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Ye is sort of solely rapping within the clipped, nonlinear type he’s largely used for the final decade — quick bursts of phrases, verses which have little or no narrative cohesion. It salts a observe along with his essence, with a minimal of emotional dedication. (“Beg Forgiveness,” on which he’s virtually howling, is a notable exception.)
Where “Vultures 1” makes extra sense is in its manufacturing, which is scabrous and tense, moodily emotive and pressing. The music says issues the phrases don’t, or can’t.
It additionally signifies the place Ye presently sees his legacy. Two of the dominant strains of up to date hip-hop might be traced again to him: Drake and the melodic rap that emerged in his wake, which is in some ways indebted to “808s & Heartbreak” (2008); and the texture-focused darkwave rap perfected by Travis Scott and, extra not too long ago, Playboi Carti, which might be traced again to “Yeezus” (2013).
“Vultures 1” is an album that reads as a response to, and typically with, the artists on this second camp. It sounds present, which is to say it has mastered the electrifying gloom of arena-scale claustrophobia.
Ultimately, “Vultures 1” is a simulacrum of a powerful Ye album — typically thinly constructed, however thickened with harsh sound and polished to a excessive shine. Some of West’s current albums have been brittle in and out, however that is music that, for higher and worse, matches the second, with songs which are pugnacious, brooding, lewd and somewhat exasperated.
Most revealingly, he’s not going it alone. Broadly talking, collaborators are re-embracing him (if, certainly, they ever selected in any other case). Guest verses are delivered by Freddie Gibbs, Quavo, Lil Durk, Playboi Carti and extra. Producers embody well-known long-timers like Timbaland, No I.D. and Mustard, alongside umpteen newcomers. ¥$ was introduced as a headliner at Rolling Loud in Los Angeles, the annual hip-hop pageant of report.
