Yeezus
by Kanye West
  • Record Label: Def Jam
  • Release Date: Jun 18, 2013
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2196 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,717 out of 2196
  2. Mixed: 196 out of 2196
  3. Negative: 283 out of 2196
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  1. redjackb123
    Apr 26, 2016
    10
    Probably my favorite album of all time. Kanye will never fail to impress me with this album. everytime i listen to it, it gets better and better and when Daft Punk and Kanye get together it is something amazing my favorite part of the whole album is that its something different and more darker than the previous album before Yeezus (MBDTF). And i like darker type of albums like Yeezus. iProbably my favorite album of all time. Kanye will never fail to impress me with this album. everytime i listen to it, it gets better and better and when Daft Punk and Kanye get together it is something amazing my favorite part of the whole album is that its something different and more darker than the previous album before Yeezus (MBDTF). And i like darker type of albums like Yeezus. i can not get enough of it, i listen to it atleast everyday and it never gets old it is truly a classic masterpiece of all album. My favorite songs from this album is On Sight, Send it up, Black Skinhead and Guilt Trip.… Expand
  2. georgecos
    Feb 15, 2016
    10
    Yeezus is like a fine wine. After the first listen, someone may wonder what the heck Kanye was thinking pushing out a minimalist, ten song album. Upon further listenings, however, one can see the genius behind the album and the intricacies behind each song. This album follows with Kanye's trend to stray away from the crowd and create unique masterpieces.
  3. hunterdav
    Feb 15, 2016
    10
    This is West's winner. It encapsulates the Kanye West of today and of, seemingly, the future. Sonically, it breaches every wall. But more importantly, many of those walls Kanye himself helped build.
  4. SergioV
    Mar 22, 2016
    8
    76/100. Kanye put out a really interesting album here, and it is carried by a few songs, but held down by others. "On Sight" and "I Am a God" are two of the worst songs Kanye has ever put out, while "Hold My Liquor", "I'm In It", "Blood on the Leaves" and "Bound 2" are among the best. You get a mixed bag with this album, but overall it has enough great songs to make it a good album.
  5. Mesmerize
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    9.0
    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
  6. tomverberne
    May 11, 2016
    10
    Kanye west is a genius and he knows it. Yeezus is an album that was way ahead of its time. Kanye is not afraid to try new sounds and has done this on Yeezus. He pulls it of amazingly as well with the electric beats which he is also spitting bars over
  7. WANGWEST
    May 31, 2016
    10
    This album may sometimes sound demonic but this one of the best albums I have ever listened to. This albums is very aggressive and talks a lot about race. Kanye West is brilliant and has a lot of creative, original references to many things I will not reveal. Just listen to the album on Spotify and find out why this album is amazing!
  8. arostislavna
    Oct 30, 2022
    10
    Ye's magnum opus, and completely flawless hardcore electro-rap album. 10/10.
  9. Targayrean
    Aug 23, 2016
    10
    Irreverent as it is pointlessly incredible. Yeezus is my personal favorite of Kanye West- and after three years I can not tell you why. There is something so honest about every cringe lyric that just rolls off the tongue. "Eating Asian **** all I need is sweet and sour sauce." "Get this **** shaking like Parkinsons" "I'm a Rap-olic priest getting head from the nuns." Poetically idiotic itIrreverent as it is pointlessly incredible. Yeezus is my personal favorite of Kanye West- and after three years I can not tell you why. There is something so honest about every cringe lyric that just rolls off the tongue. "Eating Asian **** all I need is sweet and sour sauce." "Get this **** shaking like Parkinsons" "I'm a Rap-olic priest getting head from the nuns." Poetically idiotic it just makes you as furious as the beats are. And these beats, THESE BEATS. My least favorite track is "Black Skinhead" due to it's pop form that on this record. But all together it is a well constructed album playing with dark lyrics mindlessly head-numbing overly sexual lyrics and confusing lyrics. If Yeezus doesn't give you a black eye you're doing it wrong.… Expand
  10. victorcarter
    Nov 29, 2016
    9
    The production is completely out of this world. It is not because it is overly experimental, but rather incredibly ambitious. It succeeds in everything it tries to do and then some. My only complaint would be the lyrics that aren't up to par with some of Kanye's previous work.
  11. zoooweemama
    Dec 5, 2016
    10
    One of the best albums of the decade, this Kanye West classic still holds up to what it was meant to do, innovate. After 3 and a half years of the original drop, this albums still has the amount of freshness and hard hitting sounds that Kanye aspired to bring. Accompanied with the Yeezus Tour, one of the best tours in recent times, this album really brought something many hated; an artistOne of the best albums of the decade, this Kanye West classic still holds up to what it was meant to do, innovate. After 3 and a half years of the original drop, this albums still has the amount of freshness and hard hitting sounds that Kanye aspired to bring. Accompanied with the Yeezus Tour, one of the best tours in recent times, this album really brought something many hated; an artist that truly didn't care for what people thought about the sound of this album. This was an album for Kanye, by Kanye. A self proclaimed "protest of music", there isn't one second of this album that is predictable. One of the greatest albums by one of the greatest artists around.… Expand
  12. djterrible
    Dec 23, 2016
    10
    Kanye West is, without a doubt, the biggest musical genius of the last 10 years, no make that the last 100 years. Given the complexity of this album, the only competition Kanye really has in music is made up of history's greatest classical composers. People who say otherwise are in denial.
  13. beam123
    Feb 19, 2017
    10
    It's amazing. ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍It's amazing. ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍
  14. Nardeen
    Mar 11, 2017
    7
    This is the first Kanye album I consider the new Kanye it's a good album however not his best. There is not much variation in this album with most the songs being songs I can jam to in the car. This is also by far his most egocentric project with the songs like I Am A God.
  15. greekmatthew
    May 16, 2017
    9
    Loud, brash, abrasive, and in-your-face, Yeezus does not hesitate to make its presence known. This could be highly regarded as Kanye's best work, West uses techniques and sounds that he had not previously done in his other works, but he implements it with such eloquence, ingeniousness, and confidence that it is difficult to not be a complete fan of.
  16. aharrywilson
    Apr 17, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. On Yeezus, Kanye takes his experimental side to a whole new level with this sonically intense, multi genred album. For many listeners, this album can be quite a hard pill to swallow due to in audacious and aggressive sound present on all ten tracks; however for me Yeezus is Kanye's most exciting and boundary pushing project in his entire discography.

