeknd incorporates a dark and slow melody that differs from the rest of the record. “Waves,” featuring Chris Brown, is a personal favorite and is a key song on “TLOP” because of its memorable lyrics such as “Waves don’t die” along with mellow beats. West also admitted the album was delayed a few days in order for the song to be included.

The lengthy “30 Hours” and the other tracks placed at the ending of the album do not rely too heavily on guests and revive the classic Kanye sound. Although “TLOP” has received positive reviews from critics and fans, some find it hard to praise due to the arrogance that West displays. Fans also have been peeved at the delayed release, numerous title changes and its absence from streaming services. Although West’s pronouncements about his greatness are tiresome, fans should not lose sight of the fact that “TLOP” already sets itself apart from other hip-hop albums released this year.

Grade: B+