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. cmcdonald5
    Feb 19, 2011
    10
    I gotta hand it to kanye, he really did it with this album. It demands respect. This is one of five or six most mature, listenable, stylistically diverse hip hop/rap albums ever produced, and it is THE best album of 2010. Every song is enjoyable, but certain stand outs like Blame Game, All Of The Lights, Power, Hell of a Life, Runnaway, and Monster bear repeat listenings. In fact, II gotta hand it to kanye, he really did it with this album. It demands respect. This is one of five or six most mature, listenable, stylistically diverse hip hop/rap albums ever produced, and it is THE best album of 2010. Every song is enjoyable, but certain stand outs like Blame Game, All Of The Lights, Power, Hell of a Life, Runnaway, and Monster bear repeat listenings. In fact, I have listened to each of these songs more times than I can count, and they still show no signs of wearing out. They just sound better and more inspiring with each listen. All Of The Lights never fails to give me goosebumps.… Expand
  2. TBrownjr87
    Feb 17, 2011
    10
    Brilliance, insanity, & virtuosity condensed in 13 gripping tracks.. By far the best rap / hip hop album of the past decade. The lyrics are clever, the production is off the charts. If you love music you'll fall in love with this album.
  3. ranmancarmel
    Feb 10, 2011
    0
    Ouch, my ears! Since when did stealing others' music and shouting at people qualify as creating? This is just another example of meglomania unchecked, a man surrounded by yes-men, the critics falling into that category as a whole. Give me some great Wyclef any day over this.
  4. Sharadadavis
    Feb 10, 2011
    10
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  5. DC19
    Feb 9, 2011
    5
    The production on this album is fantastic. Truth be told, if this record featured a better lyricist I would enjoy it very much. Kanye should have stuck to being a producer. That is truly what he does best. His vocals are far too **** and ignorant to give him the kind of credit and reviews he has been getting.
  6. African_Goddess
    Feb 9, 2011
    6
    I remember the first time I listened to Kanye West. The song â
  7. dubbleq
    Feb 7, 2011
    10
    By far the best album kanye has ever made. Features 8 fantastic songs plus a few b sides. This is worth it and people with mean comments must be crazy.
  8. flexbabar
    Feb 7, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mr. West is surely taking his music to the next level. He is clearly developing as an artist and after his latest album ( that confused a lot of his fans I admit) he has stepped up og grew a pair of balls! MASTERPIECE… Expand
  9. YZJay
    Feb 1, 2011
    8
    The sound of the album is EPIC. I think it would take 3 to 4 years for another artist to top this. The only bad thing would be the lyrics and it being VERY unorthodox,
  10. Hoshuya
    Jan 31, 2011
    3
    Whenever I hear a new Kanye song on the radio the first thing I think is, wow, this is some surprisingly bad rapping for the radio. Then I think, oh it's Kanye, that's why. His flow is really weak, his rhythm is flabby and his rhymes are boring but for some reason people really like him. Another thing that hits me is how overcrowded the beats and production are. I'm in awe of producersWhenever I hear a new Kanye song on the radio the first thing I think is, wow, this is some surprisingly bad rapping for the radio. Then I think, oh it's Kanye, that's why. His flow is really weak, his rhythm is flabby and his rhymes are boring but for some reason people really like him. Another thing that hits me is how overcrowded the beats and production are. I'm in awe of producers that can make a beat swing hard with only a few elements. Kanye's heavy layering of samples without regard to whether or not they're doing something exciting rhythmically has an amateurish sound to me. Finally, the samples themselves bug. I think that if you're going to sample, i.e. borrow someone else's idea, you've got to either make it better than the original or put it into a new context that gives it an entirely new identity. "Stronger" is a good example of his failure there. The song is really more a cover than a sample of the Daft Punk original because it's a direct lift of the