    Right off the bat your hit with a very hard hitting track titled 'On sight', a song that musically sets the tone for the rest of the project what with its loud, sonic, in your face instrumental. This is then followed up by the stellar single 'Black Skinhead' where Kanye faces down on stereotypes towards black people and himself. The album keeps up its high quality production for the next four tracks: 'I am a god', 'New slaves', 'Hold my liquor', and 'Im in it'. Although these tracks have similar themes of egotism present in them, the instrumentals and the way Kanye delivers his lyrics helps to display a strong sense of passion. The seventh track on the album 'Blood on the leaves' has trap styled beat along with a Nina Simone sample which is then followed up by the track 'Guilt trip', a song that samples a vocal snippet from a lead single from the compilation album 'Cruel Summer'. The penultimate track 'Send it up' uses very loud horns in its instrumental including a dreary feature from Chicago rapper King Louie and a Beenie Man sample in the songs intro and outro. Single 'Bound 2' acts as a closer for the album, a track that stylistically is more reminiscent to Kanyes earlier work.

    From front to back Yeezus has amazing production with Kanye delivering witty, braggadocio lyrics over electronic, loud, heavy hitting beats. Most definitely Yeezus is the most difficult album to enjoy, especially at first listen, compared to Kanyes earlier work; however the decision make an album like this shows that Mr West is still a creative artist who wants to try out different sounds. This album isn't going to have some sort of influence on your outlook on life or leave you with a deep message, however it is clear that Kanye isn't attempting to do this anyway. Those who are into alternative hip-hop and Kanye spitting witty, braggadocio lyrics are going to love this album just as much as I do!

