My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
by Kanye West
  • Record Label: Def Jam
  • Release Date: Nov 22, 2010
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 3765 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,245 out of 3765
  2. Mixed: 72 out of 3765
  3. Negative: 448 out of 3765
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  1. Smartine7
    Feb 27, 2012
    10
    A staggering work of musical genius. A 75-plus minute jaunt through the inner thoughts and passions of a man ravaged by (much-publicized) tragedy. West does not pander to anyone's taste but his own, and the result is something so grandiose, gaudy and good that it practically demands to be identified as a masterpiece. A magnum opus that lives up to its title as West's "Beautiful DarkA staggering work of musical genius. A 75-plus minute jaunt through the inner thoughts and passions of a man ravaged by (much-publicized) tragedy. West does not pander to anyone's taste but his own, and the result is something so grandiose, gaudy and good that it practically demands to be identified as a masterpiece. A magnum opus that lives up to its title as West's "Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy".… Expand
  2. SnowDay
    Nov 3, 2015
    10
    The best hip hop album to date. The emotional lyrical content mixed with West's sublime production creates an etjereal listening experience that should not be passed up.
  3. wayywayytoocool
    Aug 9, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mr. West comes out from his self-imposed exile to deliver grandiose production , star-studded features and West's best lyrics to date.

    1. Dark Fantasy : One of the best intros I have heard in a while , from the huge intro to the RZA assisted piano beat this song is just one of the main reasons to own a car with a crazy sound system.

    2. Gorgeous : One of the album's more lyrical songs over a menacing guitar loop. One of the highlights of this song is the breakdown that comes in the second half followed by a Raekwon verse .

    3. Power:

    The album's first single . This song was the first snippet of the album that we received , the chanting and clapping are as if a hero had returned are a long absence and is being welcomed home accordingly.
    The militaristic beat and guitar riffs just give this song that triumphant feel or should I say 'theme music'

    4. All of the lights [Interlude] : The prelude to the album's most grandiose effort , unlike the track that comes after this one this is filled with soft keys and cello that get you ready for what's to come

    5. All of the lights : As I've said before this is the album's most grandiose effort , blaring horns , non-stop drums and percussion and over 11 vocalists on one track all lead by Rihanna who delivers the infectious chorus.

    6. Monster :

    The bass filled track that host's verses from Jay-z , Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj is full of lyrics that boast braggadocio and keeps you bobbing your head from the menacing start to the Justin Vernon ending

    7. So Appalled: Another posse cut featuring the likes of Jay-z ...again , Pusha T , Swizz Beatz and G.O.O.D Music newcomer CyHi da Prynce. This song is line after line of lyrical genius .

    8. Devil In a New Dress:

    One of my favourites off the album , this Smokey Robinson song is just smooth Kanye raps about relationship falling apart followed by a guitar solo provided by Kanye's right hand man Mike Dean , then a surprisingly great verse from Rick Ross.

    9. Runaway :

    One of the album's most emotional songs which is sung over an emotionless key-driven loop and a Pete Rock sampled beat which has Kanye toasting to the 'Douchebags and **** The song ends with a 3 minutes vocoder solo bursting with emotion .

    10. Hell of A Life : Hell of a Life has Kanye rapping about how he wishes to marry a pornstar over a really heavy sample while interpolating Black Sabbath's 'Iron Man' for the chorus .

    11. Blame Game :

    This Aphex Twin sampled beat showcases Kanye's frustration with fame , relationships and love while being assisted by John Legend and an outro by Comedian Chris Rock

    12. Lost in the World: The grand finale of the album using Bon Iver's 'Woods' as the building block for this song . West's verse is full of dichotomy and hopes for leaving a 'plastic life' .

