Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, once stormed the stage at the MTV Video Music Award’s, interrupting Taylor Swift who was receiving an award for Best Female Video. 

“Taylor, ima let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time,” he said, much to the shock and horror of those in attendance and those watching on television around the world. 

What followed was a media fire storm that saw him receive wide spread condemnation and eventually enter into a self-imposed exile. 

West retreated to Hawaii, flew out dozens of collaborators and set to work on what would become the magnum opus of his already legendary discography. 

 That album was “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” and the rest, as they say, was history. 

Recorded primarily at Avex Studios in Honolulu, Def Jam effectively gave West a blank check to finance the production, which he ran with and spent around three million dollars to record the record, making it one of the most expensive albums ever made. 

In a 2013 interview with the New York Times, West said this record was something of an attempted apology. 

“[“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”] was my long, backhanded apology. You know how people give a backhanded compliment? It was a backhanded apology. It was like, all these raps, all these sonic acrobatics. I was like: “Let me show you guys what I can do, and please accept me back. You want to have me on your shelves.”

The recording process itself has earned almost equal renown as the record itself, with millions of fans being acutely aware of the intricate schedule and creative process that all collaborators were required to abide by. 

West booked the three recording rooms at Avex simultaneously for 24 hours a day and every day, the production crew and collaborators would eat breakfast together at West’s rental home and then head straight to the studio, often working deep into the night. 

West is said to have never slept a full night while recording, instead opting for short power naps in the chairs and couches of the studio to remain immersed in his creative process. 

Everyone involved also was required to wear a black suit and black knit tie while recording in an attempt by West to maintain focus and elevate their collective artistic vision. 

This painstaking attention to detail and discipline was effective in creating the maximalist and grandiose sound of “MBDTF” that would yield some of West’s most popular and enduring tracks. 

From “Power” to “Runaway” to “All of The Lights,” West is in top form on this record and he is not the only one who came to play. 

Rick Ross delivers a career best verse on “Devil in a New Dress” that was so iconic it warranted it’s own music video. 

Nicki Minaj, a relative newcomer to the hip hop world at time of the album’s recording, stole the spotlight on “Monster” and catapulted herself to the top of the totem pole of female MC’s with a single verse, despite warranting “50k for a verse, no album out,” in her own words. 

Justin Vernon, of Bon Iver fame, brings a transcendent vocal performance to the eclectic and energetic sonic storm that is “Lost in the World.” 

I could wax poetic about each feature on every track of this record and none of it would be overstating the quality of production, mixing and songwriting on display from all involved. 

“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” is the ultimate distillation of Kanye West as both an artist and public figure. 

It is grandiose, opulent, provocative, life affirming and stuffed to the brim with musical talent that can’t be emulated by any one artist alone. 

This record stands alone as the absolute pinnacle of West’s particularly braggadocious brand of hip hop. 

You may think what you like of the man he has become, but great art is eternal and when people have long since forgotten his misdeeds, his work will remain as a testament to the power of unwavering self-belief and the power in creating something uniquely your own. 

In my view, this album is his legacy. And what a legacy it will be. 

Categories: Arts & Entertainment