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"So Appalled"
Promotional single by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, Cyhi the Prynce, Swizz Beatz and RZA
from the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
ReleasedSeptember 24, 2010
Recorded2009–10
GenreHip-hop
Length6:38
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Kanye West
  • No I.D.
  • Mike Dean

"So Appalled" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song was produced by West, along with No I.D. and Mike Dean, and features verses by Jay-Z, Cyhi the Prynce, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, and RZA respectively, who all receive writing credits. Lyrically, the song explores topics such as the troubles produced from being famous, social concerns and features numerous pop culture references.

The posse cut received mostly positive reviews from music critics, with West and Jay-Z's verses commonly being cited as the highlights. Critics generally praised the production of the song. Originally, the song was released in an unmastered form through West's GOOD Friday initiative, a weekly free music giveaway started by the rapper to promote the album. Following this, "So Appalled" made its way onto My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy with the addition of an extended verse. "So Appalled" charted on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles singles chart. West performed the song with Jay-Z at their Watch the Throne Tour and with Pusha T on his own tour.

Background

[edit]

"So Appalled" was first released on September 24, 2010, and was the seventh song to be featured on West's GOOD Fridays, a music giveaway that provided free MP3 downloads every week.[1] It was originally believed to be a song for West and Jay-Z's collaborative album Watch the Throne, but it was later confirmed not to be.[2][3][4] The song would later find its way onto West's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy along with two other GOOD Friday songs.[5][6] The version on the album was altered production-wise and was longer, and featured a sample of the Manfred Mann's Earth Band's song "You Are – I Am".[7][8] The song was released with two covers, one with a famous photo of a model vomiting red nail polish, taken by Guy Bourdin; and the other containing the same image, with dimmed lighting and obscured by thick red letters.[9] Before its release the song was leaked online and was nearly scrapped.[10]

Recording

[edit]

The majority of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, including "So Appalled", was recorded in Oahu, Hawaii.[11] Following several media controversies, West decided to record his next album in a reclusive manner only working with artists he considered himself familiar with.[12] Amongst the various artists invited down to Hawaii to record songs for the album was Pusha T, a rapper known for the hip-hop duo Clipse.[13] While in Hawaii, Pusha-T commented that the very first thing he recorded was his verse for "So Appalled".[14] He favorably compared recording with West with another producer he was used to working with, Pharrell Williams, commenting that he enjoyed how the process was more of a canvas.[14]

When working with other producers usually a majority of the track was already done by the time he got to the recording studio, but with West, the process was more creative in nature.[14] Pusha described the recording process with West as a "roller coast" and stated that he never knew what to expect while working with the producer.[14] Upon hearing the production of the song, Pusha-T commented that it was so good it persuaded him to write a particularly inspired verse.[15] On the production of "So Appalled", he said "it's Kanye, the beat brings the ghost out of you."[15] The rapper described his verse as "self-explanatory" and stated that it was one of his favorite of his career.[15][16] Pusha T called his verse "his personal favorite" and that the track was originally supposed to be just him and Kanye.[17] When the song was finished, Pusha-T was so impressed with the track that he argued with West to include it on his album, stating that the song was so good it didn't matter whether or not it had leaked.[14] He commented;

"I had already raved over the record because it leaked. I was like listen, there is no way this cant [sic] be on your album, you'd have to be crazy. He was like 'Really, you think so?' I was like c'mon man we got to stop treating rap like oh it came out it's dead. When it's good, we have to make people love it and digest it. We can't treat this like mixtape throwaways like everybody else does. Everybody else does half-ass music. So what people don't know is that what Kanye did during that album is literally, I walked into the studio and I had the pick of 17 records and he was like do what you want to do to any of these, do what you like."[14]

One of the producers and guest appearances on the song is RZA, frontman of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan.[18] RZA spoke positively of West, viewing that he embodied the mentality of the Wu-Tang Clan.[19][20] RZA sent several beats to West, including some that he cited as being edgy, because he felt that West was the type who could work well on more forceful production, including the brooding beat for "So Appalled".[18] The song was nearly featured on Last Train to Paris, a studio album by Diddy.[10] According to another producer on the song, No I.D., it was offered to both Jay-Z and Diddy before it leaked.[10] West freestyled over the track for fun and found that he actually liked it enough to ultimately use it himself, stating that it would make a good group song.[10] Cyhi the Prynce's verse only appeared on the song because he "tricked" West.[21] Originally he was only supposed to deliver a quick hook, but at the time West was tired and let Cyhi record his verse alone. When West awoke and played back the tape, he was surprised to find that Cyhi had recorded an entire verse.[21] Impressed with it, West decided to include it on the track anyway.[21] The song reportedly offended M.C. Hammer, who Jay-Z references on the line "I spent another 30 / Cause unlike Hammer 30 million can't hurt me".[22]

