My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Review: Maximalist Hip-Hop at Its Peak
9.5/10 — Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
Pros
- Lavish, inventive production
- Great guest verses
- Singles like 'Runaway'
Cons
- Bloated in places
- Crude lyrics
Recorded in Hawaii after Kanye’s public meltdown, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a lavish, obsessive record. A huge cast of guests includes Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver.
What works
‘Power’, ‘Runaway’ and ‘All of the Lights’ are enormous, and Nicki Minaj’s verse on ‘Monster’ is a show-stopper. The production is lavish, with orchestral and choral textures, and Kanye’s lyrics mix ego with self-doubt.
Where it falters
It’s bloated at points, and some lyrics are crude or misogynistic.
Verdict
A grand, daring and deeply flawed masterpiece.
