The Life Of Pablo
by Kanye West
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2238 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,797 out of 2238
  2. Mixed: 179 out of 2238
  3. Negative: 262 out of 2238
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  1. soumyadeepdas
    Feb 23, 2017
    7
    Okay, this is not as bad as many people suggested me. I heard MBDTF and was pleased with it, although I find his debut and sophomore album way better. I liked 808s, but Yeezus was just a continuation of the sound with a tinge of brashness (which was the reason why I didn't like it, not because of the lyrics or the instrumentals or anything like that). Then came TLOP, and I was quiteOkay, this is not as bad as many people suggested me. I heard MBDTF and was pleased with it, although I find his debut and sophomore album way better. I liked 808s, but Yeezus was just a continuation of the sound with a tinge of brashness (which was the reason why I didn't like it, not because of the lyrics or the instrumentals or anything like that). Then came TLOP, and I was quite impressed that Kanye didn't make it as underwhelming as Yeezus. The whole album is like a compilation album of everything Kanye has done, except with new material. Therer's glossy produced tracks like Famous, then there's gospel-influenced tracks like Ultralight Beam, and what more! I love the messy, kaleidoscopic, Tumblr-like aesthetic. However, sometimes the album goes down in quality with tracks like Highlights, Freestyle 4, and Fade (I didn't mention Facts because that beat is impressive), However, it regains its momentum back with more better produced tracks like Ultralight Beam, Famous, Feedback, FML, Real Friends, Wolves, No More Parties In LA, and Saint Pablo. There are underwhelming cuts such as Father Stretch My Hands (even though that beat drop is insane), Waves, and 30 Hours (punchlines on point though). it's a mixed bag. A mixed bag is something I hate, but Kanye makes the term seem a bit more positive. This is not a Pitchfork 9, nor a Rolling Stone 9. This is just an album with the highs being very high and the lows being very low. The highs are more, so it's a 7.2/10 for me.… Expand
  2. areslol1
    Feb 16, 2017
    9
    Unlike the razor-sharp Yeezus, The Life of Pablo is more of a collage. Relaxed songs give way into the classic angry rapping that Yeezus was acclaimed for. The Life of Pablo also has a much more gospel feel to it.
  3. thedaywalker
    Jan 5, 2017
    6
    I really did not hear the appeal, pretty sure people just praising it because its Kanye West, another rapper less popular and this would have been thrown in the been
  4. victorcarter
    Nov 29, 2016
    8
    Kanye puts together a chopped soul & gospel mixtape of sorts with help from lots of rappers he **** with, even Max B. He keeps the sound very patchwork sounding and minimalistic. Favorite songs Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1, Feedback, Waves, and Fade
  5. patricioparodi
    Oct 22, 2016
    10
    amazing album he really did a great job with lyrics and production.wow
    i cantw wait for the next album because i know it will be even better yassssssss
  6. yankeeacab
    Sep 28, 2016
    9
    Really great album, it's experimental but in a good way, the album starts with Ultralight Beam, the song that gives it a flavor of gospel, then comes Father Strectch My Hands, which sets the experimental trap-ish/old kanye-ish tone only negative thing about this project are the sometimes unnecessary trap snares that dont fit into some songs
  7. michaelpbourke
    Sep 7, 2016
    10
    Easily my favourite album of his! Took a while to get used to it & the way it was released was annoying as I don't subscribe to TIDAL/Spotify so I had to find each up date on PB but 100% worth it once I got it. Every track is good with the excpetion of Pt. 2 (Panda is annoying asf).
  8. Wael
    Aug 27, 2016
    5
    Except for a couple of songs like "Real Friends", "Ultralight Beam", and "Facts", The Life of Pablo is extremely forgettable, and makes for an unejoyable, even annoying listen.
    Very overrated and totally not worth the hype it got. This album was rushed, and it feels like Kanye released it without really finalizing it (title changes and tracklist editing in the last minute as we saw).    Except for a couple of songs like "Real Friends", "Ultralight Beam", and "Facts", The Life of Pablo is extremely forgettable, and makes for an unejoyable, even annoying listen.
    Very overrated and totally not worth the hype it got. This album was rushed, and it feels like Kanye released it without really finalizing it (title changes and tracklist editing in the last minute as we saw).
    Let's hope 'Ye steps his game back up to its greatness with the next one.    … Expand
  9. joekeary
    Aug 24, 2016
    10
    In all honestly, TLOP is (so far) my favourite album of 2016. Musically, the range of sounds is extremely compelling, the lyrics of songs such as Real Friends (the best song on the album, in my opinion) are extremely real and deep yet other songs such as I Love Kanye are extremely entertaining and humorous. This balance makes for a great listening experience. However, songs such asIn all honestly, TLOP is (so far) my favourite album of 2016. Musically, the range of sounds is extremely compelling, the lyrics of songs such as Real Friends (the best song on the album, in my opinion) are extremely real and deep yet other songs such as I Love Kanye are extremely entertaining and humorous. This balance makes for a great listening experience. However, songs such as Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission seem unnecessary and are skippable however this does not make the album any less entertaining and pleasing to the ears.… Expand
  10. Mcgillacuddy
    Aug 15, 2016
    9
    The more you listen to this album and understand the themes of it, the more you'll like it. This project takes a very unusual approach for Kanye music, but it definitely gets the job done. This album is a huge step-up from Yeezus and Cruel Summer.
  11. Mesmerize
    Aug 9, 2016
    8
    8.5
    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
  12. cfc38
    Jul 28, 2016
    9
    In what state must a person be to make an album like this. Messy, disjointed, provocative, sometimes cheap, rarely disappointing, always mad. Always genius..
  13. dlmmusic
    Jul 25, 2016
    5
    Majority of the songs on this album consist of other artists work/ songs and add on's, with Kanye West commentating with his verses. Now, some of the songs sounds pretty good ( for example Famous, Pt 2) and obviously there are strong connotations and underlining meanings within the songs that are incredibly powerful. Overall my thoughts are that this album is one of his worst.
  14. RadioheadLuv17
    Jul 11, 2016
    5
    As high as its highs are (FML, Real Friends, ultralight beam, no more parties in LA, etc...) a lot of the Life Of Pablo is plagued by terrible rapping, half baked song ideas, and a lack of originality. For one of the busiest perfectionists in popular music, this album (3 years in the making) seems strangely last-minute.
  15. SumitSumbria
    Jun 29, 2016
    8
    A very nice album which is quite impressive but not upto Kanye West's level. Anyway, it spunds great. "Ultralight Beam" is very emotional and soulful song. "Famous" is a gem. These both tracks are the highlight of the album.
    Favourite tracks - Famous, Ultralight Beam
  16. SergioV
    Jun 16, 2016
    9
    New Review: 86/100.

    With the addition of "Saint Pablo", this dynamic album changes again, and for the better. Really an overall listenable album, where almost every song is playable and memorable for everyone who cares to listen.
  17. raywithajay
    Jun 3, 2016
    5
    While this record does have a few bright moments, it is overall rough and incoherent. The production is mostly mediocre, although some songs such as Ultra Light Beam and No More Parties in LA (produced by Madlib) are produced masterfully. Kanye doesn't really have anything interesting to say anymore. This is his worst lyrical work as he resorts to rapping about getting skin bleach on hisWhile this record does have a few bright moments, it is overall rough and incoherent. The production is mostly mediocre, although some songs such as Ultra Light Beam and No More Parties in LA (produced by Madlib) are produced masterfully. Kanye doesn't really have anything interesting to say anymore. This is his worst lyrical work as he resorts to rapping about getting skin bleach on his t-shirt from having sex with a model, putting a GoPro on his penis, and several other strange sexual topics. TLOP is not nearly as cohesive as any of his other projects; it sounds like a random assortment of songs thrown together. The production style varies greatly from song to song and there is no common theme found in the subpar lyrics. In my opinion, the most enjoyable aspect of this album is the production, which isn't totally consistent. However, I did think that Real Friends, No More Parties in LA, and Ultra Light Beam were all stellar tracks. I enjoyed TLOP more than Yeezus, but maybe I hard a hard time enjoying TLOP because Kanye's earlier works set a high standard for me… Expand
  18. WANGWEST
    May 31, 2016
    10
    This is one of the best albums ever by Kanye, an extremely divergent and weird masterpiece that has a lot of gospel in it and a controversial reference to Taylor Swift but is a really magnificent album! Promise! This album will go down in history as one of the best rap albums ever!
  19. billytrev24
    May 20, 2016
    8
    The Life of Pablo is 19 tracks of pure off-the-wall entertainment. Whether I was getting into the songs like Ultralight Beam and Real Friends, or your laughing at some of the funniest lines in rap history, this album will stick. I found myself constantly disgusted with what I was hearing, but also totally loving it at the same time. There are the cringe-worthy songs, such as, Feedback,The Life of Pablo is 19 tracks of pure off-the-wall entertainment. Whether I was getting into the songs like Ultralight Beam and Real Friends, or your laughing at some of the funniest lines in rap history, this album will stick. I found myself constantly disgusted with what I was hearing, but also totally loving it at the same time. There are the cringe-worthy songs, such as, Feedback, Facts, etc. There are bangers like, Pt. 2, Fade, Waves. And then, somehow, Kanye finds room on this album for real, emotional songs, like Real Friends, Wolves and No More Parties in LA. This is the most confusing album I've ever heard. There is never a complete thought, and I can't tell if that is this album's bright-spot or its downfall.