    Singles: black skinhead, bound 2
    Favourite track: on sight
    Release date: 18 June 2013
    Length: 40:01 ( 10 tracks )
    Genres: hip hop, experimental, alternative hip hop    … Expand
  17. csj
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    Lean, mean, and brash, Kanye's stripped minimalism and shockingly crass lyricism makes for a brilliant album that explores the fractured psyche of a genius.
  18. fifi3
    Jul 28, 2019
    7
    A mixed bag with a lot of forgettable tracks but also a few incredible moments. It's abrasive, odd and rough around the edges. It is also the first time in Kanye's career where he was notably not ahead of the pack artistically, drawing major influence from groups like Death Grips, but it was still an interesting and necessary piece to his legendary discography.
  19. Yeezyducky
    Oct 26, 2019
    10
    It's no question my favourite album of all time, the production is just insane, after listening to it, i started being to trying out new genres, and im glad i did that. All tracks are 10/10 for me, and On Sight is my favourite track on the album, and my favourite song overall.
  20. Fib3r
    Jul 7, 2017
    10
    This album really grew on me, at first i only liked the popular songs like black skinhead and bound 2 but after listening to it a few more times i started loving the whole album. I did not get the hype about it at all in the beginning but im glad i gave it a proper chance
  21. HiMyNamesEthan
    Jan 31, 2018
    10
    10/10 The sound of Kanye West's 6th album is a 180 degree turn from the music he has gotten a reputation of making, but it is a breathtaking piece filled with otherworldly production, cryptic lyricism, and some of Kanye West's most passionate verses to date.

    Kanye West has always been a relatable figure in hip-hop since his debut album the College Dropout, and since then he has    10/10 The sound of Kanye West's 6th album is a 180 degree turn from the music he has gotten a reputation of making, but it is a breathtaking piece filled with otherworldly production, cryptic lyricism, and some of Kanye West's most passionate verses to date.

    Kanye West has always been a relatable figure in hip-hop since his debut album the College Dropout, and since then he has continued to make groundbreaking music, some of the best production ever made in the history of the genre, and provided very clever and in-depth lyrics in his projects, and with the release of the breathtaking My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye has set an incredibly high expectation for himself. Instead of trying to push the sound of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy into his next project, he decided to flip a switch that reveals a much darker side of him - His demons, past relationships, racial discrimination, and more heartbreaking topics that he delivers in his most aggressive tone to date - screaming at the top of his lungs as he releases the deepest part of his complex mind. The instrumental melodies attached to these insanely powerful vocals are a mix bag of electronic, rock, and trap sounds into this very acidic mixture, providing different samples of both gospel and jazz pieces that continues to pile on this layered and rugged album that still manages to flow smoothly. Though this album may turn many heads for casual listeners for its very experimental and very risky album, but dedicated listeners will feel very rewarded by the end of the album. Its the innovation and risk-taking put into this album that makes it so great, as Kanye continues to stand out from a crowed that has grown so large as the genre continues to enlarge year after year. This emotional release from the bowels of Kanye's mind is unique and dignified album that shall remain as one of the most innovative projects to have ever been released in hip-hop history.

    Favorite Tracks: Everything except Send it Up, which I would say is average.    … Expand
  22. FruitJuice
    Jul 18, 2017
    7
    good album............................................................................................................................................................
  23. MalcolmE
    Nov 14, 2018
    7
    The lyrics are often quotable but generally quite tiresome and bad. The production also get tiresome at times. But some parts of this album is on a whole other dimension of music

    Favorite Tracks: Blood On the Leaves, New Slaves, Hold My Liquor, Bound 2

    Least Fav Tracks: On Sight, Send It Up

    My Rating: Strong 7/10
  24. pugowner
    Apr 24, 2018
    10
    I'm tired of hearing about whether or not you "get it" or not. Ultimately music opinion just boils down to what sounds good or not. And this sounds fantastic.
  25. Clint_Eastwood1
    Nov 9, 2017
    10
    Лучший альбом Канье, даже лучше My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, здесь Канье предстаёт во всех красе.Этот альбом-квинтэссенция всего его творчества.
  26. pinkzeppelin4
    Nov 27, 2017
    10
    Kanye's most boundary breaking project. Yeezus is a force to be reckoned with, an album that will influence many more to come over the next couple decades. A modern masterpiece, even beyond hip hop's standards. There is nothing quite like it.
  27. AKthaBeast
    Mar 25, 2018
    8
    A very ambitious album and ahead of it's time with unorthodox song arrangements.