    13. Who Will Survive In America

    I view this as the album's epilogue with social commentary given by Gill Scott-Heron and ends with clapping to tell you that the show is over .    … Expand
  4. ReviewerMan44
    Jul 1, 2011
    10
    What defines a perfect album? The question has been asked for years. It exists in the personal opinions of millions of musicgoers, whether its little girls who enjoy Miley Cyrus, or teens who listen to Lil' Wayne because they speak to him, or the estranged hipster listening to his favorite indie rock record on vinyl. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by the decade's most talented newWhat defines a perfect album? The question has been asked for years. It exists in the personal opinions of millions of musicgoers, whether its little girls who enjoy Miley Cyrus, or teens who listen to Lil' Wayne because they speak to him, or the estranged hipster listening to his favorite indie rock record on vinyl. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by the decade's most talented new rapper and producer, Kanye West, is the very definition of perfect. It is a hip-hop masterpiece, bridging the gap between old school hip-hop and modern mainstream and indie sensibilities. Fusing fashions, tastes, and thinking minds of various statures, BDTF is a record that deals with the very esscence of a flawed human being firing back on the world around him, it is a departure from the bad guy, and a start to a new villain, it asks the question, Why do I exist, and what good is there to be found in me? It keeps the train a rollin' and stops it all the while.
    Please excuse my long rant, but MBDTF is quite possibly one of the best hip-hop records I've ever heard. It's one that both critics and simple listeners will adore, and it is an artists struggle to regain his ego from his peers and people. It does so many different things and does them on so many different grand levels. First of all, the beats and synths and all around instrumental work on BDTF is perfect. The production for the album is staggering, some of the best found on any record, ever. The song, "All of the Lights"is a perfect example of this with ten people singing at once, an orchestra striking trumpets and trombones in the background, timpanies and beats flaring about, all while Kanye West raps about the big city and his daughter's life. We find him contemplating his love life and his mistakes on "Runaway" all while firing back on the people who blew out on him on the Taylor Swift epidemic. Dark Fantasy asks the question "Can we get much higher?" and most definetely answers it. The quest spots are nailed excellently, ranging from Raekwon to Cudi, Beyonce to Pusha T, even indie kid Bon Iver! Even the auto-tuned parts, which I usually detest are found incredible on this piece of history. Top that off with Kanye West's old styles with new ways of getting them across with "Power" ranting about being kicked off his throne with King Crimson being sampled in the background. "Monster" sees him and friends ranting about hurting and killing and all dark fantasies are about. On Dark Fantasy we see West as the **** he's always been trying to shun away from, but finally accepts in full glory, we see a flawed man trying to improve all while a flawed past won't allow him. We see a man maturing even with darkness in the light, overall Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a deeply intricate hip-hop record and the best album of 2010. Simply and utterly perfect, it is the view of the modern world and the old one coinciding in the life of one man, his story, the stories around him, and the world he lives in, and is so brilliant.    … Expand
  5. mary_juana
    Jul 9, 2011
    10
    This album is very different to all of his other albums, in fact I would actually go on to say that it is far ahead of its time. This is by far, the best album I have ever listened to. The creativity and the topics that Kanye West brings on this album is just breathtaking. I can't wait for Kanye and Jay Z's next album Watch the Throne!!
  6. MovieMachine
    Mar 25, 2012
    10
    Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a style all its own, a new form of hip-hop. Kanye makes intelligent collaborations with brilliant writers, both from and not from the hip-hop world, to create an album that astounds, sparkles, and surprises. The sound is very modern, very alternative, and very compatible to Kanye, making recording a breeze. Kanye is aware that his sound isKanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a style all its own, a new form of hip-hop. Kanye makes intelligent collaborations with brilliant writers, both from and not from the hip-hop world, to create an album that astounds, sparkles, and surprises. The sound is very modern, very alternative, and very compatible to Kanye, making recording a breeze. Kanye is aware that his sound is noticeably different in this album, but recompenses by bringing his unique, powerful vocal swagger into the mix. The result? A subset of hip-hop, a sound that can be appreciated by all people from all walks of Earth (who also appreciate modern music). And the reason this album deserves a double-digit rating is because, although the sound may not be perfect, it can't be improved on. This album has been revised over and over until the perfect sound has been squeezed out. Overall, this album is by far the strongest album from Kanye, the strongest hip-hop album of the year, and arguably one of the best albums of the year.… Expand
  7. louis-wilkinson
    Aug 15, 2011
    10
    Best album of 2010!
    I thought no album could be as good as something like "teen dream" of beach house of or "age of adz" of sufjan stevens put there was.
  8. matt-leib
    Aug 4, 2011
    10
    Best album ever. Every track is amazing and well produced. Although I was not a huge kanye fan before I got this album, I think I am now, and this could quite possibly be the best album ever.
  9. blackwolf07
    May 23, 2013
    9
    No duds, a couple songs (2) that aren't great, but all songs at least good. Some of Kanye's best work yet, and that's saying a lot. Overall his second best album and one of the best the hip hop world has ever seen.