Composition

[edit]
"So Appalled"
A 30 second sample of "So Appalled" which features Kanye West's verse over the droning, brooding composition.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"So Appalled" has been described as an epic posse cut featuring a large roster of performers.[12] West uses his verse to address his past critics and comment on his status as a celebrity.[23] West's performance on the song is notably intense, forcefully rapping lines such as "we above the law, we don't give a fuck 'bout y'all / I got dogs that'll chew a fucking hole through the wall."[6] Swizz Beatz sets the tone of the song using several ad-libs such as "one hand in the air, if you don't really care" and the line "this shit is fucking ridiculous" which is repeated several times throughout the song, delivered by nearly every rapper.[24][25][26] The second verse is delivered by Jay-Z, who spends the majority of his verse deconstructing the hate that surrounds fame and poses the question, "would you rather be underpaid or overrated?"[6] Jay-Z comments on how a career in the music industry creates many opponents.[27] The third verse is delivered by Pusha T, who muses on cocaine dealing.[27]

The song contains numerous pop culture references, including The Dark Knight, the breakfast cereal Cheerios, the business figure and future United States President, Donald Trump, rapper M.C. Hammer and "We Major", a song from West's album Late Registration.[28] On the unconventional structure of the song, Sputnikmusic's Channing Freeman said that verses were "very lengthy – Kanye appears within the first minute and then drops out for good – but the droning beat is so mesmerizing that it's barely even noticeable."[29] Andy Gill of The Independent explained the use of several guest appearances, writing "Kanye has never been short on ambition or ego, so it's no surprise he should have his guests (including such hip-hop luminaries as Jay-Z, Swizz Beats and RZA) queue up on "So Appalled" to confirm in turn how 'this shit is fucking ridiculous'".[26]

Reception

[edit]
Jay-Z was cited by several critics as the rapper who gave the best verse on "So Appalled".

"So Appalled" received mostly favorable reviews from contemporary critics. David Browne of Time wrote that he felt that the track was "built on rumbling tanks of pianos and strings" and that it sounded as if West was "marching into the apocalypse."[30] David Amidon of PopMatters compared the production to West's album Late Registration which found West "inviting his friend Jon Brion to impart slices of film scoring to the odds and ends of his tracks".[31] He commented that much like every song on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the song "contains an underscore as ambitious as the beats upfront", concluding that tracks "Hell of a Life" and "So Appalled" alone "carry enough auditory sugar to make listening to this album on any regular sort of listening device almost a fool's errand."[31]

Jayson Rodriguez of MTV praised the song, reporting "this all-star cipher is a backpackers dream as Ye's GOOD Music soldiers fire away with resolve. But the Brooklyn icon, Jay-Z, steals the show with an edgy verse dismissing his critics with a 16 that's as pushy as a New Yorker during rush hour. Please, Hammer, stop replying."[32] Slant Magazine's Cole Mathews thought that the song returned West to his hard rap origins, commenting "with the posse cuts 'Monster' and 'So Appalled', Kanye kicks out the two hardest rap tracks of his career."[33] Becky Bain of Idolater described the song as a "dramatic, gloomy epic of a tune that has each artist taking turns at the mic."[2] He expressed that trying to find Kanye's verse was "virtually a musical Where's Waldo".[2] It was noted for its impressive roster of features and was described as "another Kanye West-helmed all-star collabo" by MTV's Hawuse Ziegbe.[34] He noted that Cyhi managed to hold his own against several much more regarded rappers.[12] Embling of Tiny Mix Tapes described the song as a super-sized cypher, stating that the track was packed with plenty of "shitalking" from the group of rappers.[35]

Pitchfork's Tom Breihan criticized Cyhi's lyrical contributions to the song, stating "On the otherwise amazing Kanye track 'So Appalled', CyHi offers a black hole of a verse. His most memorable line ('If God had a iPod, I'd be on his playlist') mostly just raises questions. Like: Why does God's iPod only have one playlist?"[36] IGN's Chad Grischow described the song as a star-studded banger, and cited Jay-Z's verse as the most notable.[27] In addition, Grischow stated that the song was unfocused.[27] Chris Martins of Spin reported that much like the track "Monster", the guest appearances on the song had the potential to be toned down.[37] Chicago Sun-Times writer Thomas Conner [de] cited the line "praise due to the most high, Allah / Praise due to the most fly, Prada" as an example of genius songwriting on West's part.[38] The song charted at 14 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart as reported by Billboard, however it only spent one week on the chart.[39] The song also appeared on the South Korean Gaon Chart at number 95.[40]

