Album Review: Kanye West reintroduces himself

Who is Kanye West? Some would say that he is a musical genius, innovating modern hip-hop while inspiring both rap veterans and new artists. Others might say that he is an egotist intoxicated by power and fame. Both of these extremes are perpetuated in the media, which constantly wavers between labeling him a groundbreaking artist and an arrogant villain. No matter where you turn, the name "Kanye West" rarely elicits a neutral response. Everyone has strong opinions about him, which they express unequivocally. West's latest album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," is his response.

In the first track, "Dark Fantasy," guest artist Nicki Minaj begins with, "You might think you've peeped the scene/You haven't/ The real one's far too mean." The listener is immediately told that they are very mistaken about Kanye West. West clearly believes that the he is the only person who can remedy this misinformation. He begins this lesson by cracking through the most superficial level—appearance. In "Gorgeous," he quickly shoots down the preppy exterior that constituted his style earlier in his career as he raps, "As long as I'm in polos they think they got me/But they would try to crack me if they ever see a black me." He forces listeners to pay attention to what has been brimming underneath the artist they thought they knew for nearly a decade.

This quick glimpse into West's true identity is followed by a forceful succession of songs where West takes all the negativity that has been directed towards him and throws it back in the face of his critics. An aggressive beat paired with potent lyrics drive "Power," in which West brushes off all negativity by proclaiming, "Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it/ I guess every superhero needs his own theme music." While fending off critics, he also insists that he is a creative soul who is not to be swayed by external influences. He declares and stands by this identity by stating, "My childlike creativity, purity, honesty/ Is honestly being prodded by these grown thoughts/  Reality is catchin' up with me/ Takin' my inner child, fighting for it, custody." He refuses to let go of what constitutes his core regardless of what others opine.

This persistently indignant attitude reaches its peak in the album with "Monster," where West gladly plays the part of the villain that the media has often assigned him. Clearly agitated, he raps "Gossip gossip/ [expletive] just stop it/ Everybody knows I'm a [expletive] monster." This sharp memo to the public lets everyone know that West is fully aware of and annoyed by how vilified he has become. He gives his final say on this matter  in the last two lines of his verse when he declares, "I'm living in the future, so the present is my past/My presence is a present, kiss my [expletive]."

After West clarifies his feelings about the onslaught of public scrutiny, the album takes a darker turn. It sharply pulls the listener from the artist's exterior into the deepest layers of his persona. In the painfully self-aware "Runaway," West both acknowledges and apologizes for his faults as he proposes a toast to these negative characteristics. He shows a startling degree of vulnerability as he admits his flaws. This vulnerability characterizes some of the most emotionally moving moments of the record. "Devil in a Dress" presents the rapper as a lover—West affectionately raps, "Put your hands to the constellations/ The way you look should be a sin/ You're my sensation." However, the listener also sees how he can be susceptible to harm. In "Blame Game," which is accompanied by melancholy vocals from John Legend and a haunting string arrangement, West narrates the pain of being unable to escape a destructively cyclic relationship.

While the first half of the album shows the listener a confident, untouchable man unfazed by critics and naysayers, the second half of the album shows that the same man is still prone to the same flaws and difficulties that affect everyone.

"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is by no means a simple album, and in that respect it accurately reflects its creator. Through this album, Kanye West shows that he cannot be summarized by a single label or media portrayal. West has both positive and negative characteristics, he has made both good and poor decisions and, just like everyone else, he is not perfect. But, in a single album, he manages to acknowledge, embrace and celebrate all that he is—flaws included. And after all of this he is still utterly unafraid to express himself to the world. This is a feat that most people would be lucky to accomplish in a lifetime.