Kanye West’s cryptic tweet from earlier in the week is still being debated. The date could be the arrival of baby KimYe, his new single, or anything in between. Regardless, a new Yeezy album is definitely on the way, if not this summer then certainly by the end of the year. Therefore, it’s only fitting to take some time to put Kanye’s previous efforts in perspective. You’d be hard-pressed to find many rappers who have amassed a stronger five-album catalogue than Mr. West, but even in a sea of great music, there are varying degrees of GOOD.

5) 808s & Heartbreak

Kanye’s genre-bending fourth album is undoubtedly his most polarizing. The loss of his mother put him in a place where he could not simply go in the booth and rap. He had other emotions he needed to convey, be it through singing, tribal drums, or arctic-cold soundscapes. The album’s most telling point comes on “Coldest Winter.” In contrast to the heart-warming “Hey Mama,” this record finds Kanye distraught and angry over the loss of his rock. Though not the album’s highlight, the song encapsulates 808s & Heartbreak perfectly: Kanye was attempting to work through his grief, regardless if it resulted in successful records.

4) Graduation

Graduation was the turning point for Kanye. Following two skit-heavy albums, he delivered a succinct 13 tracks. His rhymes were more polished and he was clearly more focused as an MC. The album was also the start of the more experimental Kanye we know today. However, he had a few misses on this album, and on a smaller tracklist, those misses are more noticeable. “Barry Bonds” was nowhere near the lyrical monster one might have thought it would be, as we were clearly on the way out of the Mixtape Weezy era. “Drunk and Hot Girls” not only sounded like the 2am ride-along music for all date rapists, it also broke up the flow of an otherwise very coherent project.

3) College Dropout

You don’t get a second chance at a first impression and Kanye certainly didn’t need one. At the time of College Dropout, he was a producer trying to make a name for himself as a rapper, crafting hit after hit to back up his bravado. College Dropout boasts several iconic Yeezy records, including “Jesus Walks” and “Workout Plan.” The most special thing, however, is the brief glimpses of vulnerability exhibited, like on “Through the Wire.” Kanye proved that he not only had the hit-making ability to get in the door, but that he also had the substance to stay.

2) Late Registration

While most people were quick to predict a sophomore slump for Kanye following a classic debut, he was once again prepared to prove everyone wrong. He showed up as a hungrier, more polished MC and still delivered radio hits, perhaps none bigger than “Gold Digger.” In retrospect, the tracklist is still bloated, especially with 4 skits, an intro, and an interlude. Not to mention Kanye was still getting lapped by big brother’s on the “Diamonds” remix. Nevertheless, Late Registration would prove to be the statement that Kanye West wasn’t going anywhere.

1) My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

By 2010, if Kanye West wasn’t public enemy #1 he was living right next door. He had incurred the wrath of every late night talk show, skit show and internet show following Swift-Gate. He was still grieving over losing his mother and he had ended a long relationship with Amber Rose. But, as is true with most artists, his best work comes out of suffering and tribulations: Kanye flew to Hawaii and crafted a masterpiece. With the help of an ensemble cast, we were privy to a darker, hyper-experimental Kanye West. He came across at once lost and right where he wanted to be. MBDTF is far from Yeezy’s biggest success on radio or the charts, but it connected with fans and critics alike. While some supporters still clamored for the return of the sample-loving, backpack-wearing Ye, the realists knew that version was long gone. “Power” was years of packed aggression in 5 minutes of venting. “Runaway” and “Blame Game” showcased that the vulnerability still lived in the man, yet he was growing as a person. “Monster,” “So Appalled” and “Gorgeous” proved that Kanye could rap his ass off in case anyone had forgotten. While MBDTF certainly lacked the radio hits and soul everyone came to expect from a Kanye West album, it replaced those with pain and triumph balled up into a frantic, maniacal opus.

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The performance starts off with the undercover passengers moving and vibing together, and as each girl branches out into her own solo, her name and hometown is displayed on the screen– giving a nice shout out to the dancers who’ve worked hard to help Kanye stand out. But honestly, aside from the beautiful dancing and excellent choreography, the best part of the 6 minute video adventure is the unsuspecting bystander confronted by a  sea of twisting feet as he tried to make his way back form the bathroom. If Virgin airlines has learned anything from this little show, its that they need to make their aisles bigger ASAP.

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Check out this outtake from Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, Kanye West discusses his writing style leading up to, and during, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Be sure to purchase Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap online or in stores on September 18th.

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Chris Rock‘s appearance on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was an unforgettable moment in hip-hop. It’s a well-documented fact that anyone who has heard that song can no longer hear the word “reupholstered” without giggling. During a visit to Sway in the Morning studios, Chris Rock spoke about working with Kanye and much more. Check it out.

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We have another Kanye video that  has been sitting in the can due to not making the rapper’s approval. This time it is for the closing track on his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.  Ruth Hogben is behind the lens for this one.

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With Kanye West‘s Support, George Condo has risen to new levels of fame. And with all that fame comes more museum showings. This coming January, the man who created the now iconic images for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, will have his own exhibit called “Mental States” on display at the New Museum in NYC.

Condo is famous for the development of the idea of  “artificial realism,” his unique style and exploration of portraiture and psychological landscape that he created in the early ’80s. The New Museum will be presenting the first conceptual survey of 25 years of Condo’s work.

The exhibition opens from January 26 — May 15.

To learn more about Condo and see more of his work click HERE.

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In case you’ve been hiding under a rock since Saturday night and haven’t heard of or scene Kanye West’s latest creation, I now present you with Runaway. This 30+ minute video is Kanye’s debut as a director and gives us a nice glimpse into the truly dark and twisted fantasy world that occupies the mind of our very misunderstood friend, Mr. West. He saves a ridiculously good looking bird, falls in love with her and brings her to a fancy dinner only to have her run away and burn. Because after all, she is a Phoenix.

Even if you can’t appreciate the insanity of the story itself, you will most definitely love the soundtrack which includes a handful of songs from Kanye’s upcoming album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which can now be pre-ordered on iTunes.

MTV also held an interview with Kanye after the movie premiered. Watch that interview HERE.

Whatever you think of this movie, whether you hate it, love it, or just can’t decide what to feel, you must RESPECT kanye for breaking the boundaries of hip-hop and opening our eyes to a brand new era in hip-hop art and culture.

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