27 Dec, 2023
Kayne West is regarded as one of the most controversial characters of the 21st century. Many know him for his erratic statements about issues ranging from geopolitics to other artists in the music industry. His unwavering God complex--noted in his track "I am a God" on his 2013 album Yeezus--often turns onlookers away. Despite the hostile character many see him as, Kayne sought to change the music industry, to be the one who puts “cracks in the pavement”. Biases aside, it is hard to deny his musical genuineness.
His debut 2004 and 2007 albums "The College Dropout" and "Graduation" put Kanye on the map as one of the most well-known hip-hop and rap artists of the day. He could see his dreams of stardom starting to actualize. The 2009 MTV Awards tested the limits of where his inflated ego thought he could go. Kayne interrupted Taylor Swift during her acceptance of Best Female Video Award, demanding that Beyonce had “one of the best videos of all time.” He was immediately cast a villain and lost the respect, reputation and recognition from much of his following. After going into a self-imposed exile, first to Japan and then Rome, Kayne set out to create an album that was so objectively brilliant, even those who hated him the most would have no choice but to respect his music.
“Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you…I’ll let you finish. But Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.”
Like any of Kanye's projects, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is thematically complex and layered. Each track experiences a drastically different tone due to the poetic lyrics, instrumental contributions, and production styles and techniques. Together, the album is a coherent story that takes the listener through the inner mechanisms of Kayne's mind. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is broken into three acts, commonly known at the Hero’s Journey. Act I introduces the main character’s context and motivations. Act II sees the hero experiencing twists, turns, and challenges. Act III is typically a resolution, but one is hardly found here. The result is a grandiose, slightly deranged, portrait of Kanye who was caught under the trappings of fame and fortune. Upon reaching his dream, he questions whether it is all worth it.
The first track, “Dark Fantasy”, introduces Kayne almost as a fairy-tale character, with the rise to fame mimicking a “Cinderella Story”, one where a person of low importance unexpectedly achieves great success. This is amplified by Nick Minaj’s retelling of Roald’s Dahl’s Poem Cinderella. “Can we get much higher” suggests that Kayne is at his peak of fame and influence, and the soft voice and piano notes suggest being in a dream-like illusion. Keeping in line with the Cinderella theme, the clock must strike midnight and come crashing down—midnight being the 2009 VMAs. The title of “Dark Fantasy” introduces the concept of fame being the goal for many individuals without them realizing the drawbacks that come with it. It foreshadows self-doubt; “The plan was to drink until the pain over; but what's worse - the pain or the hangover?" This idea is central throughout the album.
In “Gorgeous”, we receive further character development as Kayne discusses racial issues. Kayne reminds us that despite the challenges of being a black male, he has overcome the obstacles to gain influence and power through shear hard work and determination. This being said, the hook suggests that his pedestal is slipping beneath him, making references to “South Park” and how he’s often seen as a joke. While he wants the listener to think that he is unbothered, this is quite the opposite; he hates being the villain and refuses to accept this position.
This is addressed more literally in the next track, “Power”, referring to himself literally as, “the abomination of Obama’s nation”. Kayne expands the idea of fame coming with severe drawbacks. It takes the listener through his rise and demise, ending with him contemplating his own death. Now, he is left with power void of loyalty and trust. This track is not about someone who thinks themselves as great; it is about someone who is losing everything after living their fantasy for a short while.
The album transitions to the second act, where Kayne's struggles are made more profound. These conflicts come from exploring the unknowns of his psyche. In “All of the Lights (Interlude)”, there is somber, seemingly funeral-like music to represent the death of Kayne’s influence post-VMAs that slipped away in “Power”. “All of the Lights” discusses how Kayne’s fantasy about stardom turned out to be false. He viewed fame as the end-all, be-all of his trouble; yet, the opposite is true. He uses the metaphor of the x-con trying win back custody of his own daughter, representing his integrity, and the girl he slapped representing Taylor Swift at the VMAs.
The next two tracks attempt to portray Kayne as what the public perceives. In “Monster”, he is characterized as a heartless villain with no remorse. Following with “So Appalled”, Kayne recognizes himself as a jaded Rockstar who realizes the ridiculousness of his lifestyle.
With “Devil in a New Dress” comes the romantic portion of the album. Here, Kayne tries his hand at love. He understands his failed attempts, getting into situations that are seemingly appealing, only to turn out hurtful and failing. In this case, love can serve as a metaphor for fame itself. In “Runaway”, we further understand that the reason for Kayne’s failed attempts is because his own ego and flaws have gotten in the way of being capable of both loving and receiving love. The second half of the song serves as an outpouring of human emotion. This could be seen as a climax between the protagonist and antagonist; in this case, Kayne is both.
While the third act of a Hero’s Journey is typically resolution, we instead dig deeper into the rabbit hole of Kayne’s mind. “Hell of a Life” starts with an exciting, enticing, explicit fantasy, only to end with Kayne masturbating alone in a hotel room. It casts his shadow as extremely lonely. In “Blame Game”, Kayne tries to find a guilty party for his failed relationships (and by extension, his post-VMA situation). After a scattered persecution, Kayne comes to realize that he is to blame.
A sort of resolution comes with “Lost in the World”. Here, Kayne embraces the chaos of his life. He admits that he no longer desires fame and a plastic life; rather, he wants something more authentic. He is willing to let part of him die to become a better person.
Finally, “Who Will Survive in America” begs the question if Kayne will even be able to carryout his desires because of the injustices false realities of the American dream. Ending with a half-hearted applause reminds us that this is, in fact, a fantasy; something that is generally exaggerated in one’s head. Moreover, Kayne’s apologies and self-reflections are falling on deaf ears. Regardless of the effort he has put out, people will always view him as a villain.
Many of the themes in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy relate to the internal battle between good and evil. Kayne struggles with his conflicting Gemini-like identities: wanting fame and fortune, regardless of the strides he needs to take to get there, and wanting a simpler life with love, family, and friends. In this scenario, the protagonist and the antagonist are at war inside the Hero’s mind.
Alternatively, the antagonist could be fame itself. Fame is something that many desire; it’s an external reassurance of your worth, efforts, and abilities. If this is the case, why is there struggle once it is obtained? With fame comes a sense of immortality; you are viewed as something so far above average and are seen more a superhero than a human. With this dehumanization comes a sort of display and exhibit. People follow, take videos and pictures, yell and scream, and are disrespectfully demanding without regard to personal feelings and desires. Being this far in the spotlight both amplifies ego and increases insecurity.
Even though Kayne has obtained the influence he has always wanted, he is realizing that it has left him feeling lonelier than ever. Maybe fame inflated his ego enough to pull stunts like his one at the VMAs or left him incapable of being in a loving relationship. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy serves as an apology and acknowledgement of his actions and his desire to change. Whether or not Kayne shows remorse or is simply trying to get back in the public’s good graces, the album sheds light on the struggles that stars go through and attempts to personify those we both admire and detest.