Reaction from M.C. Hammer

[edit]

M.C. Hammer promised to release a track on October 31, 2010, in response to Jay-Z's "So Appalled" lyrics which he felt attacked him. Jay-Z raps a verse targeting Hammer about his financial dilemma in the 1990s. Within it Jay says: 'Hammer went broke so you know I'm more focused / I lost 30 mil' so I spent another 30 / 'Cause unlike Hammer 30 million can't hurt me'. Hammer addressed his displeasure about the diss on Twitter, claiming he would react to Jay-Z on Halloween.[41][42][43]

Hammer released a sample of his "beef" with Jay-Z (a.k.a. 'Hell Boy' according to Hammer) in a brief teaser trailer called "Better Run Run" by 'King Hammer'. At one point, it was uncertain if his reaction would be a film video, a music video or a combination of both.[44] Regardless, he claimed he would show evidence that 'Jigga worships the devil'.[45][46] It's possible that Jay-Z was offended by an analogy Hammer was conveying in an earlier interview in response to "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" on AllHipHop.[47]

On November 1, Hammer's song and video titled "Better Run Run!" hit the web in retaliation to Jay-Z's September 2010 diss towards him.[48][49] M.C. accuses Jay-Z of being in league (and in the studio) with Satan — and then Hammer defeats the devil and forces Jay to be baptized. Speaking on the video, Jacob O'Gara of Ethos Magazine wrote: "What's more likely is that this feud is the last chapter in the tragic cautionary tale of M.C. Hammer, a tale that serves as a warning to all present and future kings of hip-hop. Keep your balance on the pedestal and wear the crown strong or you'll have the Devil to pay."[50]

In an interview with BBC's DJ Semtex, Jay said he didn't mean the verses as a personal attack. "I didn't know that [Hammer's financial status] wasn't on the table for discussion!" he said. "I didn't know I was the first person ever to say that..." He continued, "When I say things, I think people believe me so much that they take it a different way — it's, like, not rap anymore at that point. I say some great things about him in the book I have coming out [Decoded] — that's wasn't a cheap plug," he laughed. "He's gonna be embarrassed, I said some really great things about him and people's perception of him. But it is what it is, he took it that wrong way, and I didn't know I said anything wrong!"[51]

Legacy

[edit]

The track was nightly performed by West and Jay-Z during their Watch the Throne Tour.[52] Pusha T performs the song live during his own live sets.[53] The song was one of the few songs on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy not to be featured on Runaway, a 35-minute music video directed by West set to music from the album.[54][55]

Personnel

[edit]
  • Produced by Kanye West and No I.D.
  • Co-produced by Mike Dean
  • Recorded by Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer and Mike Dean at the Avex Recording Studio, Honolulu and Noah Goldstein & Pete Bischoff at Electric Lady Studios, NYC
  • Engineered by Ken Lewis and Brent Kolatalo
  • Mixed by Mike Dean at Electric Lady Studios, NYC
  • Assistant Mix Engineers: Gaylord Holomalia, Christian Mochizuki & Pete Bischoff
  • Keyboards: Mike Dean & Jeff Bhasker
  • Cello: Chris "Hitchcock" Chorney
  • Cello arrangement: Mike Dean

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2010) Peak
Position
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (Billboard)[39] 14
South Korean Gaon Chart[40] 95

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[56] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

So Appalled

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"So Appalled" is a hip hop song by American rapper and producer Kanye West, released on September 24, 2010, as part of his weekly G.O.O.D. Fridays music series and later included as the seventh track on his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which was released on November 22, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. The track features guest rap verses from Jay-Z, Pusha T, CyHi the Prynce, Swizz Beatz, and RZA, with production handled by West alongside No I.D. and Mike Dean (as co-producer). The song's beat was originally produced for Jay-Z's album but the files were lost; it was recreated during sessions for in , where West initially considered scrapping it after an early version leaked online, but convinced him to revise and include it on the album. Recording took place at Avex Recording Studio in and in , incorporating samples from Manfred Mann's Earth Band's "You Are – I Am," ' "Think (About It)," and Jay-Z's "Can't Knock the Hustle" featuring . Its structure is a , showcasing rapid-fire verses from multiple artists over a bombastic, orchestral beat with heavy bass and layered instrumentation that exemplifies the album's maximalist production style. Lyrically, "So Appalled" addresses themes of fame, excess, criticism from media and peers, and the superficiality of , with West and his collaborators boasting about their success while expressing disdain for detractors. The track received positive attention for its star-studded lineup and energetic delivery upon its G.O.O.D. Fridays release, contributing to the album's critical acclaim as a hip-hop masterpiece, and it was certified gold by the RIAA in 2021 for 500,000 units sold or streamed .