    Fave songs: Ultralight Beam, Father Stretch my Hands Pt. 1, Highlights, Wolves and Fade.

    Least: Feedback, Pt. 2 and 30 hours.

    76/100    … Expand
  20. InglouriousAndy
    May 18, 2016
    10
    one of the best albums ever recorded. Kanye is a genius.
    I invented Kanye
    There wasn't any Kanyes
    And now I look and look around
    And there's so many Kanyes
  21. rnbzain
    May 13, 2016
    7
    t.l.o.p. is an amazing album! it's better than drake's album but worse than zayn's and beyonce's ;p waves is my biggest jam! Kanye is one of the most talented rappers.
  22. dex332
    May 8, 2016
    10
    yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ye ye ye ye ye ye ye ye ye ye yes yes yes yes yes. GOAT album I do not care what y'all say. goat goat goat goat goat G.O.A.T GOAT
  23. Teoneyra
    May 8, 2016
    5
    Kanye is on my top ten MC's and when the life of Pablo came out i was excited like this is going to be fire but it was good.. u know, i think we did to much hype and then when it came out it was not what we expected but still we already knew that Ye its never afraid to be different but this didn't work for me personally.. still the album has some good songs, ain't going lie.
    Famous, No    Kanye is on my top ten MC's and when the life of Pablo came out i was excited like this is going to be fire but it was good.. u know, i think we did to much hype and then when it came out it was not what we expected but still we already knew that Ye its never afraid to be different but this didn't work for me personally.. still the album has some good songs, ain't going lie.
    Famous, No more parties in LA, 30 hours, Ultralight Beam and pt1 & pt2 (trap songs) were actually pretty good, so i give the album 5 because even tho it is he weakest album still the production and some of the lyrics and features help with my decision.    … Expand
  24. LoveeLand
    May 7, 2016
    3
    Most of it in my opinion is trash. It literally sounds like something I would make using my microphone app on my iPhone. I absolutely hated it, however according to some, you have to listen to it in a certain order and if you do apparently it's incredible. That is the only reason it is not a 0. Plus it came out late, was only on tidal for the longest time, and he changed the album nameMost of it in my opinion is trash. It literally sounds like something I would make using my microphone app on my iPhone. I absolutely hated it, however according to some, you have to listen to it in a certain order and if you do apparently it's incredible. That is the only reason it is not a 0. Plus it came out late, was only on tidal for the longest time, and he changed the album name multiple times which I think rubbed everyone wrong, especially because he settled for the name "The Life of Pablo." Album cover looks awful too. It in my opinion is the most overhyped album to ever be released, and many like it simply just because it is Kanye. I am a big fan of his older music, but this was just terrible.… Expand
  25. arnmlr6
    May 7, 2016
    8
    After finally hearing TLOP when it began streaming in places other than TIDAL I was pretty okay with it but it definitely wasn't album of the year material. However, for weeks afterwards I found myself with about half of the album on repeat in my head. There's an intoxicating mood of ego, spirituality, and hip-hop to the music that JUST might stick in my head for the rest of the year.
  26. kingkun
    May 3, 2016
    2
    a dead album... .................pffft...........tf?........... kanye west really sold us dreamzz, and gave us a nightmare of an album.... look like kim produced dat shii
  27. Eduardo_Santos
    May 1, 2016
    8
    I like Kanye West, and the album is pretty good, but It's far from a "808s & Heartbreak", his best project. It's a excelent album but I think he rushed the release and not complete as it should.
  28. BrandonTrotter
    Apr 29, 2016
    7
    This is not his best work as it had weak moments, the production was strong but the lyrics were sloppy and worst than Yeezus. Way too many features on this, thought it was his weakest album to date.
  29. dopelean
    Apr 26, 2016
    5
    The worst Kanye project I've listened to, everyone featured on this album did a better job than him. Ye's lyrics can be described in one word - BASIC.
  30. redjackb123
    Apr 25, 2016
    9
    Kanye West has never disappointed me with his work. The Life Of Pablo is a Masterpiece but it is one of my least favorite Kanye albums (which is not a bad thing at all). I was expecting a better album than Twisted Fantasy but i was somewhat disappointed on that the album felt like it was unfinished and rushed but still the album is a gem.
  31. thethoughthere
    Apr 23, 2016
    7
    A perfectly acceptable album from Hip-Hop's most controversial figure, The Life of Pablo comes forward with a few fantastic songs, a handful of good, a handful of bad and a couple terrible tracks. Not much more to say that hasn't been said already.

    It's good, not great, and that's OK. Much better than Yeezus, but still nowhere close to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy or any other    A perfectly acceptable album from Hip-Hop's most controversial figure, The Life of Pablo comes forward with a few fantastic songs, a handful of good, a handful of bad and a couple terrible tracks. Not much more to say that hasn't been said already.

    It's good, not great, and that's OK. Much better than Yeezus, but still nowhere close to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy or any other classic Kanye record.    … Expand
  32. amandalf
    Apr 15, 2016
    3
    Wow, what a mess. How would I describe this album in one word? ANNOYING. And I'm a fan of most Kanye's albums but this one is just sloppy. There's nothing special about any of these songs, there isn't much soul, there's nothing here really. I only liked "Real Friends" but it's mostly good because of the sample anyway. If it wasn't for this song I would have given Pablo a 1/10.
    I can at    Wow, what a mess. How would I describe this album in one word? ANNOYING. And I'm a fan of most Kanye's albums but this one is just sloppy. There's nothing special about any of these songs, there isn't much soul, there's nothing here really. I only liked "Real Friends" but it's mostly good because of the sample anyway. If it wasn't for this song I would have given Pablo a 1/10.
    I can at least understand being a cocky **** if you have the goods to back it up. It's now apparent that he is a shadow of his former artistic value. Funny how his ego has grown and his music has devolved. What a waste.    … Expand
  33. BasedFrieza
    Apr 11, 2016
    4
    "If I **** this model
    She just bleached her ****
    If I get bleach on my tshirt Im going to feel like an ****" These 4 lines pretty much sum up how lyrically bland and corny this entire album is. The production on many of these tracks sounds like something that anyone on pro tools could make within 2 hours. Kanye is out of his moment, thus why he has to feature so many artists on this    "If I **** this model
    She just bleached her ****
    If I get bleach on my tshirt
    Im going to feel like an ****"

    These 4 lines pretty much sum up how lyrically bland and corny this entire album is. The production on many of these tracks sounds like something that anyone on pro tools could make within 2 hours. Kanye is out of his moment, thus why he has to feature so many artists on this album. This album is just plain bad.    … Expand
  34. SchroederRock
    Apr 11, 2016
    5
    I'll be happier the day someone willingly slays Kanye West and uses his skin to line a limited edition douche canoe. That being said, he always manages a few good tracks per album. On the whole? Kanye is not a consistent artist and constantly tries to step out what really works for him and offers crappy alternative rap tracks. I hate that I enjoy any of his music at all - as a personI'll be happier the day someone willingly slays Kanye West and uses his skin to line a limited edition douche canoe. That being said, he always manages a few good tracks per album. On the whole? Kanye is not a consistent artist and constantly tries to step out what really works for him and offers crappy alternative rap tracks. I hate that I enjoy any of his music at all - as a person Kanye is pretty low on the human race totem pole. If he was still killing it like he was back on Graduation... I'd still hate him as a person but wouldn't feel so ashamed for liking a track or two per album.… Expand
  35. poeer123
    Apr 10, 2016
    8
    The album was well made even though it contained 3 fillers. But even those fillers had meaning to them. This album is definitely not as good as MBDTF but it has a few bangers and it displays West's emotion well. His choice for featuring artists was good, too.
  36. themovieguy123
    Apr 10, 2016
    7
    there are a couple of good songs but not enough of them it make it his best album. It tells a lot that i don't think its a great Kanye album but an amazing general album.
  37. Radiohead2000
    Apr 9, 2016
    10
    Not his best, but still a very solid album by one of the greatest to ever do it. I liked it a lot, very different, very original, very Kanye. It's Kanye pushing the boundaries once, Kanye has made The Life Of Pablo a living breathing thing. It's fascinating.
  38. twaddle
    Apr 9, 2016
    0
    'TLOP' is everything that is wrong with the current 'fast food' style of pop music of the present. It's a heartless, soulless effort designed to trick the masses into thinking it's much better than it actually is. Kanye is a product and nothing more; Not an artist, not a genius, and not even worth my time to finish this senten
  39. Introduce
    Apr 7, 2016
    0
    ...this is for ten years from now....
    ...as in....
    .....this record is trash.....
    .....for a trash can.....
    .........ain't hatin....just sayin.......
  40. TheBison24
    Apr 6, 2016
    6
    This album showcases the fact that Kanye is one of the best producers in the business because almost all the songs in this album have great beats. Unfortunately Kanye hasn't produced good enough rapping to match the beats: many of the songs are just speaking not rapping. And of course then there's always loads of autotune when you're talking about Kanye and it's no difference in thisThis album showcases the fact that Kanye is one of the best producers in the business because almost all the songs in this album have great beats. Unfortunately Kanye hasn't produced good enough rapping to match the beats: many of the songs are just speaking not rapping. And of course then there's always loads of autotune when you're talking about Kanye and it's no difference in this album. Overall the album is a bit of a disapointment for me at least but few of the songs are really good, for example FML which is for me the highlight of the album.… Expand
  41. BrushedRed
    Apr 5, 2016
    6
    Not bad, but not that great either. There are some good songs like "Feedback" and "Father Stretch My Hands," but a lot of this album is just a mess. It's kind of all over the place and rough around the edges. I understand that that's kind of the vibe he was going for, but it just didn't suit my taste. Some of the moments of this album are cringeworthy too ("Low Lights" for example). Not toNot bad, but not that great either. There are some good songs like "Feedback" and "Father Stretch My Hands," but a lot of this album is just a mess. It's kind of all over the place and rough around the edges. I understand that that's kind of the vibe he was going for, but it just didn't suit my taste. Some of the moments of this album are cringeworthy too ("Low Lights" for example). Not to mention the lyrics are awful at parts too. I'll admit I liked some of Kanye's work in the past, but this one didn't thrill me.… Expand
  42. MetricStation3
    Apr 4, 2016
    4
    This album reminded me that I'd rather be listening to Chance the Rapper, Frank Ocean, or Kendrick Lamar. The featured artists are the real highlight here, where the rest of the album falls flat. 2/5
  43. SomeoneYouKnow
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Can't understand how Kanye can release such an incredible album with all this sh#t around his name, best Kanye's album since MBDTF. Consistent from the start to the end.
  44. melissac
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    The life of Pablo. It's not his best album, with a few songs that are more of a miss, but it is beautifully chaotic. It's purposely messy. Despite some of the odder tracks on it (the misses *ahem* Feedback, FML) I would still give it a 10, the good outweighs the bad by far.

