Kanye West Life of Pablo album review, tracks 10-18

10. Waves: I heard a story that Chance the Rapper was fighting to keep this song on the album. I’m still figuring out why there was a fight. The song is nothing special. The production is good but where are the lyrics? Chris Brown sings wonderfully on the chorus. Kanye spits a few bars and I do mean a few and that’s it. Here we have another unfinished song. It’s a waste of a song actually. He’s trying to display his creative side too excessively. Chris Brown is the best thing going for this song.  2/5

11. FML: I have mixed feelings about this song. I understand it but this sounds identical to a Weeknd song. It sounds depressing and full of despair. I just want the introspective Kanye and enough with the singing/auto-tune already. His infatuation with females is almost sickening. Even his infatuation with his own wife it’s a little extreme but the song is good.  He sings passionately on the track. The change up onf the beat is dope, and production is where Kanye thrives throughout the album. 3.5/5

“I been waiting for a minute
For my lady
So I can’t jeopardize that for one of these hoes
I been living without limits
As far as my business
I’m the only one that’s in control”

12. Real Friends: Thank you Kanye, this is what we needed. This is Graduation meets My Beautiful Dark Fantasy Kanye. Vintage Kanye West. Lyrics with minimal singing from him. How many real friends do we have?  He speaks all facts on this track. People come and go in your life and most of the time people are there because it is beneficial to them. A majority of people have their own motives and Kanye displays that on this track. The knock in the beat is perfect. He has a chip on his shoulder and he is letting out of his frustration on this song. Ty Dolla Sign meshes well on the song as well. 5/5

“Maybe 15 minutes, took some pictures with your sister
Merry Christmas, then I’m finished, then it’s back to business
You wanna ask some questions ’bout some real shit?
Like I ain’t got enough pressure to deal with
Please don’t pressure me with that bill shit
Cause everybody got ’em, that ain’t children
Oh you’ve been nothin’ but a friend to me
Niggas thinkin’ I’m crazy, you defendin’ me
It’s funny I ain’t spoke to niggas in centuries
To be honest, dawg I ain’t feelin’ your energy
Money turn your kin into an enemy
Niggas ain’t real as they pretend to be”

13. Wolves: The concept is interesting. He compares a female, or females, to wolves and how wild they are. Singing and rapping, which has started to become the norm throughout the album. Frank Ocean should have done the majority of the singing. He did a phenomenal job towards the end of the song. Plus, this song was released last year so he loses points for that. I can see if it was a standout song last year and if it really flew under the radar but that’s not the case. The production sounds like wolves howling and the piano keys at the end when Frank Ocean sings is the perfect end to the song  3/5

14. Silver Surfer Intermission: Max B is clowning on this skit. It was very mindful of Kanye to include a skit with Max B. He did try to name his album Waves without acknowledging the origin of the wave movement so him paying respect here was great. 5/5

15. 30 Hours: This could have been an excellent song but Kanye decides to stop rapping and instead do a bunch of mumble jumbo. He’s driving 30 hours…for what?  It’s cool lyrically but again just incoherent to me. The song is a little over 5 mins. When are we going to get 3 solid verses? I understand letting the beat rock but could you at least rap a little longer? Production is on point tho.  3/5

“You say you never saw this comin’, well you’re not alone

Million dollar renovations to a happy home

My ex says she gave me the best years of her life

I saw a recent picture of her, I guess she was right

I wake up, assessin’ the damages

Checkin’ MediaTakeOut”

16. No More Parties in L.A.: Classic record! I see what he did with the record. Kanye had the longer verse because Kendrick murdered his verse from start to finish so Kanye had some catching up to do on his part. Kanye verse is nothing but dopeness. He reused that sample form “New God Flow.” Madlib and Kanye are on the beat and they create some vintage hip-hop. Kanye can be is special at times and this a standout moment for the album. This is that old Kanye. Their chemistry on this album is beautifully perfected, and there are a lot of standout lyrics on here. This has got to be the best song on the album. His flow reminds me of College Drop Out mixed with My Beautiful Dark Fantasy. 5/5

17. Facts (Charlie Heat Version): This beat is raw to the core. There are sound elements of the game Street Fighter which they incorporated with the song after every other bar in the second verse. By the way, Charlie Heat is sign to G.O.O.D. production team. Kanye sure does know how to pick his producers. This beat is better than the original. This is a rant for Kanye and he is speaking all facts. Finally, a rant I agree with and it’s a fun rant. Kanye is expressing his lyrics by having fun on the record. He popping s*** on the track. This song can move the club at any moment just with the beat alone. 4.5/5

“Every time I talk they say I’m too aggressive

I was out here spazzin’, all y’all get the message?

On the field I’m over-reckless, on my Odell Beckham

2020, I’ma run the whole election, yah!

I’ve been trending years, y’all a couple days

Yeezy in the house and we just got appraised

Nike, Nike treat employees just like slaves

Gave LeBron a billi’ not to run away (Yo)!”

18. Fade: I’m vexed and confused at the same time. Why tease us with this song. This song would have been crazy. I can imagine Kanye spazzing on here but instead we get more auto-tune singing. We have Post Malone on here and Ty Dolla $ign. Waste of a song 1.5/5

I expected more bars from Kanye West. It safe to say I will never get a full album of Kanye West rapping of old probably ever again. He rushed this album and many tracks seem unfinished. You can’t convince me that those tracks that are 2 minutes long are complete. I think Ye’ basically said f*** it, lets put the album out. Think about this, the album was only ten songs at first. Why would you want to deliver a ten track album knowing that you have not put out an album in two or three years? If you going to give us ten songs, at least give us full-length verses instead of eighteen songs with unfinished verses and singing hooks. It does sound fresh and innovative but come on Kanye, you are cheating the culture out of music. He is displaying his artistry in the wrong format. I need bars. Singing cool and all, but not for d*** near an entire album. I accept this because it is Kanye West, but it doesn’t make it right. Ebro’s Hot 97 says it’s a “rap heavy album.” Ummm where is it rap heavy? He is not rapping on half of the songs. Let’s cut the nonsense. We give him a pass because it’s Kanye West. and he arguably has four classic albums but lets be honest. Can we put this album up against College Drop Out or Late Registration, or Graduation or even My Beautiful Dark Fantasy? The answer is no!  This is an unorthodox masterpiece or nightmare depending on who you ask. I finally realize that we will never get that old, straight from the soul Kanye. The album overall is a 4/5

Kanye is lucky his production is A1

~Phillip Roberts