  10. melbourne3012
    Aug 23, 2011
    10
    Everyone of these people that have given it a poor review mustn't even like hip hop. F**K off! You obviously have a completely different taste in music. If you don't like Kanye/hip hop, why the **** would you review this?!
  11. swetas
    Aug 29, 2011
    10
    I personally liked My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to be honest, I hope that Kanye keeps making good music and keeping his fans happy in that regard.
  12. WTTDiamond
    Aug 30, 2011
    10
    I just wanna quickly say that this album is fantastic, it's like experiencing the wonder world of Kanye. 10 points, Kanye has proved that he is on top of his game, he is a music genius, both in lyrics and production.
  13. Benjaminimal
    Sep 9, 2011
    10
    The album may as well have been called "Kanye West". That's the point of the record here, the rapper/artist points the finger on himself and jumps under his own lyrical microscope and explores the world he lives in from a bird's eye view. Fascinating results.
  14. LetzTalkMoveez
    Oct 21, 2012
    10
    An album this meticulously crafted, this unique, this complex, and this endlessly emotional and thrilling deserves all the praise for generations and generations I'm sure it will get; it's a milestone in hip-hop - bending the genre and making it the personal, soulful thing it always aims to be.
  15. KarimTRIO
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Honestly, for the aggregate user score to be this low is a clear manifestation of contrarian ideation. On merit alone, this album warrants a 9.5/10 rating, and given its replay value, it deserves the solid 10. No other artist has been able to create a contemporary hip-hop album that's so circuitous, with its multifarious themes and many layers. People who denigrate this piece of music areHonestly, for the aggregate user score to be this low is a clear manifestation of contrarian ideation. On merit alone, this album warrants a 9.5/10 rating, and given its replay value, it deserves the solid 10. No other artist has been able to create a contemporary hip-hop album that's so circuitous, with its multifarious themes and many layers. People who denigrate this piece of music are the ones who haven't immersed themselves in the genre. I see Eminem's name being thrown around; listen, technically, Eminem is very gifted, but as an artist, he's always been limited. On social impact alone, he stands as a top-10 rapper, but when you juxtapose his work to the likes of Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie etc. - and Kanye, it's awfully narrow in scope. Perhaps Ye requires an audience with an eclectic taste? He polarizes those who disparage hip-hop, or those who consider themselves "purists" (the underground/old school hip-hop fan archetype). Regardless, this album -- given hip-hop's metamorphosis during the 2000s -- is nothing short of a masterpiece.… Expand
  16. XXconrad
    Sep 17, 2011
    10
    If you dont like this album you are ridiclous. just go buy it and listen again agian again and agian. thanks for the awesome mr west. also i kidnap dogs at night to cuddle with, then i return them later.
  17. crw6291
    Sep 25, 2011
    10
    Man makes record bigger than himself- the prophecy is fulfilled. Stankonia, Illmatic, and The Blueprint welcome the record into their elite tight-knit circle. Instant classic.
  18. lambo89
    Oct 1, 2011
    10
    Kanye West's production style peaks on this record. After his slightly misdirected previous album, he comes back with an incredibly crafted piece of popular art. Fans of hip hop will appreciate the heavy instrumentation, glimmers of soul and occasional gloss. The best album of its genre I have heard for a long time.
  19. AmazinKazin
    Oct 27, 2011
    8
    MBDTF is artistically the best rap album in a long time. The story is great, yet very weird. But Kanye can do what Kanye wants. The music, although, is not at Ye's peak ability. I'm waiting for more albums like The College Dropout.
  20. KerimBlue
    Mar 25, 2012
    10
    I remember buying this album and putting into my car's CD player on the way back. The booming sounds of "Dark Fantasy" instantly had me hooked. As I kept listening, I was astonished at how good it was. Kanye sure does know how to make fantastic beats and samples. Not to mention he accompanies them with the perfect tone with the right lyrics. One of the best albums of the decade so far. TheI remember buying this album and putting into my car's CD player on the way back. The booming sounds of "Dark Fantasy" instantly had me hooked. As I kept listening, I was astonished at how good it was. Kanye sure does know how to make fantastic beats and samples. Not to mention he accompanies them with the perfect tone with the right lyrics. One of the best albums of the decade so far. The Grammy's got it wrong, and it should have definitely been at least nominated for Album of the Year.… Expand
  21. Tranquilbez22
    Feb 17, 2012
    10
    My Beautiful Dark twisted Fantasy is the "Achtung Baby" of Kanye West albums. Forget what you already know about Kanye and his mic stealing antics. Kanye is more than just some rapper talking about "Living Young,Wild and Free or talking through a overly used Auto-tune (Though 808's and Heartbreaks was mostly auto-tuned). If rappers are modern day poets then Kanye West is the king of ModernMy Beautiful Dark twisted Fantasy is the "Achtung Baby" of Kanye West albums. Forget what you already know about Kanye and his mic stealing antics. Kanye is more than just some rapper talking about "Living Young,Wild and Free or talking through a overly used Auto-tune (Though 808's and Heartbreaks was mostly auto-tuned). If rappers are modern day poets then Kanye West is the king of Modern day poets!… Expand
  22. Jacksonator36
    Oct 19, 2013
    10
    I'd put this in the top 10 albums of all time and for sure the best rap album ever. Kanye always bring something fresh and this time he decided to make the perfect album
  23. thedaddy22
