Kanye has been absent for 2 years since his critically-acclaimed album “The Life of Pablo”, which stormed the charts. Kanye has finally released the self-titled “Kids See Ghosts” album. He recorded it from his own time and stored it away in the hyperbolic, time-stamp he called “The Wyoming Project”. Kanye’s album “ye” has seven tracks. They span from DAYTONA, NASIR, and DAYTONA.
The album seems to be a chemistry between two old friends, who don’t second-guess each other’s motives or actions. This album is about breaking down, social cut and fragmentation. It is a record about brokenness, fragmentation of thought, and societal cut. It is particularly inspiring to see Cudi sound distant from his troubled past. He posted a confessional on Facebook in 2016 revealing his struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thinking.
The album’s standout moment was beyond the album’s midpoint with “Cudi Montage”, a song by Cudi. Cudi calls for God to shine his light on him using a call/response echo. Backing vocals give the answer of “stay tough”. This song highlights the need to be free from the violence that is endemic in America’s current world. It also shows the importance of gang mentality and its impact on struggling communities. Kanye’s Illinois hometown, Kanye, has turned crime into a way to survive. As Kanye sings, “All Growin’ Up in Environment, Where Doin’ Crime the Requirement, They Send Us to Prison for Retirement.”
The album lacks tracks, which many people will probably complain about, but the seven tracks I have heard are much better than Drake’s “Scorpion”, which contains jumbled tracks and filler songs. It lacks the finesse and depth that Drake’s albums had. This album is a beautiful collaboration between two talented musicians. It’s equal parts raw, honest, and touching. I find myself singing along to it every day on my commute to school.
