Is Kanye's ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ The Best Rap Album of the Last Decade?

by Wilf Brown

To celebrate the 13th anniversary of the renowned album 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ (MBDTF for short) by Kanye West, I thought an interesting debate would be about whether this masterpiece of an album could be considered the best album of the last decade. There are certainly many contenders to give Mr West’s compilation a ‘run for its money’. These include records such as ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ by Kendrick Lamar, or ‘Astroworld’ by Travis Scott, or even one of West’s own albums released in 2013, ‘Yeezus’. 

In spite of all these phenomenal works of art, it can be said that MBDTF is the best rap album of the decade. With the assistance of many high-profile producers, such as Mike Dean, RZA, and Bink, along with world-famous artists like JAY-Z, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj. With the incredible music that is contained within the album itself, represented by the maximalist aesthetic along with West’s remarkable utilisation of previous elements of his previous works, the record also touches on more surprising themes. These include West’s celebrity status, consumer culture, self-aggrandisement, and the idealism of the American Dream. Some other topics represent West’s vulnerability at the time, as a result of his interrupting of Taylor Swift at the VMA awards, which many would describe as the nadir of his career. This makes the album even more significant as it could be viewed as West’s attempt at redemption. MBDTF is also known for its conceptual coherence and narrative. The album is often viewed as a musical journey that explores the complexities of fame and relationships. The interplay between tracks contributes to a cohesive listening experience that is enjoyed by countless people. 

Whilst it could be argued that these views are only based on personal taste, which is a very valid argument, the overall significance and effect that this exceptional piece of art had on the world can not be ignored, and the same goes for Kanye West’s stellar career amidst the countless incidents he had been involved in. However, this is, in my eyes, shadowed by his musical skills that are second to none, and this album is the prime example of this.