Beat Box

We were intrigued by the CD itself,enclosed in a clear jewel case with no album artwork. All it sported was a little red strip and sample credits. West,who was reported to have been influenced by the works of French architect Le Corbusier during the production of Yeezus,brings an interesting mix of hip hop,rap,experimental and industrial music.

The album begins with the track On sight,a funky downtown club number featuring French dance sensations Daft Punk. The next track Black skinhead is a savage,brutal one that talks about a black man dating a white woman. He reprimands the racists by saying,“They’re gon’ come and kill King Kong.” “If I knew what I know in the past,” he raps,“I would’ve been blacked out on your a**.”

The next track is interestingly titled I am a God which even lists,“feat. God” in the title. Here,West celebrates all the criticism he has faced — from his controversies to his sense of dressing — and claims to be a god “Until the day I get struck by lightning.” New slaves starts softly with a steady bassline supporting West’s vicious and honest raps,until they are flooded by overwhelming synth. Definitely one of our favorite tracks on the album.

While Hold my liquor has him stumbling back to his ex’s house for a night of reckless indulgence,I’m in it describes a night of debauchery he’s about to indulge in. Blood on the leaves takes from Nina Simone’s Strange fruit,with West lamenting about a failed relationship.

Touted as “one of the most scrutinised hip hop albums of 2013”, Yeezus definitely lives up to the hype. West and his brutal,vicious honesty will fist-bump you in the times of despair.