We at Stoney Roads worship Dance Music, and when the likes of Daft Punk, TNGHT, Gesaffelstein and Brodinksi are in the production line-up for Kanye West’s latest album, it gets our attention. Below is an opinion piece on Kanye West’s ‘Yeezus’ through the eyes of a dance-music writer.

Kanye West is arguably the biggest name in Hip-Hop today- we can rest assured sure he wouldn’t argue that point- and one of the most (if not THE most) frustrating global figures in the history of the world. The words ‘Kanye West’ are all too often headlining international news for countless reasons, whether it is due to a comparison of himself with Jesus Christ, naming his first born child child North West, or perhaps it is due to him walking directly into a stop sign when surrounded by a plague of paparazzi (the last type of crowd you wish for when you walk into a pole). But lately, the current Kanye news has focused on his sixth and latest solo studio album ‘Yeezus’, and the world’s reaction to this rather obscure yet unique album.

To start us off, we should talk about the album title. I think it is hard to skip that part on an album like this. Yeezus- a mixture of Yeezy and Jesus- is what we’re working with here, and it’s a super douche-bag title if you ask me. It is funny how one tiny made-up word can get the pot stirring. A title like this screams ‘wanker’ to most people- myself included- but if their is one thing Kanye West has mastered, it is publicity. The old saying does state, ‘any publicity is good publicity’, and in the life of Kanye West, an absurd album title like this proves he has got this shit down to a tee. I’m not saying he isn’t still a douche-bag though, don’t get me wrong there.

The album’s official release was the 18th of June though Def Jam Records, and never have I experienced so many mixed reactions all at once for one album. I found you really have to listen to the album the whole way through – maybe even a few times through- to start appreciating the music, but if there is one thing that stands out dramatically and consistently throughout Yeezus, it is the production value.

Those of you with a hard copy of the album close-by, go ahead and flip it over and have a browse through the multitude of names highlighted in the production team for Yeezus. It is safe to say Kanye spared no expense on this one. Producers include West himself, Daft Punk, TNGHT (Hudson Mohawke and Lunice), Gesaffelstein, Rick Rubin, Brodinski and Lupe Fiasco, and that is probably just on a third of the producer list. Yeah, its big. It’s a bit of a ‘clash of the titans’ kinda thang.

The ingeniousness of this album is really identified throughout Kanye’s utilization of multiple, and contrasting, musical forms dispalyed in the production of each song. You’ll find yourself, at one point or another, ignoring the lyrics and focussing purely on the track he is rapping over. I found this became a reoccurring factor when listening to the whole album, and particularly in tracks like ‘On Sight’, ‘Blood On The Leaves’, ‘Send It Up’ and ‘Guilt Trip’.

Lyrically  speaking, I believe Yeezus was a hit and a miss for Kanye West. At no point throughout the album did I found myself really zoned in on what kanye was rappign about, in fact I began to ignore the words at some points. Yeezus, in comparison to his older albums such as ‘Graduation’ and ‘808’s and Heartbreak’, just seemed to lack substance in the lyrics, that was luckily made-up for by the exquisite produciton.

Having said all of that, I did find there were definitely a few stand out tracks on this album that really captivated me, and have been playing repeat for the last two weeks. My absolute favourite track on the album is ‘Blood On The leaves’. The track begins with soft piano gentle singing which then leads into an aggressive and almost orchestral drop that really gets things going. The TNGHT influence on this track stands out like dogs balls on this one, and that – I believe – is the highlight of the track.

The album has a few other stand-out’s in ‘Hold My Liquor’, ‘On Sight’ and – I hate saying it but im going to have too- ‘I Am a God’. These tracks, much like ‘Blood On The Leaves’, are the children of some amazing producers, that are really second to none.

So with all of that said, I guess it doesn’t really matter if I like it or not,  because the album did exactly what Kanye wanted which was to get a reaction. Yeezus is currently number 1 on the Billboards and it will probably stay there for a while.I think it’s safe say Kanye would be rolling in it right about now.

There has been much chitter-chatter about the album being revolutionary for Hip-Hop, but I don’t believe that is entirely true. Kanye’s elaborate production team did help in making an epic album, but revolutionary, I think not. I wouldn’t  go as far to say that the album was his best work, but it probably isn’t his worst work either. Kanye West- as much as I hate to say it- can probably produce anything now and the people will buy it, because its Kanye!

My final words on Kanye’s Yeezus are actually that of a question, a bit of food for thought. If Yeezus wasn’t an album by Kanye West, would it cause the same reactions that it did and would it be successful?