    Famous, with the use of Bam Bam as the backing track towards the end of the song, was nothing short of godly. It    The life of Pablo. It's not his best album, with a few songs that are more of a miss, but it is beautifully chaotic. It's purposely messy. Despite some of the odder tracks on it (the misses *ahem* Feedback, FML) I would still give it a 10, the good outweighs the bad by far.

    Famous, with the use of Bam Bam as the backing track towards the end of the song, was nothing short of godly. It is really disappointing that the whole world is focusing on the one line about Taylor Swift in Famous. Because of that one line, everyone disregards the song. In my humble opinion, Famous IS one of the BEST SONGS (if not the best) in the entire album. The fusion of his raps, Nina Simone's Do what you gotta do and Sister Nancy's Bam Bam makes the track so **** amazing, it really is a shame it is so underrated. I find that it beats any of Taylor Swifts pop tracks by a landslide.
    And this is only one song in this amazing album.

    I wouldn't think of it as his best album (Personally, Late Registration and Watch the Throne are better), but it is so fantastic. While I am at it, I'd like to thank Chance for pushing Kanye to put Waves in the album. It was transcendent, incredible and easy to listen to. Kid Cudi in the backing vocals and Chris Brown in the outro, it really deserves to be one of his best songs on the album (Thank you Chance).

    The Life of Pablo being exclusively (until recently) available only of Tidal, it is a shame not as many people are able to listen to this ingenious piece of work. TLOP really makes you understand why people think that he is an musical genius. Its provocative, making those who hate him hate him even more and those who love him, admire his amazing work. If you don't like Kanye, listen to his music first. Appreciate him for the artist he is, not for the person he portrays on the media.    … Expand
  45. MCDom
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    Yeezus has done it again. For people who understand his music, it's like medicine to the ears. The production across the entire project is so smooth and the layering is flawless. Just listen and appreciate this masterpiece... Forget about Ye's somewhat arrogant attitude and just focus on what you can hear. Superb. 10/10.
  46. djemast
    Apr 2, 2016
    8
    Definitley not Kanye's best, but that doesn't mean much when he's put out some of the greatest music of our generation.
    I like this better than 808's, other than that every Kanye album is better.
    But that is a VERY good thing, because Kanye has yet to make bad music. Not big on 30 hours or Wolves. But i still like them. If you hate this album, you don't hate the music, you hate Kanye.    Definitley not Kanye's best, but that doesn't mean much when he's put out some of the greatest music of our generation.
    I like this better than 808's, other than that every Kanye album is better.
    But that is a VERY good thing, because Kanye has yet to make bad music.
    Not big on 30 hours or Wolves. But i still like them.
    If you hate this album, you don't hate the music, you hate Kanye. Look, I know he's a mess. But he is incredibly talented.
    This is his least lyrical album, though. The beats and producing are the highlight of the album.    … Expand
  47. crgm
    Apr 2, 2016
    10
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
  48. Swishalicious29
    Apr 1, 2016
    6
    I was incredibly skeptical heading into this album. Kanye was constantly changing the track-list, the cover art, and lyrics so much that it sounded like he was unsure of the product he was putting out. It's a better album than Yeezus, but still doesn't reach the heights that an album like The College Dropout does.

    Productionwise this album is all over the place. There are bangers like    I was incredibly skeptical heading into this album. Kanye was constantly changing the track-list, the cover art, and lyrics so much that it sounded like he was unsure of the product he was putting out. It's a better album than Yeezus, but still doesn't reach the heights that an album like The College Dropout does.

    Productionwise this album is all over the place. There are bangers like "Famous" and "Facts" and there is classy production with "Real Friends" and "No More Parties in L.A.". Then there is the completely bizarre and insane "Fresstyle 4" which is a true highlight on this album. "FML" with the Weeknd is also a standout with great progression and an incredible ending.

    The quality is all over the place as well. Being one of the most infamous and celebrated hip-hop artists, the fact that Chris Brown gets a full chorus while Andre 3000 just hums on his song is totally egregious. "Low Lights" could be removed and no difference would be made. "Father Stretch My Hands" has some pretty terrible lyrics and aside from the great start to the beat, it becomes annoying after a while.

    The Life of Pablo sounds like a compilation more than a coherent piece of work. It works at times, but at some points its just an experiment that didn't go over all that well. It's definitely a fun listen, but doesn't reach the same heights that his first three LP's did.    … Expand
  49. fajnydamian
    Mar 29, 2016
    0
    I can't believe Kanye recorded an album like this and wanted to tell everyone in the world that this is good. Well, that's just awful and I can't listen to this because this "music" gives me headache.
  50. matttyc123
    Mar 28, 2016
    5
    After getting crazy excited after hearing Real Friends and No More Parties, I was expecting a return to form for Kanye after being underwhelmed by Yeezus. But I left feeling left down, feeling like I needed something more. I wanted to like this album, I really did. Besides a few standout tracks here and there, this album is bogged down in average production, little to no lyricalAfter getting crazy excited after hearing Real Friends and No More Parties, I was expecting a return to form for Kanye after being underwhelmed by Yeezus. But I left feeling left down, feeling like I needed something more. I wanted to like this album, I really did. Besides a few standout tracks here and there, this album is bogged down in average production, little to no lyrical highlights, and Kanye's standard zest for himself. Strong features throughout the album though, as there always seems to be on a Kanye record. And seriously, how do you get one of the best lyricists of all time in 3 stacks to just say 'thirty hours' for a few minutes? Give the man the verse he deserves!!!

    Fave Tracks: Ultralight Beam, Real Friends, No More Parties in LA    … Expand
  51. jamez121
    Mar 24, 2016
    10
    Epic. Brilliant album. Ground breaking but beautiful to listen to. Very enjoyable.
    I think the reason people dont like this album is because they dont like kanye. If anyone else put this out it would be loved by all.
  52. DadEsquire
    Mar 18, 2016
    6
    I’d like to get one thing out of the way; everything about this album is a train wreck. I mean that in the best possible way

    The Life of Pablo is Kanye West’s seventh studio album, and the hotly anticipated follow-up to his mercurial 2013 release Yeezus. The amount of build-up and hype leading up to the release of this album is unlike any other album I’ve seen, and it’s apparently gone    I’d like to get one thing out of the way; everything about this album is a train wreck. I mean that in the best possible way

    The Life of Pablo is Kanye West’s seventh studio album, and the hotly anticipated follow-up to his mercurial 2013 release Yeezus. The amount of build-up and hype leading up to the release of this album is unlike any other album I’ve seen, and it’s apparently gone through several different variations (in 2014, actor Seth Rogen claimed Kanye rapped the entire album to him in the back of a limo). Ultimately, what we got was a collection of 18 messy, eclectic tracks.

