The wait is finally over. Kanye West’s 8th solo album ye has arrived with critical acclaim and a wave of controversy, as we’ve come to expect from Kanye. But despite the familiar reception, ye feels quintessentially different than any other Kanye West project we’ve heard so far. The shorter format certainly contributes to the unusual […]
kanye west
The Unexpected Influence of Lauryn Hill’s “Unplugged” Album
Ms. Lauryn Hill holds an unenviable place in the hip-hop world. She is a dominant force within music who holds claim to some of the most immediately recognizable musical moments. She is the mastermind of one of the most successful hip-hop albums ever released. But nowadays, she is primarily known for her untapped potential and […]
Tracking Kanye West’s Evolution as a Producer (Every Song)
Kanye West is undoubtedly one of the most influential producers in modern hip hop. His solo discography is filled with wild success around every turn, but the same is true for his career producing for other artists – and perhaps even more so. Learn more about the career of Kanye West the Producer and listen […]
The Erratic Data behind TLOP, Kanye’s Most Complicated Album
After Kanye West released the most experimental album of his career in 2013, one thing was clear: the industry had some major catching up to do. Just three years later, Kanye dubbed his newest project a “living, breathing, changing creative expression” and left us all scratching our heads, stuck back in the past yet again. […]
The Isolation of “Yeezus”: Documenting Kanye West’s Most Reclusive Creative Period
Kanye West cemented his place among hip hop’s greatest icons with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – but the compromises he made on the album left him unsatisfied. His next project would conclude the most diverse 3 album stretch in hip hop history and shock both fans and critics alike. Hip hop would never be the […]
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: Behind Kanye’s Most Prolific Era as a Collaborator
After Kanye’s massive gamble paid off on 808s & Heartbreak, he began devising a path to reassert himself at the top of mainstream hip hop with a new album. His goal was to deliver a “backhanded apology” with a classic album that was “80/20”; 80% what he wanted, 20% what he thought the fans wanted. This approach […]
“808s & Heartbreak”: The Data Behind Kanye’s Biggest Gamble
By the end of 2007, Kanye West’s sample-based production and conscious rapping had made him a full-on international rockstar. One year later Yeezy decided completely abandon both on his next album, instead opting for a risky, totally new sound that would change hip hop forever. With Yeezy Season 8 in full effect, Ben Carter is taking a […]
Graduation: Quantifying Kanye’s Ascent to Global Rockstar Status
Kanye West’s first two albums cemented him at the top of hip hop as both a rapper and producer – but Yeezy set his sights even higher with Graduation. Fueled by Graduation’s wildly successful singles and international reach, Kanye quickly ascended to the throne of hip hop’s first legitimate Global Rockstar. With Yeezy Season 8 […]
Producing “Late Registration”: Kanye’s Most Statistically Prolific Era as a Producer
After the breakout success of The College Dropout, Kanye began earning respect throughout the industry as a legitimate rapper for the first time – but Yeezy wasn’t done there. His next album would change production forever, ushering in a new era of sample-based beats and cemented Kanye’s status as one of the most influential producers […]
College Dropout Era: Quantifying Kanye’s Fight for Industry Respect
The College Dropout was an era for Yeezy unlike any other. At the time, Kanye West was a relatively unknown kid from Chicago known for his strange production tastes. Kanye was hungry and eager to make his mark with his first studio album. “I miss the old Kanye, chop up the soul Kanye…” With Yeezy […]