chorus, but Daft Punk's version is much more thrilling and danceable. Kanye just made it worse. Kanye is obviously a great music listener because he draws samples from a very broad array of genres. But generally when I hear the original song the sample came from I think it was better off without him. Saying all that MBDTF is probably the best yet from Kanye. If I heard it as a mixtape from some unknown guy on the street I'd probably think, this guy's got something. If he keeps working at it, starts paring down that production, sharpens up his rhythm he might have something interesting. But this isn't some unknown amateur. It's Kanye West, king of the charts and supreme darling of the critics. I just don't get it.… Expand
  11. Damion
    Jan 28, 2011
    0
    It is simply appalling that this man continues to be so over credited for producing nothing but crap time and again. West must be the most over-rated "artist" the world has ever seen, thus his humongous ego being based on people who somehow find something good in one of the most talentless artists to ever record. "Fantasy," just like everything else he has recorded, sounds exactly theIt is simply appalling that this man continues to be so over credited for producing nothing but crap time and again. West must be the most over-rated "artist" the world has ever seen, thus his humongous ego being based on people who somehow find something good in one of the most talentless artists to ever record. "Fantasy," just like everything else he has recorded, sounds exactly the same as, well, everything else he has recorded, and it's just refried crap on digital. The man has made a career out of seemingly releasing the same terrible album over and over...and I wish someone would explain to me how this appeals to people...but then again, the country he is most popular in also kept "Macarena" at #1 for weeks. Kanye should be flipping burgers in new Mexico and should just never be seen or heard from again. This is THE most over-rated album of 2010. Oh look! Not one song of his on the radio...what a shock...… Expand
  12. fedelmason
    Jan 27, 2011
    9
    Kanye's best album to date by far. Im pretty sure that MBDTF is gonna be nominated to album of the year on Grammys of 2012. However, i think that it didn't had to reach #1 on Billboard 200. Nicki deserve that #1. Whatever. Great album.
  13. more
    Jan 27, 2011
    6
    yeah yeah, kanye is a nice guy, or whatsoever, and he's even able to do some good stuff on tracks. Accordingly. The only trouble, is that recycling, well, bore us faster, because we've heard the sh*t a dozen times before, this is the same accoutrement that with the latest BEPeas. Anyway, overall, i love the RZA produced song, and the lost in the world 1. And, of course there is nicky inyeah yeah, kanye is a nice guy, or whatsoever, and he's even able to do some good stuff on tracks. Accordingly. The only trouble, is that recycling, well, bore us faster, because we've heard the sh*t a dozen times before, this is the same accoutrement that with the latest BEPeas. Anyway, overall, i love the RZA produced song, and the lost in the world 1. And, of course there is nicky in monster, and that makes the record enough arguments to listen to. Anyway those are the highlights i can remember so far without checking, after 2 months, not listening to it.
    check,    … Expand
  14. nr23nr
    Jan 18, 2011
    10
    A revolutionary Album, maybe his 808s & Heartbreak Album wasn't great but it only shows that it was practice for "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy."

    -This will be an album to remember.
  15. shakeel7
    Jan 16, 2011
    9
    Without a doubt the best album to be released this year. It's good from start to finish and it's a shining example of what current rap music should sound like. It's bold and daring, using sounds that other hiphop/rap artists would be afraid to touch. But Kanye is, and always has been ahead of the pack.
  16. N3XMILLIONAIRE
    Jan 15, 2011
    10
    Kanye Wests new album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of the greatest albums ever. Especially for the hip-hop genre this album is important. 14 fantastic songs, i dont know which is best, impossible to say. Kanye really shows hes a fantastic artist. If you miss this album, youre missing the 00s best one!
