LAME OR FLAMES…
Kanye West’s eighth solo studio album is titled ye. It’s a seven-song album was that was released on June 1, 2018, at an exclusive listening party hosted in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where the album was primarily created. The album title had initially been teased as LOVE EVERYONE.
In an interview with Big Boy conducted during the Wyoming listening party, Kanye explained his decision to name the album ye.
Expand your knowledge of hip-hop’s discography with our album guides.
Kanye also revealed in this interview that after his infamous TMZ interview (in which he stated that he believes slavery was a choice), he completely re-did his album with an entirely new theme. I’m crossing my fingers we get those other seven tracks at a later date this year.
Here’s my list from least flames to most flames. Song info provided by Genius.
NO. 7 – “Ghost Town”
I’m sure many will disagree with me, but Cudi sounds terrible on this track. If it has any indication of their Kids See Ghost album I’m not interested in it.
NO. 6 – “I Thought About Killing You”
Kanye discusses mental strength, love, and not letting those who want to see him lose control get to him. His dark thoughts are discussed at length throughout an emotional spoken-word passage, revealing his struggle with thoughts of suicide. Throughout the spoken-word segment, Kanye uses a pitch-shift effect on his voice, signifying the bipolar nature of the conversation he’s having with himself. He also refers to his opioid addiction, including depression and suicidal thoughts, respiratory depression and more.
NO. 5 – “No Mistakes”
On “No Mistakes,” Kanye reflects on the financial and mental health issues he’s struggled with since his 2016 hospitalization. He also takes shots at Drake following Drake’s “Duppy Freestyle” where he addressed both Kanye and Pusha-T. The song samples Slick Rick’s 1988 song “Hey Young World” and the chorus starts with the piano sample by The Edwin Hawkins Singers, “Children Get Together.”
NO. 4 – “Violent Crimes”
Kanye chronicles his shift in perspective towards women with the birth of his children, specifically his daughters North and Chicago. He also brings up his fears about their future, and the ways they will be treated by those who have yet to have their perspectives changed. The track features a short spoken word outro from Nicki Minaj that closes the album.
NO. 3 – “All Mine”
Infidelity is the focal point of this track. Kanye tweeted after the release of the song that it was initially going to be called “Medulla Oblongata” (the component of the brain partially responsible for regulating respiration and circulation.) Reference to this can still be found in the lyrics.
NO. 2 – “Wouldn’t Leave”
Here we get to see the sensitive side of Kanye describing how, though he is a free thinker and that his so-called “fans” love this particular quality of him, he is still bashed and shamed for thinking such a way. This “butterfly energy” Kanye rhymes about is a softer and more contemplative form of expression in contrast to his bold claim of “dragon energy” he claimed that he and Trump share as individuals:
You don’t have to agree with trump but the mob can’t make me not love him. We are both dragon energy. He is my brother. I love everyone. I don’t agree with everything anyone does. That’s what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
In addition, he also gives this shout out to all the women in the world that put up with their significant other’s choices; whether it be money or their attitude altogether.
NO. 1 – “Yikes”
A song about drugs, specifically about addiction and intoxication. Kanye alludes to hallucinogens and prescription opioids and describes the highs that these can induce as being menacing and frightening. He also references other famous artists like Prince and Michael Jackson who died of prescription drug overdoses, to highlight the perils of his own addiction.
The song was likely originally titled “Exctacy,” which fits in with the songs’ overall theme.
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