    There is little to no coherence in the flow of the album, save for the two-part tracks like “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1/Pt. 2,” “Low Lights/Highlights,” and “Real Friends” and “Wolves.” This disorganization plays a huge role in making this album look and feel like a train wreck. As with most train wrecks, you know it’s terrible, but there’s something about it that captures your attention. For me, it’s that this album sounds like a man that is losing his mind. Kanye’s played the part of the paranoid before (much of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was this version of Kanye), but on TLOP, he actually sounds like he’s going insane.

    Consider the track “Freestyle 4;” it opens with sample of the incredibly eerie strings in Goldfrapp’s “Human,” and Kanye rapping in short, choppy sentences. The drums and record scratch give off the feeling of unintentional nervous twitches and ticks. As the track goes on, Kanye descends deeper and deeper into madness.

    There’s a huge disparity in the quality of the tracks, too. Around half of the tracks feel half-baked, and with only a few feeling like a finished product. “Real Friends” and “No More Parties in LA” both shine brighter on the album than they did as singles simply because the quality of most tracks pale in comparison. Opener “Ultra Light Beam” sets the bar in terms of polish very high for the rest of the tracks, and the album suffers because of it. Many of the unfinished feeling tracks have good ideas in the beats and production, but don’t seem fully realized or suffer from very poor lyrics from Kanye.

    Lyrically and thematically, TLOP mostly addresses relationships and family. On “Real Friends,” Kanye talks about how a cousin of his stole his laptop and held it for a bribe. We hear Kanye get choked up as he’s rapping about this betrayal, showing emotion that we haven’t seen much of since 808’s & Heartbreak. However, the one-liners are among his worst, with just about every track having something to groan about. On Yeezus, most of these lewd quips were amusing and even laughable, but here they feel gross, crass, and unnecessary.

    The Life of Pablo is an unbelievably frustrating album for me to listen to. When it’s good, it’s really good; when it’s bad, it’s bad (but it’s a Kanye West album, so even the bad is still engaging). The beats and production on a lot of the tracks is very enjoyable, but the album is derailed by a half-finished feel, unfunny and unnecessary one-liners, and general malaise. It’s erratic and scatterbrained, a perfect portrait of Kanye as an artist. It’s just unfortunate that it’s not a better portrait.    … Expand
  53. AndrewLambert
    Mar 13, 2016
    8
    The circus surrounding TLOP's release couldn't have been any more Kanye, and fittingly on his 7th album he delivers his most divisive album yet. It's inconsistent, indulgent and unapologetic while also endlessly creative, highly original and breathtaking throughout.

    Ultimately, The Life Of Pablo is the kind of flawed, spectacular mess that only West could make- an intense, at times    The circus surrounding TLOP's release couldn't have been any more Kanye, and fittingly on his 7th album he delivers his most divisive album yet. It's inconsistent, indulgent and unapologetic while also endlessly creative, highly original and breathtaking throughout.

    Ultimately, The Life Of Pablo is the kind of flawed, spectacular mess that only West could make- an intense, at times infuriating journey inside the psyche of the 21st century's most conflicting and contentious artist.

    It is only after all the drama, hyperbole and general ridiculousness is over that we are left with the real significance and sense behind Kanye's work; the lasting, innovative and utterly unique music that's kept us talking about him for the last decade. It's good to have him back.    … Expand
  54. mrgarcia
    Mar 9, 2016
    9
    Yeezy just doesn't stop. Keep dropping great albums and revolutionizing hip-pop. The album bumps hard! Both new and old kanye are geniuses!!! If you don't like kanye as a person ...cool but, give him props for his artistry
  55. EMGC
    Mar 8, 2016
    7
    It’s just too disjointed. There’s some gold in here. As well as some silver and bronze. But you can’t just smash it all together and call it a Cartier.
  56. GHOSTMAKER1991
    Mar 8, 2016
    3
    2010's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was an incredible album that should have gotten at least an Album of the Year nomination and most likely, the award itself. 2013's Yeezus, while decisive, was a brilliant fusion of electornic/house/industrial and rap. I personally listen to these two albums in their entirety very few weeks. Unfortunately, 2016's TLOP is a dissonant mess with at2010's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was an incredible album that should have gotten at least an Album of the Year nomination and most likely, the award itself. 2013's Yeezus, while decisive, was a brilliant fusion of electornic/house/industrial and rap. I personally listen to these two albums in their entirety very few weeks. Unfortunately, 2016's TLOP is a dissonant mess with at least 7/18 tracks being entirely worthless and almost no redeeming factors.
    These 7 tracks are around 2 minutes or less including a phone call from imprisoned rapper Max B(Silver Surfer Intermission) and a woman talking slowly about her love for Jesus(Low Lights). Freestyle 4 is a boring adlib with a boring beat. I love kanye is funny the first time you hear it but you will groan every time you hear it after.
    While I could dance or rock out to most of the tracks of his two previous albums, the only song that makes me feel like moving at all is Waves, a beautiful song featuring Chris Brown. I once put Waves on Repeat for an hour I loved it so much. Waves is the only highlight for me.
    After 20 listen throughs(what a waste), Waves is the only song I want to hear again from this album. How anyone with two functioning ears enjoys this album is a mystery to me.
    Do yourself a favor and get the trail version of Tidal. Don't subscribe as you can find most albums, including brand new albums on Youtube.
    Cheers, this is my first time using metacritic.    … Expand
  57. AlexHeyns
    Mar 8, 2016
    6
    One can definitely admire West's marketing skills, but did the album ultimately live up to the hype?

    Stylistically and emotionally this album is all over the place, but I think that was the intention - to give each listener an opportunity to interpret the album differently. Even though most of the tracks stand well on their own, I feel as if this album was meant to be listened from    One can definitely admire West's marketing skills, but did the album ultimately live up to the hype?

    Stylistically and emotionally this album is all over the place, but I think that was the intention - to give each listener an opportunity to interpret the album differently. Even though most of the tracks stand well on their own, I feel as if this album was meant to be listened from start to finish in one sitting.

    Production-wise the album is varied. There's lots of experimentation going on here, but unfortunately some of the tracks feel very incomplete. That doesn't stop the album from shining at certain points though. It makes up for it with good vocal work from featured guest artists and a few standout tracks, but tracks that feel like pointless filler still plague the entire LP.

    Even though the tracks are all over the show in terms of style and rhythm, I feel as if the album manages to achieve a solid flow throughout, keeping the listener gripped from start to finish. Tracks like 'Real Friends' and 'No More Parties in LA' (featuring some great bars by Kendrick Lamar, a real highlight) are some great standouts.

    'The Life of Pablo' was meant to confuse and challenge the listener, but some of the attempts to try and make this album sound more (for lack of a better word) deep or innovative, just end up feeling tacked on and cheap. In terms of lyrical content some of Kanye's bars are downright cringe-worthy and just sound awful.

    Overall, the good outshines the bad, but only by a slight margin. Poor production and lyrics on some of the tracks prevent the album from being truly great. Not a bad LP at all, but nothing truly spectacular either.

    Personal favourites from the LP: 'Famous', 'Real Friends' and 'No More Parties in LA'.

    - Alex Heyns. Cape Town, South Africa    … Expand
  58. agibbons_96
    Mar 8, 2016
    5
    Up until now, it's been possible to separate Kanye's music from the egotistical personality that created it, but this is the first album of his that you can't really tell the artist from the art. An experimental album in every sense of the word, West's seventh album (eighth if you include “Watch the Throne” with Jay-Z) is his most wide ranging to date with its origins dating back as far asUp until now, it's been possible to separate Kanye's music from the egotistical personality that created it, but this is the first album of his that you can't really tell the artist from the art. An experimental album in every sense of the word, West's seventh album (eighth if you include “Watch the Throne” with Jay-Z) is his most wide ranging to date with its origins dating back as far as the “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” sessions in 2009. For anyone reading this who hasn't heard this record yet, note that “The Life of Pablo”
    (previously “So Help Me God”, “SWISH” and “Waves”) is NOTHING like the impressively cohesive work of any of West's previous albums, and is in fact, very messy. However, it appears that West wanted to do something
    that was not typically him, and wished to create a chaotic record, which to his credit, he has achieved. There are some amazing moments here without question, such as the gospel-inspired opener "Ultralight Beam", the more traditional “Real Friends” and the G-Funk laced “No
    More Parties in L.A.”, but for every great song here, there is almost always two bad tracks (or failed experiments, to be impartial about it) to go with the good ones. "Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission" is the most pointless track on the album, and though only a minute long, it feels like an f*cking eternity. “Facts” and “Fade” are God awful, with only the production being the saving grace on both tracks. When Kanye isn't being brilliant or awful, he's being either completely mad in his decisions or hilarious (and not in a good way). It almost impossible not to laugh hysterically at the “bleached a**hole” verse on “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” or West's reference to Taylor Swift on “Famous”. However, the “I Love Kanye” skit is actually a moment of genuine laughter which plays on the joke on Kanye
    loving himself, but does so from the third person angle very cleverly. Guest vocalists dominate the album, which include Rihanna, The Weeknd. Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar and Kid Cudi (to be honest, after “Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven”, a brave call). In fairness, most of the guest vocalists (including Cudi) do a great job during their brief
    cameos on the album, with Rihanna's contribution to “Famous”, The Weeknd on “FML” and Lamar on “No More Parties in L.A.” being highlights. The album's second half is rather consistent in quality, with “30 Hours” being a pure chill-out tune, though the phone call at the end of the song could have been cut. “Wolves” is another good
    track, with Frank Ocean's vocals being among the best on the entire album, but “No More Parties in L.A.” is a gem! West and Lamar brings the G-Funk styled hip hop of the 90's back in style. Lamar's verse is the best moment on an extremely inconsistent album. There are so many
    points, both good AND bad about this album that it could be the musical epitome of Marmite – some will love it, others will never want to hear it again, and there are those (like myself) who'll love what's good about “The Life of Pablo”, but will despise its flaws. It would also be the first record from West that you would wonder whether his ego has finally influenced his work in a negative way. Overall, one of the weakest albums West has released to date, but it does, and will lead you to wonder “Where on Earth will he go from here?”.

