West is at his most vulnerable on his eighth studio album
As he releases his eighth studio album, ye, Kanye West is at a busy, exciting point in his career, regardless of how provocative his antics may be. Following the controversial build up to its release, ye is an intimate glimpse at West’s experience with depression and anxiety, an honest expression of feelings. Though opinion on the album may vary, it provokes discussion regarding the stigma surrounding mental illness in popular culture. With West’s candid discussion of his own bipolar disorder, the album stands as an honest approach to the subject of mental illness.
As he mentioned in his interview with BigBoyTV, West wanted ye to be an accurate reflection of the energy and emotions that he felt at the time — which meant rewriting the entire album following the infamous TMZ interview in which he suggested slavery was “a choice.” Though the album feels rough at times, it nevertheless stands as a sincere portrayal of West’s mental state — a reflection of his personal life, his thoughts, and his fears. The album bounces between different ideas, but regardless of the subject matter, authenticity rests at its core. The track “I Thought About Killing You” features Kanye remarking, “Today, I seriously thought about killing you / I contemplated, premeditated murder / And I think about killing myself / And I love myself way more than I love you.” Coupled with his mentions of addiction, depression, and the fear of losing the things he loves, there are moments (especially on songs like “Ghost Town,” “Wouldn’t Leave,” and “No Mistakes”) where his lyrics and sound become more intimate and personable, almost reminiscent of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy or The College Dropout.
Though the album is still rampant with West’s narcissism, West’s unique approach to ye and his blunt discussion of his instability may pave the way for a more open discussion on mental illness. Though stigma still surrounds the subject, more celebrities have admitted recently to dealing with mental illness. Musician Kid Cudi, who released a collaborative album with West, Kids See Ghosts, last Friday, has openly discussed his depression in the past, expressing his struggle with addiction and anxiety. More recently, rapper Earl Sweatshirt cancelled tour dates due to his own battles with depression and anxiety. With more celebrities discussing their own dealings with mental illness, the topic is gaining more acceptability in popular media and culture.
The topics themselves are sensitive in nature, but their discussion contributes to the normalization of mental illness and its perception in current society. And though West may still be somewhat of an ass, ye is a refreshing approach to his sound, and it stands to help clear the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Photo courtesy of Kanye West