Review by Kyle Licht
I’ve always been disdainful of Kanye West, since I was typically never a fan of hip hop and because I’m a huge King Crimson fan and many other fans hate him for using “21st Century Schizoid Man”. But, after Matt’s persistence and my pride swallowing, I decided to listen to it. I was pleasantly surprised by the album. I have a huge thing for progressive music and concept albums. And this album is a prog rap opera. You don’t hear those very often. The progressive elements are certainly present with the Crimson sample, 9-minute songs, interludes, and the great focus on masterful production. Each song is specifically crafted and carries the weight of a theatrical production in each. Matt described this album perfectly as maximalist. While I typically like minimalistic albums, there’s something about the maximum energy and absolute over the top production that is so entertaining.
Overall, it’s a tremendous album that deserves a re-listen and more intense focus on the story, lyrics, and connection of the tracks into the prog rap opera it is.