    Album Highlights - "Ultralight Beam", “Real Friends”, “Wolves”, “30 Hours” and “No More Parties in L.A.”.    … Expand
  59. TrentRey
    Mar 5, 2016
    7
    A very great and interesting album. Some of West best songs are on this album. Ultralight Beam, Father Stretch My Hands, Pt 1 and 2, Waves, FML, 30Hours , Real Friends, No More Parties and Famous. This album is up to par with his best album MBDTF. This album feel like a soundtrack to his life. The only song that is bad on this album is "Facts". Lyrically , West is spitting much better barsA very great and interesting album. Some of West best songs are on this album. Ultralight Beam, Father Stretch My Hands, Pt 1 and 2, Waves, FML, 30Hours , Real Friends, No More Parties and Famous. This album is up to par with his best album MBDTF. This album feel like a soundtrack to his life. The only song that is bad on this album is "Facts". Lyrically , West is spitting much better bars than his last album.… Expand
  60. amrit
    Mar 3, 2016
    0
    **** garbage lyrics fell off hard my god, yeezus was much better than this garbage. I can't believe people think kanye is still hot this **** fell of years ago...
  61. swagkonyjohnson
    Mar 2, 2016
    6
    While The Life of Pablo ultimately is an overall decent project when compared to many other modern hip hop albums, it lacks the certain it-factors that made Kanye’s past albums so great, and while there are great moments on this record, there were also just as many cringe-worthy moments uncharacteristic of Kanye West’s music that weighed this album down.
  62. Cypher_ATL
    Mar 1, 2016
    7
    I feel that this is easily not one of Kanye’s best projects he has put out for us. I felt that we only got a decent project that was two and a half years in the making, and I felt that Kanye could’ve put out a better project for us. I give extra credit for the overall production of this album, I thought that was one of the best components to this album. I’m also giving a shoutout towardsI feel that this is easily not one of Kanye’s best projects he has put out for us. I felt that we only got a decent project that was two and a half years in the making, and I felt that Kanye could’ve put out a better project for us. I give extra credit for the overall production of this album, I thought that was one of the best components to this album. I’m also giving a shoutout towards this album for the featuring artists and producers Kanye got on this album, I thought all of them brought their best, and it shows on many of these tracks. Some songs hit it home for me on the theme and lyrical side, and a few didn’t, also the poor quality of skits also brought this album down for me a little too. My favorite songs are No Parties In L.A, Ultralight Beam, and Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1. Some of the lackluster songs on the other hand for me include Freestyle 4, Facts, and Fade.… Expand
  63. ajbryson
    Feb 29, 2016
    8
    Let me start by saying that after my first listen to this album i probably would have gave it a 9 or 8. I enjoyed my first listen but I think I was unfairly comparing it to MBDTF. However, after countless listens after (either straight though or bits and pieces) this album is just flat out fantastic. I feel as though the reason it is polarizing for most fans is because: 1) lyrics are notLet me start by saying that after my first listen to this album i probably would have gave it a 9 or 8. I enjoyed my first listen but I think I was unfairly comparing it to MBDTF. However, after countless listens after (either straight though or bits and pieces) this album is just flat out fantastic. I feel as though the reason it is polarizing for most fans is because: 1) lyrics are not priority on this album some are even laughably embarrassing (but i still shout them out each time) 2) The album is a mess when listened chronologically and its completely on purpose 3) Many people, fans or not, rate Kanye albums based completely on his character in the time leading up to its release and his character was completely ridiculous leading up to and including the actual release of this project. That being said this album is for fans of Kanye and that is it. This is a Kanye album wether you like it or not. It beautifully combines his last three albums into a sundae with sprinkles of the first three albums. Lets go track by track.

    Ultra Light Beam: sonically booming and utterly beautiful with chance the rapper stealing the show and giving me chills every time
    FSMH pt 1: CUDI!!! every time it drops after "ima shoot you" i feel like im being beamed up to the heavens where cudi greats me with a smile. it does contain an extremely strange line about a model and some bleach but damnit if i dont rap along EVERY time
    Pt 2: this track bangs but thats about it for me
    Famous: probably one of my favorites this is just a certified banger with Ye bringing bars, rihanna smashing the hook, and swiz masterfully sampling Bom Bom
    Feedback: great song funky beat #bars
    Low Lights: the only low part on the album not sure what he was going for here but i don't like it. it wouldve been an ok intro but as an interlude its just ridiculous
    Highlights: yet another banger with Thugger being himself and the Dream doing nice work and i smile every time Kanye says "sound like me?"
    Freestyle 4: this is what Yeezus needed to sound like, only complaint is it isn't longer
    I love Kanye: hahahaha
    Waves: good, not sure why chance wanted it on the album so much its not bad but not great for me
    FML: my favorite track Weeknd absolutely kills and Kanye gets beautifully introspective
    Real Friends: Kanye at his best
    Wolves: Very good song but i think I enjoyed the Vic Mensa and Sia version a bit more but hearing Franks voice makes up for it
    Silver surfer intermission: meh same thing with lowlights
    30 Hours: this one is personally polarizing for me i love it and kanye come with bars thanks to drake her (ironic isnt it) but Andre 3000 comes on just to sing 2 words?? disappointing to say the least and the second half of the song its completely unnecessary would've enjoyed it more if 3000 did something like what Chris Rock did at the end of Blame Game on MBDTF
    No more parties in LA: Kanye and Kendrick... enough said
    Facts: better than the original but still just ok
    Fade: interesting concept but the sample begins to annoy me quickly so it probably wont get many plays    … Expand
  64. digitallinh
    Feb 28, 2016
    10
    Kanye West does it again. This is not his best album, but it contains some of the best songs he has ever produced. Waves, FML, Real Friends, Wolves, Ultralight Beam, Father stretch my hands pt 1,2
  65. jmoneycashmoney
    Feb 26, 2016
    10
    Instant Classic Ye is Hip Hop and with each new album he changes the genre and moves pop culture to the next echelon. The Life of Pablo is no exception nearly all tracks shine in their own way and move along the story of the album (Top 5:Real Friends, Pt. 1, Pt. 2, No more parties in LA, and Facts).
  66. badgerfan21
    Feb 26, 2016
    2
    I'm sorry, this sucks. Listened to it on Tidal and three observations:

    1. anyone who uses autotune so liberally is immediately disqualified from being labelled a 'genius.'
    2. half the songs sound like something you could throw together on ProTools in a matter of hours.
    3. this is tuneless, derivative ****