    Nov 24, 2011
    10
    simply amazing and epic album, from start to finish the album is original, catchy and also lyrically brilliant.some people doubted kanye could produce another masterpiece after controversies and a mixed reception to 808s and heartbreak but this album is a classic. if it does not win a grammy the sole reason is because of kanyes attitude and stubbornness
  24. tlambo80
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    A year later, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is still as breathtaking to me as the first time I heard it. This album is the emotional atlas into kanye west's mind. The production was out of this world, and innovative to boot. Kanye has never been the top dog when it comes to lyricism, but he holds his ground against greats like Jay-Z and Pusha T. His brutal honesty and vulnerability isA year later, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is still as breathtaking to me as the first time I heard it. This album is the emotional atlas into kanye west's mind. The production was out of this world, and innovative to boot. Kanye has never been the top dog when it comes to lyricism, but he holds his ground against greats like Jay-Z and Pusha T. His brutal honesty and vulnerability is what sold this album for me. This could very well be Mr. West's masterpiece.… Expand
  25. nizek
    Feb 13, 2012
    10
    Kanye West as good as ever! Best Album 2010.
    A perfect mix between electro-pop ballad 'Runaway' , dynamic and energetic songs like 'POWER' and 'All of the Lights' and rocking sounds. Lyrics brilliant.
  26. AKBennett
    Feb 24, 2012
    10
    I never thought one of my favorite hip-hop artists would be able to top his first two albums. This album shocked me in accomplishing that feat in only 12 actual tracks. The thematic elements illustrate the intricacies of fame and all that comes with it. West is at the zenith of creativity in his productivity, however the anthemic 'All of the Lights' is challenged by RZA's 'Dark Fantasy'I never thought one of my favorite hip-hop artists would be able to top his first two albums. This album shocked me in accomplishing that feat in only 12 actual tracks. The thematic elements illustrate the intricacies of fame and all that comes with it. West is at the zenith of creativity in his productivity, however the anthemic 'All of the Lights' is challenged by RZA's 'Dark Fantasy' for beat of the album. It's a moody, bombastic, visceral, gritty, polished package laced with West's trademark confidence and emotion. It's truly unfortunate this album was snubbed for an Album of the Year nomination.… Expand
  27. kidwithopinions
    Mar 8, 2012
    10
    I give it a perfect. It had many flaws but they blended so well. He was capable of creating 10+ different sounding songs, but yet put it together as one. Not to mention almost every song had radio play. Not to say that means anything, but just to say it can be playe in different enviromets.
  28. BrandonHamm
    Apr 3, 2012
    10
    I'm not the type to just give out 10's to every album I please, but this is a record that truly deserves it. Kanye went the extra mile to release one of the most compelling hip hop albums of all time, inspiring and ground breaking in every way possible. I'll be listening to this one for years to come.
  29. RedAFX
    Apr 11, 2012
    9
    A meticulously drawn sketch of perfection, Kanye West proves that he is on the top of the world, bringing in new and old friends all over the music world to aid with his magnum opus, he takes influences from Aphex Twin, Trent Reznor, Dr Dre and shows that he can deconstruct his ego to create something truly beautiful.
    The highlight of the album, Monster, is worth the ticket price alone,    A meticulously drawn sketch of perfection, Kanye West proves that he is on the top of the world, bringing in new and old friends all over the music world to aid with his magnum opus, he takes influences from Aphex Twin, Trent Reznor, Dr Dre and shows that he can deconstruct his ego to create something truly beautiful.
    The highlight of the album, Monster, is worth the ticket price alone, with Jay Z's verse interlocking with West's production to unleash a few seconds of intelligent dance music, created from distorted samples and rap vocals, West has created something which is as advanced as technology and his brain can allow it to be; which places him above the rest.
    I give this album an 9 from a 10 for some unintelligent and unnecessarily vulgar lyrical content.    … Expand
  30. markoreos
    Apr 20, 2012
    10
    'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' is Kanyes masterpiece, so unique and wonderfully crafted that it's easy to understand it's critical success.
    This 5th album once again shows Kanyes evolving nature, with the album (like his others) taking on it's own persona, sounding like no other Kanye album to date. It's this evolving style that makes Kanye seem so fresh each new release. Can't wait    'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' is Kanyes masterpiece, so unique and wonderfully crafted that it's easy to understand it's critical success.
    This 5th album once again shows Kanyes evolving nature, with the album (like his others) taking on it's own persona, sounding like no other Kanye album to date. It's this evolving style that makes Kanye seem so fresh each new release. Can't wait for his 6th studio album now.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2010
1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2010
1
#1 Most Shared Album of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
  1. Uncut
    Sep 19, 2012
    80
    West is far from rap's deftest lyricist but his neurotic grandstanding is compelling and often pretty funny to boot. [Feb 2011, p.84]
  2. Consequence
    Sep 17, 2012
    100
    There is no question that this album is a game changer. It's Kanye West's greatest work.
    Read full review
  3. Mojo
    Apr 20, 2011
    100
    My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is genuinely a great record. [Feb. 2011, p. 108]
See all critic reviews »