GRAMMY U Presents ALBUM REVIEW: KANYE WEST – “MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY” BY LESLEY GWAM CONTINUED FROM MAIN PAGE Anyone who has read my blog (http://hiphopheadmistress.wordpress.com), knows that I absolutely adore Kanye West. So just like any other Yeezy fanatic, I rushed to my nearest music store to purchase My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy on November 22. To be completely honest, I was skeptical about purchasing West’s sixth studio release, because I loathed 808s & Heartbreak (the auto-tune is too much for my senses to handle. I like my rappers to rap, and my singers to sing, unless you’re Queen Latifah and can do both. But this is a discussion for another Wednesday Word). I was quickly won over, however, by his weekly G.O.O.D. Friday releases from kanyewest.com, particularly “Chain Heavy” and “The Joy.” While My Dark Twisted Fantasy does contain a fair amount of auto-tune, it is nevertheless a great album. I must say however, it is imperative to listen to the album multiple times to really grasp Kanye’s vision – a vision that I can’t say I’ve been able to fully comprehend yet. The album opens with “Dark Fantasy,” which serves as an extended album introduction, and features none other than record release date rival, Nicki Minaj as its narrator. The full bodied instrumental kicks in shortly after the one-minute mark, and the grandiose chorus only adds to the melody. While Kanye may have gotten a bit overzealous with the cameo appearances on “All of the Lights,” (the song’s liner notes credit Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Ryan Leslie, Fergie, John Legend, Charlie Wilson, Elton John, Kid Cudi, Elly Johnson and The-Dream with vocal credits), its emphasis on live instruments makes this song a standout number. Other highlights on My Dark Twisted Fantasy include “Blame Game,” “So Appalled,” and “Devil In A New Dress,” where Kanye even name drops former Bad Boy Records rapper turned preacher Ma$e and Island Def Jam executive Lyor Cohen (one of my role models). My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a long album, with no track lasting less than four and a half minutes, with the longest being the album’s second single, “Runaway.” I have no problems with this, it’s just more Kanye for me to love! I’ve been reunited with Kanye from the Late Registration and Graduation days, and it feels so good. Lesley Gwam studies Journalism at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also acts as Vice President of Illini Public Relations Association. Lesley is a longtime member of GRAMMY U, and serves as its Campus Representative at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She can be contacted at [email protected]. .