The live-action soap opera of Kanye West’s album Donda
Live MintIn a 2013 interview with music journalist Sway Calloway, Kanye West infamously declared: “I am Warhol. Much like Warhol’s “factory”, West has spent the past few years surrounding himself with young talent, more master orchestrator than lone auteur. Roddy Ricch brings gut-wrenching emotion to Pure Souls with the refrain “the truth is only what you get away with, huh?”, an accusatory finger pointed at West’s detractors. And while Jay-Z’s hurriedly written verse on Jail isn’t his best—he casually absolves West’s Trump flirtations with the line “Told him, ‘Stop all of that red cap, we goin’ home’”—there is still an undeniable thrill when he utters the words, “This might be the return of the throne.” West also remains thematically ambitious. But while there are some moments of self-reflection and insight, West rarely digs deeper, hiding behind his indelible pop hooks and attempted conceptual complexity.So for every Jesus Lord, a raw examination of his mother’s loss, drug addiction and mental illness, you get moments like the industrial hymn God Breathed, which features West repeating “I know God breathed on this” like the mantra of a gospel of prosperity televangelist.
History of this topic
Kanye West review, Donda: Marilyn Manson’s inexcusable presence leaves a sour taste that no amount of gospel can cleanse
The Independent
Review: A revival for Kanye West on divorce album ‘Donda’
Associated Press
Kanye West to reveal 'Donda' album at massive Atlanta event
The Independent
13 instant takeaways from Kanye West’s ‘Donda’ livestream
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