Love him or hate him, to many, Kanye West is a hero. But like any human being, he’s a complicated figure - perhaps the most divisive figure in pop culture, and has been for over a decade. His behaviour can be unpredictable and volatile - he has spoken openly about his experiences with bipolar disorder, with which he was diagnosed in 2016 - and you never know which Kanye you’re going to get. For every controversial comment (in 2018, he suggested that 400 years of slavery “sounds like a choice”) or pally moment with Donald Trump, there’s a charity he’s advocating or a cancer-stricken fan he’s rapping for. But one thing that has stayed consistent is the quality of his musical output; Kanye’s latest album, the long-awaited DONDA, proves no different.
Named after his late mother - who features posthumously on a few skits - the 27-track album is more hip hop opera than a traditional rap release. Sonically comparable to his classic, genre-defining 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (with a dash of 808s & Heartbreak), DONDA is a colourful patchwork portrait, that occasionally finds itself spattered with blackened brushstrokes. Switching between simplistic retro tones (Remote Control), bass-heavy backdrops (God Breathed), joyous gospel-led melodies (New Again), and multi-layered masterstrokes (Hurricane), the production on DONDA further proves that Kanye’s genius behind the boards isn’t up for discussion - unlike so much else in his life.
As far as the album’s lyrical content goes, it’s evident that Kanye’s art is a form of therapy for him. He may sometimes struggle to express himself in the real world, but on record he’s straightforward, offering a level of free-swinging candour. On Lord I Need You, a vulnerable Kanye reflects on the breakup of his marriage to Kim Kardashian - a theme found throughout the album.
Elsewhere, he touches upon the trappings of fame (Off The Grid), moving away from negativity (Heaven And Hell), and embracing one's faith (Praise God). The profoundly hard-hitting Jesus Lord hears him proclaim: “It’s hard to be an angel when you surrounded by demons...Been in the dark so long, don’t know if the light here.” It's his unabashed honesty and wild ambivalence that keeps Kanye’s strong fanbase so dedicated. His public display of imperfection lets people know it’s okay to not be okay.
But these same flaws can sometimes veer into something more problematic. Die-hard fans see no fault when Kanye makes questionable decisions, such as including Marilyn Manson on the song Jail, Pt. 2. Manson faces lawsuits from four women alleging sexual abuse, and his presence on the album has sparked a huge backlash in other quarters. This is the dichotomy of being a Kanye West fan. What are you willing to forgive in exchange for musical distinction? The conflict continues.