    Other than that, TOPNOTCH!!
  67. caleb466
    Feb 26, 2016
    7
    Extremely inconsistent. The album opens with Ultralight beam which is extraordinary, followed by some very average or even bad tracks. However, the song famous is pretty good. the most consciously narcissistic song in history occurs with I love kanye. Waves which feature chris brown is a great track. FML is one of the most honest, beautiful, and personal pieces of art I've everExtremely inconsistent. The album opens with Ultralight beam which is extraordinary, followed by some very average or even bad tracks. However, the song famous is pretty good. the most consciously narcissistic song in history occurs with I love kanye. Waves which feature chris brown is a great track. FML is one of the most honest, beautiful, and personal pieces of art I've ever experienced. real friends and no more parties in LA are each pretty great. Kendrick Lamar, Chance the rapper, and chris brown each have exceptional features.
    If you are expecting a consistent or cohesive album you may find your self disappointed. However if you appreciate the bright spots the album will be well worth your time    … Expand
  68. Bretto66
    Feb 25, 2016
    8
    While it is tempting to be disappointed. This one is a grower that gets better after each listen. Yeezy is still the man. Mr West is still searching and again we see another facet of his undoubted talent.
  69. PuffFishTorch28
    Feb 25, 2016
    8
    I wasn't crazy about Yeezus, but this one has started to grow on me. Not crazy about every track, but overall it's a good album and I enjoyed the majority of it. It sounds unfinished, which is ironic since it is his most delayed release since his first album (Completed through 1999-2004). It's certainly not my favorite Kanye album, though there are some great moments on this that made meI wasn't crazy about Yeezus, but this one has started to grow on me. Not crazy about every track, but overall it's a good album and I enjoyed the majority of it. It sounds unfinished, which is ironic since it is his most delayed release since his first album (Completed through 1999-2004). It's certainly not my favorite Kanye album, though there are some great moments on this that made me laugh, and it leaves me wishing Kanye was rapping on every track minus skits/interludes.… Expand
  70. iandt4
    Feb 25, 2016
    10
    This is really one of thew few albums that I would rate 10/10. Every track on the album is worth listening to (except maybe Silver Surfer Intermission), and that's something I haven't seen on any of Kanye's albums before now. He brings forth so many great new sounds, and the repeated biblical allusions add greatly to the album's intensity. This is truly one of the greatest musical releasesThis is really one of thew few albums that I would rate 10/10. Every track on the album is worth listening to (except maybe Silver Surfer Intermission), and that's something I haven't seen on any of Kanye's albums before now. He brings forth so many great new sounds, and the repeated biblical allusions add greatly to the album's intensity. This is truly one of the greatest musical releases of the 21st century. Best tracks include: Ultra Light Beam, Father Stretch My Hands, Pt 2, Famous, Low Lights, High Lights, Waves, Wolves and Real Friends. Don't hesitate to listen to this masterpiece!… Expand
  71. BIGMAN22
    Feb 25, 2016
    1
    the album is very bad. the track produced by madlib is good. but some of the lyrical content on here is a mixed bag. some talking bout gospel stuff others full of derogation towards woman, making fun of Taylor Swift for some reason again and how big kanye's ego is. the lack of balance of subject matter really throws the album off. not sure y an album wit the score it has supports thethe album is very bad. the track produced by madlib is good. but some of the lyrical content on here is a mixed bag. some talking bout gospel stuff others full of derogation towards woman, making fun of Taylor Swift for some reason again and how big kanye's ego is. the lack of balance of subject matter really throws the album off. not sure y an album wit the score it has supports the horrible content is displays. the fact that kayne is disrespecting women and Taylor again shows how low hes sinking the bar with his music nowadays. kanyes past work is better than this garbage.… Expand
  72. augdawgg
    Feb 24, 2016
    10
    This album is amazing. It is hard to not get goose bumps in the beginning the Ultra Light Beams. The album flows from gospel to hype with Father stretch my hands pt 2 to chill vibes with wolves and real friends to just good songs like 30 hours and Facts. Album is a perfect 10 no doubt.
  73. nirvanafreak
    Feb 24, 2016
    9
    Favourite Songs: Real Friends, 30 Hours, Wolves, Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1, Feedback, Freestyle 4, No More Parties In L.A., Ultralight Beams
    Least Favourite Songs: Facts (Charlie Heat Version)
    **** cover, **** title, great music. After one of the messiest album roll outs of all time the album I'm still calling SWISH was finally released to the public through Tidal. Naturally I did    Favourite Songs: Real Friends, 30 Hours, Wolves, Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1, Feedback, Freestyle 4, No More Parties In L.A., Ultralight Beams
    Least Favourite Songs: Facts (Charlie Heat Version)
    **** cover, **** title, great music. After one of the messiest album roll outs of all time the album I'm still calling SWISH was finally released to the public through Tidal. Naturally I did what millions of other Kanye fans did and got the month free subscription to the streaming service solely because I wanted to hear the album, as well as pirating the album as soon as I got access to a computer (after dodging hundreds of viruses.) I definitely wasn't disappointed by it. I know that this, apparently, isn't the finished album but it could be ages until Kanye puts out the actual version. If there's an updated version of the album I'll just write another review but I've been really getting into this current version over the past week or so and I want to give my thoughts on it because I haven't been able to get this music out of my head since I first heard it. From the first track I knew we were in for something special. 'Ultralight Beams' introduces Kanye's supposed gospel themed album beautifully with some lush vocals backed by a gospel choir and a magnificent feature from Chance the Rapper (I've never listened to his stuff but after this I think I might have to.) The music stays at a very high level with 'Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1' but as soon as Kanye comes in with his verse the concept of it being a gospel album fades away very quickly. His line about an ass-bleaching model makes it very clear that the only person that's going to get attention or praise is Kanye West himself which is reinforced by later lines on the album about having sex with Taylor Swift and wishing his dick had a go pro. This isn't unexpected, I did listen to Yeezus, but like that album I do think his lyrics take away from the enjoyment of the project a bit. However, he is an exceptionally versatile producer and like Yeezus it is easy enough to look over his lyrics because of the beats. I do think he was misleading us slightly by saying it was going to be a gospel album though; there's already a trap banger in the track list just 3 songs in. From there the album just becomes a big mess of sounds from all of his previous albums, from abrasive Yeezus sounding 'Feedback' or 'Freestyle 4' to soulful chopped up Late Registration sounding tracks like '30 Hours' or 'No More Parties In LA'. I saw it coming, I mean I couldn't imagine a way in which he could reinvent himself again so an album reaching for a greatest hits feel was expected. It could have gone wrong but it didn't because the album does actually have some of his greatest hits on. This means it's uncohesive as hell but it really depends on your personal preferences wether this affects the overall quality of the album. I would have certainly liked a cohesive project but I can go with it because like I said the songs are very good and because I like parts of each of his previous albums I can enjoy each song on here. With the exception of 'Facts' and 'Silver Surfer Intermission'; two songs that are just a little too topical and won't be fully understood in a few years which could hold back the album from being as classic as Kanye would like. That and the facts that they're just terrible to listen to. You can go back and check out my review of 'Facts' but I'd like to warn you it's not too positive. He changed its beat for the album which something positive I guess, although the feeling of disappointment I get when the beats comes in after the great soul sample is still overwhelmingly strong. Overall though I do think this is one of Kanye West's best albums and its replay value is through the roof even if it does have some painfully evident issues.
    Better Than Previous Project?: Yes
    Try This If You Like: Cherry Bomb by Tyler, The Creator    … Expand
  74. Rallandollo
    Feb 24, 2016
    3
    A genuine mess with no substance. Really disappointed on this one compared to other tracks by the notorious arrogant, megalomanian "god". I think Taylor Swift made Kanye famous.
  75. Srmlt1014
    Feb 23, 2016
    4
    Production wise this album is nothing short of the flawlessness you'd expect from a Ye album . Lyrically it is not awe insiring but blunt and in your face. While its up to the indivigual to decide whether or not they appreciate it or not. It seems to be disconnected from the average listener on the surface with songs like the controversial Famous. Underneath is a masterfully designed asProduction wise this album is nothing short of the flawlessness you'd expect from a Ye album . Lyrically it is not awe insiring but blunt and in your face. While its up to the indivigual to decide whether or not they appreciate it or not. It seems to be disconnected from the average listener on the surface with songs like the controversial Famous. Underneath is a masterfully designed as a perfectly scripted fight of the ego and conscious. This being said while these elements are melded beautifully at the close of each song and even the album as a whole I'm left wanting more. Its hard to know if this album is representing the ever conflicting parts of Kanye or if its supposed to leave that lingering feeling of emptiness. If thats the intent then I congratulate Mr. West on a job well done . But as most people have enough on their plates its hard to swallow the very public 58 million dollars worth of angst and molly popping piled into this album.… Expand
  76. zb1928
    Feb 23, 2016
    4
    A few songs on this album were ok. Besides those few albums it was all over the place and not in a good way. production was also just ok. The lyrics Kanye randomly throws into some of the songs make them unlistenable to me.
  77. Allion
    Feb 23, 2016
    6
    am going to break down each track on this album and give an overall “review”/final impression of it. I got a lot to say, so here it goes:

    L: Liked D: Disliked I: Indifferent 1. Ultra Light Beams: Fantastic song, and a great way to start the album. I guess this is where Kanye’s “gospel album” idea stems from. I think The Dream and Kelly Price’s vocals perfectly complement this song,    am going to break down each track on this album and give an overall “review”/final impression of it. I got a lot to say, so here it goes:

    L: Liked D: Disliked I: Indifferent

    1. Ultra Light Beams: Fantastic song, and a great way to start the album. I guess this is where Kanye’s “gospel album” idea stems from. I think The Dream and Kelly Price’s vocals perfectly complement this song, and Chance The Rapper’s verse was great. I actually didn’t like Acid Rap or Chance for that matter, but this verse made me a fan. This song was great, but it felt like a Chance feat. Kanye song, not the other way around. L

    2. Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1: This song starts off nicely, and it feels like something off of MBDTF. Sadly, it takes a deep nose dive when Kanye starts talking about bleached **** SMH. D

    3. Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2: I really like the hook on this song, and to my surprise, it wasn’t Future who was on it, it was some random guy named Desiigner. I decided to look him up, and played the first track I found, “Panda”. I was confused, because it was the SAME as Pt. 2. I think this song should be renamed to “Panda Remix”, because that’s all it is, a remix. I

    4. Famous: I like the samples on this song, and the instrumentation was nice. That’s about it. I didn’t like the lyrics one bit, and I think Kanye should grow up. He is still talking about an incident that happened years ago, and he basically went back on his apology. Once again, SMH. I

