Yeezus by Kanye West
Yeezus is the sixth studio album by American hip hop recording artist and producer Kanye West. It was released on June 18, 2013, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. The album began production in the living room of a loft space at a Paris hotel. West gathered various artists and close collaborators for work and production on the album, including Mike Dean and Daft Punk. Yeezus also features guest appearances from Chief Keef, Assassin and King L, as well as previous collaborators Justin Vernon, Frank Ocean, Chief Keef, Assassin, Kid Cudi, King L and Charlie Wilson. West enlisted the help of producer Rick Rubin a mere 15 days shy of its due date to strip down the record's sound in favor of a more minimalist approach. West was primarily inspired by architecture and was particularly interested in the works of Le Corbusier, and visited The Louvre several times while in Paris. Musically, Yeezus is dark and sonically experimental, combining elements of Chicago drill, dancehall, acid house, and industrial music. West continues his use of unconventional samples including, most notably, the vocal refrain from Nina Simone's cover of "Strange Fruit". Yeezus has no album artwork, and the physical CD edition of the album was released in a clear jewel box with little more than a strip of red tape and sample credits. Initial promotion of Yeezus included worldwide video projections of the album's music and live television performances. The album received rave reviews from music critics, however, it was met with mixed reactions from the public. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 327,000 copies in its first week of release. "Black Skinhead" was released as the album's first single on July 4, 2013.
“Yeezy season approaching,” warns Kanye West over the buzzsaw synth and jittery beats of “On Site.” It's an apt opening statement for <i>Yeezus</i>, West’s sixth studio album. By the time he reaches the third track, “I Am a God,” it’s clear we’re dealing with a deity of the vengeful, gnashing-of-teeth variety. Run through with elements of ’80s acid house, Chicago drill music, and ‘90s industrial, the album features guest spots by Chief Keef, Frank Ocean, and Daft Punk, jump-cut samples of Hungarian progressive rock and obscure gospel recordings, and production by Rick Rubin and RZA. And while obsessive reinvention has long been West’s hallmark—from the climate-controlled futurism of <i>808s & Heartbreak</i> to the meticulous perfectionism of <i>My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy</i>—tunes like “I’m in It,” “Blood on the Leaves,” and “New Slaves” have the edge of an artist who's content to challenge all expectations.