  17. lauranette
    Jan 10, 2011
    9
    The more I want to hate Kanye (and as a person, I do), the more I'm disappointed that I actually liked "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." Not sure all the hype is warranted, but track after track, the album is nothing if not solid. Any of these tracks would do well on the radio but hold their own with music snobs alike. Not surprising, really, this album is a natural progression for meThe more I want to hate Kanye (and as a person, I do), the more I'm disappointed that I actually liked "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." Not sure all the hype is warranted, but track after track, the album is nothing if not solid. Any of these tracks would do well on the radio but hold their own with music snobs alike. Not surprising, really, this album is a natural progression for me from his previous works - albeit bigger, and more exciting.… Expand
  18. DomF
    Jan 9, 2011
    5
    Over-hyped is definitely the word I'd use for this album. Admittedly, I've never been a fan of Kanye's music (or hip hop in general) and more so never been a fan of him but I decided I'd give his newest album a go. I was very disappointed, especially based on the extremely good reviews. The vast majority of songs are distinctly lack lustre and have only a few good parts to them. TheOver-hyped is definitely the word I'd use for this album. Admittedly, I've never been a fan of Kanye's music (or hip hop in general) and more so never been a fan of him but I decided I'd give his newest album a go. I was very disappointed, especially based on the extremely good reviews. The vast majority of songs are distinctly lack lustre and have only a few good parts to them. The sampling of songs like 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson seems a desperate a gimmicky way to attract new fans. In spite of this there are some high points to the album - for example All Of The Lights - but in general I found the album distinctly average.… Expand
  19. timeformime
    Jan 5, 2011
    9
    Kanye is a completely unapologetic a-hole. Let us get that out of the way first. This is admittedly a somewhat reactionary review directed at those who claim that the album is revolutionary because Kanye admits he is at fault and loathes himself. Well, that's quite a misleading summation by many reviewers who wanted to find a concrete reason to give it a perfect score, and really notKanye is a completely unapologetic a-hole. Let us get that out of the way first. This is admittedly a somewhat reactionary review directed at those who claim that the album is revolutionary because Kanye admits he is at fault and loathes himself. Well, that's quite a misleading summation by many reviewers who wanted to find a concrete reason to give it a perfect score, and really not suited at all to this album, only one element of the song Runaway. The rest of the album is a dark, unapologetically twisted fantasy, as far removed from the tone of Eminem's more therapeutic Recovery as possible because, while Eminem tried to work through everything that was going down in his life, Kanye does nothing to attempt to mitigate his gargantuan ego. Instead, he celebrates it and directs his uniquely self-centered but honest personality at various aspects of what is, well, his fantasy. God only knows how you can shrink-wrap Kanye's mind into one You can try to toss various intelligent phrases into the blogosphere to sum up the album if you really feel like it, but you won't find one because it's quite sprawling in every way. It is a discussion of the excesses of being a celebrity, sure. It's also Kanye just doing what he does best, bragging. It's also Kanye making such outlandish claims and statements that nothing he says could be taken as anything but fantasy. So really, it can be summed up as Kanye spitting out his creative music visions of what goes on in his head, and, knowing him, it's probably an honest vision.

    You've heard enough about the music, but it is important to address anyway. The beats get repetitive because of the song lengths, but this isn't too much of a problem because different twists are thrown in to make it interesting. The quality of the music is unbelievable, as full orchestras are wrangled together to make a boisterous, complex, and flamboyant sound that really does transcend genres of music.

    Love him or hate him, his music is more carefully crafted and thought-provoking than most. I think he's a fascinatingly distasteful man, as are most images projected by this album. But whatever other distastefulness goes on in his life, this album harnesses the distastefulness into great music, and oddly 50 years after Bob Dylan came on the scene introspective music is still underappreciated and under-represented on the pop scene. Well, Kanye's oblique method of introspection consists of projecting every image of debauchery, excess, and egoism running through his mind's picture reel. And at the risk of inflating his ego too much, I do believe he has 21st century pop stardom pretty well pegged. God knows we've heard enough linguistically creative but utterly negative, nihilistic, "realistic" rap and hip hop to want something more creative, different, and INTERESTING. Well, hip hop fans, here it is. Pop fans, you might want to check it out too if you don't mind cussing.    … Expand
  20. seantech
    Jan 5, 2011
    8