Background and Development

Conception

"So Appalled" was conceived as a posse cut during the recording sessions for Kanye West's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which took place primarily at Avex Honolulu Studios in Hawaii starting in early 2010. The track emerged from West's collaborative "rap camp" environment, where he assembled a rotating group of top-tier rappers, producers, and musicians to experiment freely and push creative boundaries in response to the public backlash following his 2009 MTV Video Music Awards incident. An early version leaked online, leading West to consider discarding the track, but Pusha T persuaded him to rework it for the album. The song became part of West's GOOD Fridays promotional series, a weekly initiative launched in September 2010 to build anticipation for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by dropping free tracks every Friday. The song was released on September 24, 2010, as the 7th installment in the series, featuring an early version with contributions from key collaborators. West and his team later decided to integrate it into the final tracklist of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, where it served as a pivotal moment showcasing the album's ensemble approach. Key collaborators and were involved from the early stages of the track's development, with recording his verse in a single take during the Hawaii sessions, reflecting the improvisational energy of the process. CyHi the Prynce's participation stemmed from an impromptu moment when West, after asking him to brainstorm ideas over the beat, fell asleep ; CyHi then wrote and recorded a complete verse without prior approval, which ultimately made the cut and introduced him to a wider audience. An initial demo of the track came together around summer amid these Hawaii sessions, capturing the raw, group dynamic that defined the song's creation.

Recording Process

The primary recording for "So Appalled" occurred during Kanye West's self-imposed creative retreat in Oahu, , in 2010, at Avex Recording Studio in , where the team booked the facility's three rooms around the clock to facilitate intensive sessions. This isolated environment allowed for focused collaboration on the track, which was conceived as a featuring multiple artists. Additional recording took place at in . No I.D. and Mike Dean served as key co-producers, with No I.D. providing the core music elements—originally developed for Jay-Z's but rediscovered and refined during the sessions—and Mike Dean contributing to beat adjustments, keyboards, and initial recording alongside engineers Andrew Dawson and Anthony Kilhoffer. The sessions emphasized iterative vocal work, including multiple takes to capture verses from , , and other contributors, with notably writing and delivering his portion in a single, extended session while the instrumental looped for over an hour. CyHi the Prynce's verse was recorded spontaneously following Pusha T's contribution; initially asked only to lay down a hook while West rested, CyHi extended it into a full 16-bar verse without immediate oversight, later incorporating it into the track to secure his feature. Final mixing was handled by Mike Dean at in , with mastering by at Universal Music Studios East in , prior to the song's release as part of West's series on September 24, 2010.

Composition

Musical Elements

"So Appalled" is classified as a hip-hop and rap track featuring a luxurious, orchestral beat set at 87 beats per minute in the key of C♯ minor. The production emphasizes a dense orchestral arrangement, incorporating heavy use of strings and piano-like synth elements to create an opulent sonic landscape. Key producers Kanye West, No I.D., and co-producer Mike Dean manipulated the main loop from a sample of Manfred Mann's Earth Band's "You Are – I Am" (1979), transforming its woozy synth motif through dense reverb and distortion for a grand, atmospheric effect. The song's structure unfolds over a runtime of 6:38, beginning with an intro of ad-libs by setting a boastful tone, followed by extended rap verses from , , , , and , interspersed with chorus hooks led by . This verse-driven format prioritizes rhythmic flow over traditional verse-chorus repetition, allowing each performer ample space to deliver intricate bars against the unchanging beat. Additional layers include vocal chops from ' "Think (About It)" (1972), vocals/lyrics from feat. Mary J. Blige's "Can't Knock the Hustle" (2001), and dialogue sampled from the film (2008), accenting the offbeat every fourth count to enhance the track's propulsive . Instrumentally, the track builds a bombastic, anthemic feel through layered synths, deep bass lines, and sparse yet impactful drum patterns that underscore themes of excess without overpowering the vocals. The orchestral swells and reverberant production elements contribute to a sense of grandeur, evoking a cinematic quality that amplifies the song's indulgent atmosphere.