    5. Feedback: This song sounds exactly like something off of Yeezus. It’s ok. D

    6. Low Lights: This was kind of like an interlude to the next song, Highlights. It had an interesting sample. Not a song though. It reminds me of MBDTF. I

    7. Highlights: This song carried on the feel from the previous interlude, and I thought it was a decent track. Those lines about the go-pro **** were horrible. L

    8. Freestyle 4: I really liked the beat on this song, it feels like something Denzel Curry would go in on. Once again, fake Future makes an appearance, although his 4 bars were cool. L

    **9. I Love Kanye: **Not a song, more of a freestyle kind of thing. It was hilarious though, and shows that Kanye is self aware of the memes made about him, lol. L

    10: Waves: I liked this song, but I feel like this was more of Chris Brown’s song than it was Kanye’s. The hook is nice, but I think the song would’ve benefited from a second verse from Kanye at the end. L

    11. FML: The Weeknd killed it, but the song felt a little bare bones to me. I was hoping that The Weeknd would have a bigger part, like his own verse and not just the hook. The sample towards the end was great, it fit the song. L

    12. Real Friends: Everything about this song is great. Kanye sounds more introspective than he has on the rest of the album, and the Ty Dolla $ign was cool too. I gotta look up the sample on here, but I like it too. When this song came out last month, I was hoping that the rest of the album would sound like this. Sadly it doesn’t, but that doesn’t take anything away from this song. L

    13. Wolves: I hate this song. I don’t know why, I just hate it. Actually wait, I know why. “You left your fridge open, and someone took a sandwich”. BARS. D

    14. Silver Surfer Intermission: I don’t see the point of this, there was no need for it. Kanye didn’t even name the album “Waves”, so why did he get Max B’s “blessing”? D

    15. 30 Hours: I liked the first half of this song, but I feel like the second half should’ve been replaced with a feature or just removed. It actually sounded like Late Registration Kanye to me. I

    16. No More Parties In LA: This is getting heavy play on my phone. Kendrick Lamar was amazing as usual, and Kanye was equally amazing on here. This has to be my favourite song on here. L

    17. Facts: I didn’t like the previous version of this song as it sounded too much like “Jumpman”. This new version is OK though. I

    18. Fade: I didn’t like this song at all. This beat sounded too much like pop for my taste. D

    Of the 18 tracks, I would only deem 15 of them as actual songs, and from those 15 songs, I only liked 7 of them. For that reason, I will say that this album is a decent album, and definitely an improvement over Yeezus, but TLOP will not be getting any regular plays from me. I feel almost disappointed, but I feel like Kanye is beginning a descend just like Kid Cudi experienced. I think I’ll stick to his pre-2012 projects. I think this album is a 6-6.5/10.    … Expand
  78. yzbay
    Feb 23, 2016
    10
    Production and feature-wise, this album is Kanye's best. he brought Kid Cudi back for vocals. He had features by the oddest people like Young Thug and Post Malone, and still managed to pull of great songs with them. In my personal opinion this album is a perfect mixture of MBDTF, 808s & HB, and Yeezus. This is his best (or second best) album since 808s & HB.
  79. churko
    Feb 22, 2016
    9
    2nd best kanye album. Best album of the year. All the songs if they were released one at the time would be hits. MASTERPIECE
  80. tpab
    Feb 22, 2016
    9
    The Life Of Pablo, arguably the first major hip hop release of 2016, lived up to most hype. The great punchlines, combination of some of his older projects, and excellent producing makes this album what it is, a amazing album.
  81. southernsun
    Feb 21, 2016
    10
    On the first listen I wasn't so sure, then I listened to it again and the album has pretty much been on repeat since. The Life of Pablo is a continuation of the genius on display in Yeezus. Some of Kanye's finest work and easily one of the best albums of 2016.
  82. T-rodney
    Feb 21, 2016
    6
    The LIfe of Pablo is produced like My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,feels like My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy but sadly is not as great as My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.Kanye West makes The Life of Pablo strange(as usual) with weird lyrics,the production and the feel.

    The album starts off well with the decent Track Ultralight Beam(Ft. Chance the rapper & Kirk Franklin) which is    The LIfe of Pablo is produced like My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,feels like My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy but sadly is not as great as My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.Kanye West makes The Life of Pablo strange(as usual) with weird lyrics,the production and the feel.

    The album starts off well with the decent Track Ultralight Beam(Ft. Chance the rapper & Kirk Franklin) which is religious and done well although Kanye is hardly there in his own song with weak lyrics.The album moves on to Father Strecth My Hands Part 1 & 2 which are again decent tracks but not spectacular as Kanye does'nt deliver any powerful lyrics we have come to know him for.Kanye steps up a bit with Famous(FT. Rihanna) which is a good song and the album remains consistent then came the bad song Freestyle 4(FT. Desiigner) which is horribly produced and lazily sung.

    I feel LIfe of Pablo really began in the second half of this album because from the song Waves(FT. Chris Brown) which is one of the best songs in the album starts a good tempo for the rest of the album and Kanye really steps up with great songs like Real Friends(FT. Ty Dolla Sign),Wolves and one of the best song from Kanye West in a while No More Parties in LA(FT. Kendrick Lamar), this song was perfect as Kendrick and Kanye go hand in hand to deliver a great 6 minute song. The album finishes off with the song Fade which was kinda boring.

    One thing i have to talk about is the lyrics to this album.We all know Kanye is a strange human being and some of his lyrics work in this album like in the song Highlights(FT Young Thug) he says [I bet me and Ray J would be friends/If we ain't love the same b*tch/Yeah, he might have hit it first/Only problem is I'm rich] which is gold and then some weird lyrics like in the song Father Stretch My hands Part 1 he says [Now if I f*ck this model/And she just bleached her a**hole/And I get bleach on my T-shirt/I'mma feel like an a**hole]-WEIRD

    Now Life of Pablo is not a bad album,not at all but i think it's not that great compared to his past album as some songs bring this album down this weak Kanye lyrics, some filler and annoying production sounds just when the song is ending like Wolves and FML. In the first half of the album Kanye doesn't really fully commit to this album his lyrics feel weak and lazy and is hardly present as the features do most of the work and the songs he doesn't make the songs go full way as you find that a 3 minute song is sung like in a minute and thirty seconds and the rest of the song is just some weird,annoying sounds. However Kanye
    manages to save this album in the second half with amazing song that should have been like the whole album.

    The best tracks are No more parties in LA(best song), Waves, Ultralight Beam and Real Friends. The worst songs are Fade,Freestyle 4 and 30 Hours. The beast Features are Chance the rapper, Kirk Franklin, Chris Brown and Kendrick Lamar.Worst Features are Desiigner,Young Thug and Post Malone.

    So is The Life of Pablo a good album,YES but not as good as MBDTF or Yeezus but this ablum is a personal journey for Kanye as he talks about his family, friends,religion and of-course his favorite subject-HIMSELF.The first half of this album may not be great but an enjoyable album at the least.    … Expand
  83. GiaccoU
    Feb 20, 2016
    7
    The album starts pretty well with Ultralight Beam, but then, listening to the rest of the album, after every song there's a less finished-track touch, as it needed a little bit more of production, the main ideas feel amazing though. The lyrics are great as always, Kanye-quality, just not his best body of work.
  84. Callum_Hofler
    Feb 20, 2016
    8
    Sensational production bolsters an uneven yet undeniably engaging collection of songs on Kanye West's latest, The Life of Pablo. Incredible samples, such as on the soulful, groove-worthy 'Father Stretch My Hands', are aplenty, Kanye's legendary, unparalleled team of producers (Madlib, Metro Boomin, Rick Rubin, and Charlie Heat, just to name a few) insert a plethora of variation into thisSensational production bolsters an uneven yet undeniably engaging collection of songs on Kanye West's latest, The Life of Pablo. Incredible samples, such as on the soulful, groove-worthy 'Father Stretch My Hands', are aplenty, Kanye's legendary, unparalleled team of producers (Madlib, Metro Boomin, Rick Rubin, and Charlie Heat, just to name a few) insert a plethora of variation into this 58 minute release. From the gorgeous organs and choir on 'Ultralight Beam', to the Nina Simone and Sister Nancy samples on the infectious 'Famous', to the glorious synths of 'Highlights', to the lonesome, aggressive bass that manifests in the closer (not including the bonus tracks, from 'Silver Surfer Intermission' onwards) 'Wolves', Kanye does not disappoint when it comes to the music available here. As we've come to expect from the man, Kanye delivers us an album that refuses to confide itself to a single genre; instead, we get a unique, endlessly entertaining brand of hip-hop that feels like it could only come from West himself.

