Reviewing T.L.O.P
I’d like to dedicate the following post to a brother of mine, Jake. Never mind that he’s an avid Ye fan, he’s an avid Chicagoan through and through, which is one of the reasons I love the guy. Be it Derrick “Street Clothes” Rose, MJ, or Navy Pier itself, Jake will defend it ferociously. God bless him. So, when he asked me what’d I’d thought of the Ye album, I hadn’t sat and “lived with it” at all, but now I have. Thanks to his nudging, nonetheless. I’ve come up with a track by track review, because a Kanye West album deserves as much, as Kanye West would say.
Before we dive into this, let me say that that ‘Graduation’ is my favorite Ye album thus far. While MBDTF is a top seven masterpiece of all time, ‘College Dropout’ has an enviable track list and ‘808’s’ was a right time, right Ye compilation, it is that album that speaks to me in it’s entirety the most. With that said, after living and breathing this current project for the past 8 days, my takeaway is that it’s an interesting piece of music. Allow me to explain what that means, track by track, if you will.
Ultralight Beams - Favorite lyric(s): “My daughter look just like Sia/You can’t see her” One of the best songs of the past 5 years, period. This song has EVERYTHING any music consumer is looking for. Like, the singing from Kelly Price is something only this guy can incorporate into a single so powerful. Chance The Rapper (takes breath), DESTROYS this song. Now, I have been a Chance bandwagon chauffeur since I heard ‘Acid Rap’ and he shows everyone exactly what I’ve preached here. The fact that Ye takes a backseat, on the intro of all places, shows just how great a musician he is. Ear orgasm.
Father…, Pt.1 - Favorite lyric(s): “Now if I fuck this model, and she just bleached her asshole/And I get bleach on my t shirt, I’m gone feel like an asshole” Metro is simply ridiculous with the production here. Kanye goes full on toward the train that is the track and does a number. From the slight hook and the lyrics, it goes in through and through.
Father…, Pt.2 - Favorite lyric(s): N/A - I have no fucking idea what these two guys are saying for 97% of the 2:09 of the song, but the production is simply amazing. Turn the speakers all the way up.
Famous - Favorite lyric(s) “Her man in the store tryna try his best/But he just can’t seem to get Kanye fresh” BRUH. You want to talk about a banger? This is a banger! From the very special vault of the Swizz Beats we love here in the streets, and not the chart chasing producer that has consumed radios over the past decade. Meanwhile, Rih Rih is the only person on Earth that could have sang the lyrics that take the song to another level. With each verse boasting more bravado than the other from Yeezus himself. This, ladies and gentleman, is how you get a number one single (should he ever choose that route).
Feedback - Favorite lyric(s): “Rich slave in the fabric store picking cotton” To put it nicely, it’s a track I could live without. No, not because of the “…No pussy getting bloggers” line, but it seemed like we got it because he himself loved it. Which, I respect. Just took too long to vibe with, and once I did, the song was over.
High Lights - Favorite lyric(s): “Imma bust the coaches head open, on some Diddy shit/If he ever talk to my son like an idiot” Probably the hidden gem of the album. Lyrically, Ye goes in, with zero fucks given. Then Dream follows the ever popular line at the end in harmony over an insanely crisp beat. Another one to listen to on MAX volume, trust.
Freestlye 4 - Favorite lyric(s): None. I can do without this song in it’s entirety. Sue me.
I love Kanye - Favorite lyric(s): “I even had the pink Polo, I thought I was Kanye” If you don’t like this forty-four second narcissistic self reflection piece, FUCK YOU. I love Kanye.
Waves - “And I be talking shit like, I ain’t scared to lose a fist fight” THIS SONG GOES. Easily my second favorite song on the album, I see why it was once (for a week or so) the title of the project. Chris does what Chris does with the time allotted to him by the albums composer. This is fucking gold, man. Sit back and enjoy.
FML - “Yeah, imma have the laugh in the end, cause I’m from a tribe called check a hoe” The second verse is probably his best flow on the album. I wish I were there at the moment he laid this song to see what he channeled or drank or both. The Weeknd was tolerable over a great beat as well, with the last minute being played out perfectly. Ye’s a genius in the studio. This is fact.
Real Friends - Favorite lyric(s): EVERY SINGLE WORD! This is my favorite song, period. I cannot listen to this song one time, I cannot. It must be played several times. Soooooooooooo trill. Soooooooooooo good . Play, repeat.
Wolves - Favorite lyric(s): “I know it’s corny niggas you wish you could unswallow” It can be a bit of a mood killer seeing where it’s placed on the album, but I get it coming after ‘…Friends’ seeing as if you’re blasting that, then you’re probably in a space where this track makes sense at the time. Honestly, we all like the original better though. Still, he uses Virgin Mary as an analogy to Kim, which is so Kanye.
30 Hours - Favorite Lyric(s): “I hit the gym, all chest no legs” You either love this song, or hate it. I love it. These bitches are scandalous, man.
No More Parties In L.A - I do not like this song. Sorry, I’m not sorry.
Facts - Favorite lyric(s): “Gave LeBron a billi not to run away” That line in it of itself is so damn funny, man! I love the bravado of this song, “facts” be damned. Vibe with upset Kanye, it’s the second most entertaining version of Ye.
Fade - Favorite lyric(s): “I think I think too much” Not sure what made Kanye put this song here of all places, but I know that I like it. The whole vibe of it feels like a late night radio mix on 107.5 WGCI. It’s groovy as hell.
Though it isn’t replacing ‘Graduation’ as my fave, or supplanting MBDTF as his greatest artistic achievement, this album does what it is supposed to do. It stands as it’s own piece of greatness that can be consumed by the masses over and over again. The writing is better than some critics made it out to be and the bravado surely makes it’s way on the track time and time again. Per usual, Kanye West takes production to an entirely new level, with beats and sounds that NO ONE else EVER could/can put together. When I was initially asked by my best friend, Dave, whether I like T.L.O.P or not, I lied. I had given it a rough listen, and said ‘No’. In actuality, after living with it, I adore this album. It’s what you expect out of Yeezus and then a little bit more, seeing as he gives way to his features when necessary. This man, as an artist, has grown exponentially and it’s pretty scary to see what may happen if he does drop it’s follow up as soon as Summer 2K16. Either way, download TIDAL and enjoy this shit. It’s Yeezy Season, undoubtedly.
Scribing Action Score: 5/5 Ink Pens