Lyrical Themes

"So Appalled" delves into the complexities of fame's pitfalls, portraying the isolation and that accompany celebrity status, while critiquing and excess as both alluring and destructive forces. The blend braggadocio with moments of , as the artists reflect on their elevated positions in the rap world and the disdain they hold for critics who fail to grasp their realities. Kanye West's opening verse sets this tone, juxtaposing opulent —like comparing himself to a "Spalding ball" in flight and referencing luxury brands—with a sense of detachment from everyday struggles, underscoring how fame creates an unbridgeable divide. The song's multi-artist format amplifies its thematic depth through rapid-fire deliveries, intricate internal rhymes, and nods to hip-hop history and , creating a voice of defiance and self-assurance. Jay-Z's verse exemplifies this with boastful lines like " nothin' y'all can do with the man," while alluding to M.C. Hammer's financial downfall to highlight the precariousness of success in the industry, blending with a cautionary edge. follows with coke-rap boasts that revel in excess, painting a vivid picture of drug-fueled wealth and control over personal flaws, as in his self-aware admission of a "young rich nigga that lacks faith," which ties materialism to moral ambiguity. CyHi the Prynce adds a layer of humblebrag, weaving aspiration and struggle through references to civil rights figures like Ralph David Abernathy, emphasizing pride in overcoming odds amid material gains. RZA closes with a Wu-Tang-inspired nod, reveling in extravagance through lines evoking "champagne wishes and thirty white bitches," reinforcing the song's opulent yet appalled worldview. The album version extends CyHi's verse, deepening the exploration of ambition and resilience by contrasting personal triumphs with societal barriers, adding nuance to the track's otherwise bombastic style. This expansion highlights the song's balance of celebration and , using cultural references to ground its commentary on fame's double-edged .

Personnel

leads the track as the primary rapper, delivering the opening verse that sets the tone with boastful reflections on fame, wealth, and cultural critique. As the song's central figure, he also oversaw its overall production direction. contributes a guest verse that emphasizes themes of luxury and success, while incorporating subtle disses aimed at rivals in the industry, such as a reference to via an MC Hammer metaphor. Pusha T delivers the third verse, employing drug trade metaphors to parallel his rise to fame and the arrogance of achievement, framing success as a hard-earned legend in both street and celebrity worlds. provides an extended verse focusing on his personal come-up and the excesses of newfound status. Swizz Beatz handles ad-libs and duties throughout the intro and choruses, energizing the track with calls like "one hand in the air if you don't really care" to build crowd engagement. closes the song with a philosophical verse delivered in his signature style, reflecting on mortality, family legacy, and the transient nature of power amid the track's bravado.

Production Credits

The production of "So Appalled" was handled by for Very Good Beats/Hip Hop Since 1978, for Rich Daily Since 71, and Mike Dean serving as co-producer for Dean's List Productions. performed keyboards alongside Mike Dean. Recording took place at Avex Recording Studio in , , and in , with engineering led by Anthony Kilhoffer, Andrew Dawson, and Mike Dean; additional recording engineers included and Pete Bischoff. Mixing was overseen by Mike Dean at , assisted by Gaylord Holomalia, Christian Mochizuki, and Pete Bischoff. Additional musical contributions included keyboards performed by Mike Dean and Jeff Bhasker, cello by Chris "Hitchcock" Chorney, and cello arrangements by Mike Dean. The track incorporates a cleared sample from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band's "You Are – I Am," released by Warner Bros. Records Inc./Rhino Entertainment. Kanye West also served as executive producer, alongside Shawn Carter, Gee Roberson, Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua, and Antonio "L.A." Reid. A&R direction was provided by Patrick "Plain Pat" Reynolds and Don C, with overall album coordination supporting the track's development.

Release and Promotion

Single Release

"So Appalled" was released as a digital single on September 24, 2010, as part of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Fridays series, offered as a free download exclusively on his official website. The series, announced by West on earlier that summer, aimed to build anticipation for his upcoming album by dropping one new track every Friday. The song later appeared on West's fifth studio album, , released on November 22, 2010, by and . The album version features an extended verse by , which replaced the shorter rendition from the original G.O.O.D. Fridays release. No physical single or official music video was produced for "So Appalled"; instead, it received promotion through social media announcements and radio airplay.

