The Weeknd once again demonstrates that you can't have a great RnB hook without his involvement on 'FML', whilst recent winner of five Grammys Kendrick Lamar arguably delivers a rap verse only matched by Chance the Rapper on the only truly hip/hop song on ' No More Parties in LA'. On the back of releasing a new solo album herself, Rihanna contributes a fantastic Nina Simone cover on one of the album's strongest songs 'Famous', which also contains the album's single greatest sample in the form of Sister Nancy's 'Bam Bam'. Fresher Sounds – The best new music – 13/08/19.It's a remarkably modern and contemporary record and Kanye should be credited for assembling many of today's hottest artists to add their own signatures. This gospel sound sparsely reappears on songs like 'Low Lights, Wolves' and 'Fade' but I can't help but wish that the whole album had this sound. Both 'Father Stretch My Hands' parts 1 and 2 continue with this gospel sound, with frequent Kanye collaborator Kid Cudi laying down a fantastic hook for part 1, whilst part 2 is probably the most personal song on the album as it covers everything from his car crash to his mother's death. Chance the Rapper's verse on this opener stands out as the best contribution from a feature on this feature heavy album. The album opens strongly with a masterful gospel track in 'Ultralight Beam', which combines Kanye's trademark use of autotune with a church choir. Ultimately the album benefits from this concept, despite the frustrating lack of depth given to it.
That already infamous Taylor Swift line on the excellent 'Famous' perfectly encapusaltes the Escobar persona. Other songs address his controversial Pablo Escobar persona, which has manifested itself in his egotistical claims and vile twitter rants. Certain songs focus on his Pablo Picasso persona, which has seen him make an indelible mark on both the music and fashion industries respectively. The Life of Pablo might be Kanye's most interesting album conceptually, addressing his renowned dual personality disorder. Having been in the public conscience for almost a week now, it's safe to say that these fears were misplaced. ★★ ★★☆ Controversial rapper Kanye West's seventh solo studio album is finally here! After undergoing four name changes and equally as many tracklist revisions, eager fans and music lovers were beginning to fear for the project.