Pop-Ed: You can't script the kind of year Kanye West is having. Ever since re-emerging onto the scene after his famous Taylor Swift moment, the MC rolled with the punches and campaigned his way back to the summit with one prize on his mind--the album that would change his career forever. That album became known as 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' the missing piece that people say would change everything, make people forget what he had said and done in the past, while also fundamentally flipping the 2010 music landscape.
We've grown to learn Kanye was going to forever be Kanye, and that calling him 'controversial' is hopelessly redundant, but no one knew if the mythically-hyped album would measure up. After an early leak and all-around fist-pumping reviews, all signs point to: "Absolutely." It's more than possible that not only has Kanye finally completed his storied comeback but also the album of the year -- thus solidifying his role as one of music's greatest anti-heroes. If Kanye's masterpiece wins over the public after the album officially drops on Nov. 22, does his new artist credibility make him invincible?
We've grown to learn Kanye was going to forever be Kanye, and that calling him 'controversial' is hopelessly redundant, but no one knew if the mythically-hyped album would measure up. After an early leak and all-around fist-pumping reviews, all signs point to: "Absolutely." It's more than possible that not only has Kanye finally completed his storied comeback but also the album of the year -- thus solidifying his role as one of music's greatest anti-heroes. If Kanye's masterpiece wins over the public after the album officially drops on Nov. 22, does his new artist credibility make him invincible?
After PopEater got it's first listen to Kanye's latest work, there's no denying Kanye went out to make his album as dramatic as possible just like his epic 'Runaway' music video, and that's okay because it's much more than just a milestone in his career, it's the climax to the wildest journey of his life.SPIN calls Kanye a "princely narcissist among narcissists" and Rolling Stone said "being crazy is this guy's job" but both resign to the album's undeniable accomplishment, giving the album nearly perfect marks. Considering the hole Kanye dug himself out from, it's extraordinary he has won over the music industry so swiftly, and leveling the playing field. These are only preliminary results, but indications say Kanye's achievement is historical.
The album completes his anti-hero status because he still managed to pull off the best album of the year (maybe) against all the odds without the public behind him. Despite Kanye's talent and star power, ironically the best thing he now has going for him is his irrevocably tarnished reputation. Since Kanye's reputation has hit rock bottom before, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' makes him controversy-proof. He can no longer be susceptible to controversy because it's practically his nickname, and on any stage, if you walk the walk, then you're allowed to talk the talk--even if you're Kanye. In this case, he strutted the catwalk with red lipstick, and yelled "&%#$ You, World!" And that works for him, because that's the kind of artist we've come to expect.
When Kanye tripped over himself, the public kicked him in the stomach thinking he would stay down, but 'Dark Fantasy' proves he's much more than what we thought he was. No album will make people completely forgive him, but a great album can still remind us why we liked him in the first place.
If you don't have the leak already, revisit Kanye's full-length 'Runaway' film:
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