    Issues become evident once one takes a deeper look at the lyricism on the record. Kanye offers some absolutely brilliant verses ('Real Friends', 'No More Parties In LA', 'FML'), but he never fully escapes his capacity for lackluster bars. On 'Waves', his verses lack considerable substance, and on 'Freestyle 4', he feels needlessly provocative, despite the addictive quality of the instrumentation. The same could be said of his now infamous line on 'Famous', where he raps "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/Why? I made that **** famous", only this feels like an intentionally divisive line that serves to arouse the irritation of Kanye's detractors (many of whom the man makes fun of on the hilarious 'I Love Kanye'). On 'Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1', Kanye starts his verse off with one of the most tonally abnormal bars he's ever penned, "Now if I **** this model/And she just bleached her **** I get bleach on my T-shirt/I'mma feel like an **** only this comes off as another example of Corny Kanye at his Kanye Best, extracting laughs from myself. Lyrically, Kanye underwhelms somewhat here.

    Other issues include an off-beat drum that chimes in for a short while in the middle of 'Wolves', some mixing issues present on 'Father Stretch My Hands Pt.2', and 'Low Lights', the prelude to 'Highlights', feeling far too long for its own good. Otherwise, The Life of Pablo is an enjoyable collation of top-notch Kanye material. Its supposed lack of cohesion demonstrates the reflective state that many of the songs possess. This is the first Kanye album which isn't about making a huge statement; it's just a record you can pop on and enjoy for the good-vibes.    … Expand
  85. SmithN51
    Feb 20, 2016
    10
    Great Production, Great features, Different Subject Matter, Inventive, clever, intuitive, now all is need is a CD / iTunes release.

    Least Favourite Songs; Facts (Charlie Heat Version) Freestyle 4 Feedback Low Lights Favourite Songs; No More Parties In LA Fade Waves FML Ultralight Beam Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1 & 2 Real Friends Highlights 30 Hours Wolves I Love    Great Production, Great features, Different Subject Matter, Inventive, clever, intuitive, now all is need is a CD / iTunes release.

    Least Favourite Songs;
    Facts (Charlie Heat Version)
    Freestyle 4
    Feedback
    Low Lights

    Favourite Songs;
    No More Parties In LA
    Fade
    Waves
    FML
    Ultralight Beam
    Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1 & 2
    Real Friends
    Highlights
    30 Hours
    Wolves
    I Love Kanye

    Songs The Could've Been Better;
    Famous

    If I could change something;
    exclude Freestyle 4, Low Lights & Feedback with Only One, All Day (maybe the Kendrick Remix) and Awesome.

    Overall Score: 10/10    … Expand
  86. RudigerX
    Feb 20, 2016
    9
    God dam this album is just fine. Beats, lyrics it don't matter it's all good. Dark Twisted Fantasy is in my Top 5 and I swear with each listen this album creeps ever close to it. Get it.
  87. giu3
    Feb 19, 2016
    0
    This album is overrated, probably the worst one I heard this year. The production is terrible, the flow even worse and the lyrics are the lamest I've ever heard. Kanye was once a great artist but is now just one of the worst trap rappers of the time.
  88. Apolsc
    Feb 19, 2016
    1
    Kanye is real gangsta. In this album he disses the toughest gangsters of the bussiness like Taylor Swift. He is still god s gift to the music, dont wait, buy his new album and shoes and stuff.
  89. danielsons
    Feb 19, 2016
    10
    HOLY **** what an amazing album since the first music you can feel that is an other level song. Totally recommended! Best Kanye album in my opinion. Worthy listening
  90. niino2595
    Feb 19, 2016
    3
    Seriously? This is decent at best. The first 4-5 tracks to introduce the album is great the rest is meh.. Travis Scott did a much better job with the same theme and received much lower ratings smh. The bias opinions need to stop.

    We'll see how many of you still listening to this in a month that's the true rating.
  91. brockcheese
    Feb 19, 2016
    8
    I love this album, although I must admit that this album is not for everybody. Fans of Kanye should check it out but people who only like the old Kanye should stay away.
  92. victorator
    Feb 18, 2016
    0
    This album does not contain even one track worth listening to twice.
    The so-called 'freestyle' sounds like an insult to everyone. Not only is the production on this record mediocre, there is absolutely no value to any of the words spit out by West. All in all I treat this as a final nail to the coffin to his productions and I hope to never hear about another album of his again for our    This album does not contain even one track worth listening to twice.
    The so-called 'freestyle' sounds like an insult to everyone. Not only is the production on this record mediocre, there is absolutely no value to any of the words spit out by West. All in all I treat this as a final nail to the coffin to his productions and I hope to never hear about another album of his again for our sake. Do not believe the reviews. This album deserves a 2/10 at best. It's an insult to society and real music lovers around the world. There are obviously too many paid trolls around here that write fake reviews to try and save this lousy and failed attempt at music making. Avoid at all costs.    … Expand
  93. MarsUlta9
    Feb 18, 2016
    9
    I'm not sure if I agree with the sentiment that this album feels wild and directionless, there is a definite sound that seems to tie it all together. However, I will say that it does feel incomplete and much less polished then either Yeezus or MBDTF.
  94. enwhysee64
    Feb 18, 2016
    0
    I remember people loving "Metal Machine Music" Too. I also know way more people disliking it. You know when a performer isn't that good when he has to do one media tantrum after another to get attention and not just let His Albums do the talking
  95. owenhicks
    Feb 18, 2016
    9
    Each individual song is very interesting to listen to. Beautiful and intense lyrics and sounds are scattered across the album, making for a very hectic and overwhelming experience. Thankfully, that experience is a joyride filled with amazing production, ideas and sounds. This album describes Kanye's life perfectly and thematically is a fight between faith and sin. An instant classic thatEach individual song is very interesting to listen to. Beautiful and intense lyrics and sounds are scattered across the album, making for a very hectic and overwhelming experience. Thankfully, that experience is a joyride filled with amazing production, ideas and sounds. This album describes Kanye's life perfectly and thematically is a fight between faith and sin. An instant classic that pushes new boundaries.… Expand
  96. FarhanChowChow
    Feb 18, 2016
    10
    A mixture of all of his previous albums, Kanye's "The Life of Pablo" is a messy, inconsistent, and absolutely beautiful work of art. The album will be an absolute hit amongst his established fan base, though new listeners may find trouble in getting with the groove.
    For people wanting to join the Church of Yeezus, I recommend starting at College Dropout, then proceeding chronologically    A mixture of all of his previous albums, Kanye's "The Life of Pablo" is a messy, inconsistent, and absolutely beautiful work of art. The album will be an absolute hit amongst his established fan base, though new listeners may find trouble in getting with the groove.
    For people wanting to join the Church of Yeezus, I recommend starting at College Dropout, then proceeding chronologically up to this album.
    For those who are already members of the Church, this is a must-buy.    … Expand
  97. gabriel1
    Feb 18, 2016
    8
    Tonnes of fantastic content and impeccable production, but the ordering of the track list plus a few tracks (Waves, Highlights, Freestyle 4, Silver Surfer Intermission) suck some of the greatness out of the overall album.
  98. LBJ6
    Feb 18, 2016
    8
    The lack of cohesion and focus evident on TLOP is unlike West, leaving the album as a whole to appear a bit messy and lacking a concept. However, individually the tracks are, with the exception of 4-5 songs, what one would expect from an artist of West's caliber. The production, as on all of his previous projects, is more or less flawless and the features dazzle. Not his best body of work,The lack of cohesion and focus evident on TLOP is unlike West, leaving the album as a whole to appear a bit messy and lacking a concept. However, individually the tracks are, with the exception of 4-5 songs, what one would expect from an artist of West's caliber. The production, as on all of his previous projects, is more or less flawless and the features dazzle. Not his best body of work, but another great album to add to his incredible discography. 8.2/10. Highlights include: Waves, FSMH pt.1&2, Ultralight Beam, Real Friends, FML, No More Parties, Highlights, and Famous.… Expand
  99. Sukhvirlam12
    Feb 18, 2016
    10
    Phenomenal. Kanye is 7/7. How does he DO THIS? How does one continue to create so much amazingness. Thank you Kanye. Looking forward to the new released version.
  100. bocaaust
    Feb 18, 2016
    0
    Kanye's worst album to date. Its hard to take this musical garbage seriously. Kanye's legacy will be his outrageous antics and not his crappy music. All aspects of this album lack both finesse and concrete delivery. Both the songs and cover seem rushed and have mediocre at best production value. I would not recommend this album to anyone. It is just a crazy man's desperate attempt to getKanye's worst album to date. Its hard to take this musical garbage seriously. Kanye's legacy will be his outrageous antics and not his crappy music. All aspects of this album lack both finesse and concrete delivery. Both the songs and cover seem rushed and have mediocre at best production value. I would not recommend this album to anyone. It is just a crazy man's desperate attempt to get people to use Tidal. Maybe once kanye gets the mental help and medication he needs he can actually make good music.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Discussed Album of 2016
4
#4 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Under The Radar
    Apr 6, 2016
    55
    There is plenty here to suggest that West's magic has not entirely left him, but as a statement of art or true intent, this is a significant misstep from an artist with so much to praise.
    Read full review
  2. The Telegraph (UK)
    Apr 1, 2016
    60
    There is much to be admired here, rather less to be enjoyed.
    Read full review
  3. Uncut
    Mar 22, 2016
    70
    For better or worse, no-one else is making records quite like this. [May 2016, p.82]
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