It appeared West was back with the release of the stunning “Only One” and the catchy “FourFiveSeconds” (he was not). Filled with interludes and double meanings, “The Life Of Pablo” was a precursor to West’s future release setbacks. Braggadocious Kanye is still here, most evidently on “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” making the sharp left turn of his next album, “808s & Heartbreak,” all the more unexpected. “Homecoming” was also the most successful collaboration from any Coldplay member until The Chainsmokers’ “Something Just Like This,” and even then, “Homecoming” evokes a feeling of nostalgia the synth-filled Chainsmokers track fails to find. “Stronger” is the most remembered track - for good reason - but tracks like “Everything I Am” and “Homecoming” show West at his most vulnerable. Every song, even the mediocre ones, fulfill a purpose in demonstrating West’s transcendence of traditional hip-hop.
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“Graduation” is West’s first album free of filler tracks. West is gone.’” But with the addition of two comparatively needless tracks (an original mix of “Diamonds”, “Late”), the mid-2000s bloat strikes again. “Gone” could have been one of the best album closers in recent memory: “Shorties at the door ‘cause they need more / Inspiration for they life, they souls, and they songs / They said, ‘Sorry, Mr. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” addresses the pitfalls of fame by focusing on the most lavish of purchases: jewelry. “Touch The Sky” and “Gold Digger” are roaring crowd-pleasers that still sound fresh almost 15 years after the fact, but some of the album’s best moments occur when it deals with darker topics. “Late Registration” is impressive mainly because it was released only a year after “Dropout,” but demonstrates a clear lyrical and sonic progression from his previous work. The bloat keeps “The College Dropout” from being among his best albums, but the work at large is a signal of West’s developing talent, the boost he needed to fully pursue a solo career. And “Dropout” deals with themes West continues to come back to: his faith (“Jesus Walks”), his friends (“Never Let Me Down”), and his fatalism (“Through The Wire”). Songs like “Jesus Walks” and “Through The Wire” will be remembered long after he abandons music to become an evangelical preacher. That said, when “The College Dropout” excels, it shows West at his peak. The numerous skits and cutaways ubiquitous in its era have not stood the test of time. Kanye’s first album may well be his most bloated. Perhaps that’s because he fails to see any difference. West refuses to choose between emulating gospel and selling overpriced sneakers and hoodies. In the end, “Jesus Is King” sounds too rushed for the Christian themes to make a lasting impact. “Jesus Is King” is only concerned with West bragging about his newfound religiosity: West boasts about getting into heaven on “Selah” and uses “On God” to complain about the IRS and fan reactions to exorbitant merch prices. Messages like those propel religious music - the genre succeeds because it seeks to understand the world through God’s lens. It is hard to imagine any of these songs having a staying power that rivals other religious-minded tracks like “Jesus Walks.” That song spoke to West’s struggle to live a pious life in a vice-ridden community. Critics of artistic risks like “808s & Heartbreak” still acknowledged their importance “Jesus Is King,” though, risks being remembered as West’s first inessential album. It is striking that West’s biggest genre departure to date lacks urgency. The mixes sound unfinished - don’t be surprised if they’re updated in the next few weeks. “Jesus Is King” suffers from the same haphazard song construction of “ye,” resulting in an 11-track album with a 27-minute runtime. Unfortunately, “ye” is more likely the first in what will become a string of underwhelming solo efforts from West. West was arguably overworked in the summer of 2018, producing five albums in rapid succession, and his “Kids See Ghosts” collaboration with Kid Cudi demonstrates his ability to shine in a duo. In a better world, it would be a quick forgettable detour. On “Yikes,” West gives an unneeded take on the #MeToo movement, and “Wouldn’t Leave” sounds like a confessional, but West continues to defend his irresponsible decision to call slavery a “choice.” “ye” is the product of a very disorganized and chaotic period of West’s life. Opener “I Thought About Killing You” reads like a twisted love letter from a madman. Underwritten, rushed, and arguably unfinished, “ye” depicts West at his lowest: spontaneous, paranoid, yet still self-assured enough to deliver controversial social commentary. Keep reading for a complete ranking of West’s solo albums to date. In celebration of the release of Kanye West’s newest album, “Jesus Is King,” we’re taking a look back at the artist’s prolific career.
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