There is one word that describes TLOP.
TLOP came off the back off a perfect six album run, and Kanye knew this. He brought in everyone he could to work on this thing.
TLOP wasn’t as abrasive as Yeezus
It wasn’t as beautiful and Dark Fantasy
It wasn’t as emotional as 808s and Heartbreak.
It wasn’t as happy as Graduation.
It wasn’t as soulful as Late Registration.
It wasn’t as soulful or classic as College Dropout, which had no expectations.
Kanye has said how he hates making happy music. He prefers to make music with a meaning or filled with emotions.
The Life Of Pablo isn’t perfect, that’s for sure, but it’s completely underrated, expected to take Kanye’s discography higher.
It didn’t take it higher, but it certainly didn’t ruin it.
In Kanye’s words, TLOP was “gospel”. That is to say it’s the life of Kanye (Famous, Father Stretch My Hands, 30 Hours, Real Friends), the word of Kanye, the good news (Feedback, Highlights, Waves), Kanye’s doctrine (No More Parties In LA, Fade), a collection of stories (Freestyle 4, FML, Wolves) and the writings of the followers that surrounded Kanye (everyone who worked on the album). Not just the genre of music itself.
But for me, the word that best describes TLOP is a word that describes an album which takes every element and combines it in a form of an abstract gospel sound contrasted by it’s content. It is a bit of everything.
It brings:
House (Fade)
Bangers (Facts)
Electronic (Feedback/Freestyle 4)
Soul (FSMH, NMPILA, Famous)
Sampling (Everything)
Filler/Skits (Low lights, Silver Surfer)
Emotional music (FML, Wolves, Real Friends, 30 Hours).
Happy music (Highlights, Ultra Light Beam)
Let’s also not forget that I Love Kanye focuses on ones self, and resonates with ideas in the Post Modern.
The ordering is strange as well. Why place such a heavy song such as Feedback next to Famous or Low Lights, or Freestyle 4 next to I Love Kanye? There is only one word.
The Life of Pablo is Surreal just like Picasso’s work and just like Kanye’s life. It is Fact and Fantasy.
annaxmalina