    This album was a Kanye getting back to "rapping" I can't remember the last time I heard a Kanye song and thought it was actually a part of hip hop culture. I enjoyed the intensity of this album and the select lines which impressed me a bit. There are still a few songs on the album which are a waste of time and I rally don't see who they appeal to or why they are on there. Those areThis album was a Kanye getting back to "rapping" I can't remember the last time I heard a Kanye song and thought it was actually a part of hip hop culture. I enjoyed the intensity of this album and the select lines which impressed me a bit. There are still a few songs on the album which are a waste of time and I rally don't see who they appeal to or why they are on there. Those are definite skips and mostly the last few songs. But the begining to middle especially the ones with jay z and swiss beats on the track are pretty good listens. I like how he finally told people hey I'm an **** so what, I speak my mind, its a part of rap culture to do so and I think that a lot of his troubles, which many people share, are discussed in his songs. I like that he is using his music as a medium because it really allows him to share how he's feeling and say hey I make good music and that's all that matters. This album is definitely something you can dance to, get stuck in your head, and the thing that I use to love about Kanye is it makes you laugh. He provides a good enough balance that you can feel like the music is hard hitting but not threatening. I think this album if you really listens outlines what a rappers ego trip really stems from, because without the problems that makes him Kanye West, he wouldn't be as famous as he is. So this is him being himself.… Expand
  21. BREEZY
    Jan 2, 2011
    10
    Kanye brings his best with this album from the beats to the lyrics he couldn't be more on point. The album gives an experience you definitely won't find listening to someone else.From beginning to end every songs a hit. You feel that the album is perfected and not rushed in any way.A truly original album that doesn't get boring.My Beautiful Dark Fantasy is different and stands out as oneKanye brings his best with this album from the beats to the lyrics he couldn't be more on point. The album gives an experience you definitely won't find listening to someone else.From beginning to end every songs a hit. You feel that the album is perfected and not rushed in any way.A truly original album that doesn't get boring.My Beautiful Dark Fantasy is different and stands out as one of the best and most unique hip hop albums of all time, even if you don't like him you gotta love his music and hand it to him for such a great release.… Expand
  22. n00ne
    Dec 31, 2010
    8
    I like this album. A whole lot. It's brimming with creativity and humor without ever trying too hard. Or at least it doesn't seem to try too hard from my vantage point. But a 93? Really? The highest rated new release of 2010? REALLY? I rarely use the term "overrated". I don't like the word. But if this album isn't overrated I don't know what is. The two best hooks on the album, in myI like this album. A whole lot. It's brimming with creativity and humor without ever trying too hard. Or at least it doesn't seem to try too hard from my vantage point. But a 93? Really? The highest rated new release of 2010? REALLY? I rarely use the term "overrated". I don't like the word. But if this album isn't overrated I don't know what is. The two best hooks on the album, in my opinion, are lifted from Black Sabbath and King Crimson. And my favorite single musical moment? The opening of "Lost in the World", a Bon Iver sample. I understand that's part of hip hop. But surely original compositions are and should be more respected. On a different note, I didn't know what the fuss about Nicki Minaj was about until I heard "Monster". Jay-Z was great on that track as well.

    Finally, after listening to the album and thinking about it's content I was left with this thought, am I the only one who thinks the person who is overreacting to the "Taylor Swift incident" more than ANYONE is Kanye?    … Expand
  23. txrangersfan72
    Dec 29, 2010
    10
    All great artists need inspiration. And there isn't much stronger inspiration like becoming a social pariah and consistently being deemed a problem, even if your intentions are good. The positive side of such drama is it makes for fuel to an artist's fire. Being one of the most talented hip-hop icons of the last decade, Kanye allowed that fuel to generate an inferno in his new CD, MyAll great artists need inspiration. And there isn't much stronger inspiration like becoming a social pariah and consistently being deemed a problem, even if your intentions are good. The positive side of such drama is it makes for fuel to an artist's fire. Being one of the most talented hip-hop icons of the last decade, Kanye allowed that fuel to generate an inferno in his new CD, My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy. Unlike 808s and Heartbreaks where his inspiration was more of a personal loss, Kanye's new inspiration is anger, hurt, embarrassment and redemption, if not socially, then at least personally. The production is grand, just like Kanye's ego, but also representative of the message he wants to send. Anyone who is in tune with Kanye's work could always separate his public **** from his artistic genius. It's impossible to be able hate this work without allowing personal feelings about Kanye or hip-hop to make its way into your criticism. Empirically, hip-hop very rarely gets this good. Kanye has done the best job anyone could ever hope to do when conveying intense feelings via their chosen artistic conduit. Lyrically, of course there are elements of the hip-hop culture that those who are not fans of choose to point to and hate, such as cursing and the dreaded N word. This is unique music, though. From the sampling, layers of music, themes, singing and, yes, rapping, Kanye has the right ingredients to cook the tastiest stew.… Expand
  24. denimbrcina
    Dec 29, 2010
    10
    This is really the best album that exists. It has incredible songs, like: Dark Fantasy, Power, So Apalled, Runaway, Blame Game and Lost in the World. The lyrics are awesome. They are funny and emotional. I have only compliments for "My beautiful dark twisted fantasy"!!!. Kanye West is the best Raper in the world!