    1. On Sight - B+
    2. Black Skinhead - A
    3. I Am A God - A+
    4. New Slaves - A+
    5. Hold My Liquor - B
    6. I'm In It - B-
    7. Blood On The Leaves - A
    8. Guilt Trip - B-
    9. Send It Up - B-
    10. Bound 2 - B+
  28. euanfraser
    Nov 13, 2019
    9
    'Yeezus' was and will be the peak of 'Kanye's' discography. The projects soundscape is both minimalist and compelling and by far the highlight of this record. 'Kanye' is known for production, and this album proves it. The bangers are plentiful on 'Yeezus'. Introducing the industrial lifestyle the album puts forward; 'On Sight' blares the faint-hearted away and prepares those ready to hear'Yeezus' was and will be the peak of 'Kanye's' discography. The projects soundscape is both minimalist and compelling and by far the highlight of this record. 'Kanye' is known for production, and this album proves it. The bangers are plentiful on 'Yeezus'. Introducing the industrial lifestyle the album puts forward; 'On Sight' blares the faint-hearted away and prepares those ready to hear one of the greatest listening experiences of your life. It is not until the outro of the fourth track; 'New Slaves', where the instrumentals give the listeners a break from the lineup of bangers. However, this downtime does not last long and the next track; 'Hold My Liquor' builds the high back up again. Surprisingly, the most impressive track is the calmest; 'Guilt Trip'. The electronic orchestra and Kanye's excellent flow provide a beautiful listening experience. My least favourite track would have to be 'Send It Up' as its high-pitched horn gets a little annoying. Besides the horn, the track is great. My favourite track would have to be the highly underrated; 'On Sight'. I cannot think of a better way to introduce a listener into this type of album. 'Yeezus' is a gem and a highly underrated one.… Expand
  29. Malikoolio
    Jun 13, 2018
    10
    The narrative and thematics of this album is what makes it so exceptional and out of this world. Narrative hip hop albums are a rarity now-a-days but thanks to artists like Kanye and Kendrick they are still coming. Going through the story of a near insane man who is being consumed by celebrity and trying to use his status, money, ego, and women to hide his insecurities is very fascinating.The narrative and thematics of this album is what makes it so exceptional and out of this world. Narrative hip hop albums are a rarity now-a-days but thanks to artists like Kanye and Kendrick they are still coming. Going through the story of a near insane man who is being consumed by celebrity and trying to use his status, money, ego, and women to hide his insecurities is very fascinating. The fall back into a past relationship after the failed revolution on New Slaves is my personal favorite arc in the album. It ends on a somewhat happy note with "Bound 2", being the most joyful and sample-heavy song on Yeezus. Showing some happiness and the fact that you're actually trying, mixed with the outer ego shell designed to keep people out and not let them in . The album ends hopeful but still preparing for the worst.… Expand
  30. AndreaGamerYT
    Jan 25, 2021
    9
    Actually I don't know why people do hate this album. This album has just 1 skip (Guilt Trip), and it isn't that bad. It was too far ahead for being an album released in 2013. It aged well.
    The best tracks are:
    On Sight,
    Black Skinhead,
    Bound 2
    I give a 9 because some parts of the album are annoying, without sense and to skip.
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Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Best Album of 2013
3
#3 Most Discussed Album of 2013
3
#3 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 46
  3. Negative: 1 out of 46
  1. The Wire
    Dec 10, 2013
    50
    His concerns are serious--consumerism, race, fame, relationships--but he rarely addresses them with the craft or focus they deserve. [Sep 2013, p.66]
  2. Q Magazine
    Aug 20, 2013
    80
    Contradiction incarnate, Yeezus is Kanye's most Kanyeish LP yet. [Sep 2013, p.103]
  3. Mojo
    Aug 13, 2013
    80
    Nasty, brutish, short, and wholly compelling, Yeezus begs only one question: where next? [Sep 2013, p.89]
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