Kanye West has unapologetically put his ego on full blast in his new album, “The Life of Pablo.” I’m not one who agrees with everything he says or does, but that’s the Kanye of today – an egotistical artist who says and does what he wants.
Kanye recently admitted on Twitter that his ego is his biggest enemy. I can see how Kanye purposely let his ego take center stage in “TLOP” to make a statement to his critics. As Kanye pointed out, he’s a “38-year-old-8-year-old” who needs to let the whole world know that he’s evolved. I’ve been a Kanye fan since “The College Dropout,” and his artistry and sound have also evolved. But his enemy was also my enemy when listening to “TLOP.”
Even though there was plenty for me to enjoy and appreciate on the album, like the gospel sound, I felt conflicted when he began rapping misogynistic lyrics. Although I’m a Kanye fan, I don’t appreciate lyrics that demean women.
In “Famous,” Kanye’s ego blares through the first verse and he goes after Taylor Swift’s success with the lyric, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex – Why? I made that bitch famous (God damn) – I made that bitch famous.”
These lyrics refer to the infamous 2009 VMAs when Kanye interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech. Kanye went on a Twitter rant in response to the backlash over his lyrics, saying he asked for and got Swift’s approval to use “bitch” as a term of endearment, which her spokesperson denied, according to a statement released to Jon Caramanica.
Since when do women find “bitch” a term of endearment? I remember when Kanye rarely used that word in that manner, but he’s evolved through the years, and this is who he is now.
In “Highlights,” Kanye uses his own wife, Kim Kardashian, as a way to defend his masculinity and display her as a trophy by referencing Ray J’s song, “I Hit It First,” referring to the fact that Ray J and Kim made a sex tape together.
We get it Kanye, you got the girl, whom you deeply love, but why go out of your way to respond to Ray J.
Regardless, “TLOP” is a great album. Although I hoped it would be following a true gospel sound, it does begin with the gospel-inspired sound of “Ultralight Beam,” but Kanye hits us with his own gospel about his ego, which I believe was his intention.
Yet again, Kanye provides a magnifying-glass into his life where we see his ego shine brighter than ever before. Maybe that’s the reason some love Kanye, because he’s true to his persona. I don’t care if Kanye received consent from both Swift and Kim to call them “bitch,” because such language shouldn’t be used nonchalantly.
I’ve come to accept who Kanye has become, but I’m not a fan of his ego.