  25. Heino
    Dec 27, 2010
    9
    http://heinverstappen.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-10-favoriete-albums-van-2010-en-de.html http://heinverstappen.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-10-favoriete-albums-van-2010-en-de.html http://heinverstappen.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-10-favoriete-albums-van-2010-en-de.html 9.0
  26. TheJones
    Dec 25, 2010
    8
    Good album. Weird but good. The reason I marked it down is because he tries to sing every now and again and he sucks, but when he's not singing it's awesome.
  27. Lambo442
    Dec 25, 2010
    10
    Yup, K did it again. Another superb record full of original, stand-out numbers. Say what you want about his character, but he seems to be growing and growing as a musician, which is nice to see as most start off good and then get worse and worse. Also good to seem him return toi rap after after his last album, which although good, wasn't what I wanted to hear from him personally.
  28. Stuie
    Dec 20, 2010
    0
    This album is nothing more than over produced Moby beats with terrible vocals and shallow lyrics. The fact that it has such a high score both from critics and users is mind boggling. The fact that it is called the best album of 2010 by sites like Pitchfork and Stereogum is even worse. I mean I sat down thinking it was going to be great and was not impressed at all. Really, what is theThis album is nothing more than over produced Moby beats with terrible vocals and shallow lyrics. The fact that it has such a high score both from critics and users is mind boggling. The fact that it is called the best album of 2010 by sites like Pitchfork and Stereogum is even worse. I mean I sat down thinking it was going to be great and was not impressed at all. Really, what is the appeal of this album?… Expand
  29. MrThistle
    Dec 19, 2010
    10
    I used to like rap at the end of the '80's and early '90's, like Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Ice Cube. But that was eternity ago. This right here? I don't get. Maybe I gotta listen a few more times, but I'm really wondering if these rappers are ever gonna stop with the N and F words all the time. Just sounds all the same to me.
  30. rollingstone82
    Dec 19, 2010
    10
    Is he the best rapper alive? Maybe. Is he the best producer right now? You bet. (sorry Dre, you gotta put out more stuff) But the question is... Is he really and truly the voice of this generation? Well.... no.
    Kanye is somewhat outlandish to be a representative of a generation. Sure, he spits some truth but musically he is on a different level. He is on level infinity (aka the Kanye    Is he the best rapper alive? Maybe. Is he the best producer right now? You bet. (sorry Dre, you gotta put out more stuff) But the question is... Is he really and truly the voice of this generation? Well.... no.
    Kanye is somewhat outlandish to be a representative of a generation. Sure, he spits some truth but musically he is on a different level. He is on level infinity (aka the Kanye level). But the fact that he isn't a voice of a generation does not diminish the significance of his role in pop music today. He is the freshest, most innovative, and most daring of all pop stars. And MBDTF is yet another testament to his genius.

    While it does seem like a culmination of his first four albums in terms of sound, lyrically it is a pumped up Kanye taking on various victims like the government, South Park, and SNL. But MBDTF also features the more vulnerable side of Kanye while also promoting the man through brilliant braggadocio. The thumping POWER features Kanye spitting "I guess every superhero needs his theme music" at the same time saying "No one man should have all that power" as if he is aware of both sides to the argument.

    The production is Kanye at his killer best. A song that could be another multiple guest bloated collabo turns out to be a truly majestic track (All Of the Lights) that retains ambition while also feeling fit without any corny elements. There is the buzzy Hell Of A Life featuring Kanye proudly saying, "I think I just fell in love with a porn star". But the real apex of Kanye's career is Runaway. It is a simple piano plinkering beat accompanied by bass and later some violins, all supporting a chorus that gives toast to the **** douchebags, scumbags, and jerk-offs in the world. The song gets even weirder when an auto-tuned Kanye sings unintelligible lines as the song's coda. Yet it all magically works.

    If you are one of those Kanye fans who simply loved College Dropout so much that they could not feel the same for his other albums, then you are not a Kanye fan and chances are you won't appreciate this album like the crackheads at Dot Music and Guardian (though the website surprisingly also gave a 80 to this same album). MBDTF is definitely the album of the year (even if it didn't make it into 2010 Grammy season). It's a dark fantasy. It's a twisted fantasy. It's a beautiful fantasy. But best of all, it's Kanye's beautiful dark twisted fantasy.    … 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

All reviews »
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 »