Live Performances

The song was first performed live on October 24, 2010, at the Brooklyn Bowl in New York City, as a surprise appearance by West. It was later performed at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, on March 19, 2011, where Kanye West and Jay-Z performed it alongside G.O.O.D. Music artists. During the from October 2011 to June 2012, West and regularly included "So Appalled" in their collaborative sets at various stops, often featuring subsets of the original performers such as or when their schedules allowed, to capture the track's dynamic. The tour's staging, including elevated platforms and dramatic lighting, enhanced the collaborative intensity, though full ensemble reunions with all guests like and were rare due to logistical challenges. In later years, West has occasionally referenced or performed parts of "So Appalled" in solo sets, but full renditions have been rare outside collaborative contexts, with no complete group performance post-tour owing to the featured artists' conflicting schedules. Featured artists like Pusha T and CyHi the Prynce have continued to perform the song in their sets, including at Camp Flog Gnaw in 2018 and Coachella in 2025.

Commercial Performance

Chart Positions

"So Appalled" achieved modest commercial performance on the charts, primarily . The song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart in 2010 but did not enter the main Hot 100. Its chart entry was largely propelled by the anticipation and success of its parent album, , following its release as part of Kanye's promotional series, rather than standalone single marketing. Internationally, "So Appalled" did not secure notable positions on official charts. In comparison, other tracks from the album, such as "Power," reached much higher peaks, including number 2 on the , highlighting the song's relatively subdued charting trajectory amid the album's overall strong reception.

Certifications and Sales

"So Appalled" was certified Gold by the (RIAA) on July 30, 2021, recognizing 500,000 units shipped in the United States, including equivalent album units from streaming and track sales under the RIAA's methodology updated in 2016. The song has not received any certifications from international recording industry associations. Subsequent performance was bolstered by the parent album , which moved over 496,000 units in its debut week. By November 2025, the track had surpassed 104 million streams on , underscoring its enduring popularity and role in achieving retroactive certification thresholds through accumulated digital plays.

Reception

Critical Response

Upon its release as part of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Fridays series in September , "So Appalled" generated significant buzz among critics for its lavish production and ensemble cast, contributing to the anticipation surrounding West's fifth album, . highlighted the track's opulent sound and commended Jay-Z's verse as the standout performance, noting its brooding intensity amid the weekly free releases. Similarly, Spin described it as a star-studded banger that exemplified the collaborative energy of West's roster, praising the verses from and for their sharp delivery on themes of fame and excess. Rolling Stone viewed the song's extravagant length and multiple contributors as a deliberate thematic match for the album's exploration of indulgence, with the orchestral strings and underscoring the performers' boasts of wealth and status. The track earned praise for its , as critics appreciated how the dense layering encouraged repeated listens to unpack the rapid-fire lyrics and cultural references, despite its nearly seven-minute runtime. Aggregate scores for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy reflected this acclaim, with compiling a 94/100 from 45 reviews, often citing "So Appalled" as a high point in the album's posse-cut tradition. However, not all responses were unqualified endorsements. The Guardian characterized the track as unfocused due to its overcrowded vocals, quoting its own refrain—"this shit is fucking ridiculous"—to emphasize the chaotic ensemble dynamic that sometimes diluted individual contributions. echoed this sentiment in its album review, pointing to the overcrowding in the posse cut format as a minor flaw amid otherwise innovative production, though it still rated the full project 5/5 stars for its bold ambition. Overall, initial 2010 reactions tied the song's reception to the G.O.O.D. Fridays hype, positioning it as a pivotal teaser that showcased West's ability to rally elite talent while grappling with fame's darker undercurrents.

Industry Reactions

M.C. Hammer responded critically to 's verse on "So Appalled," which referenced Hammer's past financial with the line, "And Hammer went broke, so you know I'm more focused / I lost 30 mil', so I spent another 30 / 'Cause unlike Hammer, 30 million can't hurt me." On November 1, 2010, Hammer released the diss track "Better Run Run!," accusing of selling his soul to the devil and portraying him as a satanic figure in the accompanying , where a look-alike is chased through the woods by a demonic entity. The feud escalated online, with Hammer publicly challenging 's integrity and later dismissing the response as outdated, stating in an interview that Hammer's career peak was in the past. Positive reactions from peers highlighted the track's collaborative strength. , who contributed the hook, praised Kanye West's work ethic during the recording of , describing it as embodying the disciplined, innovative mentality of the and crediting West's focus for elevating the project's quality. later reflected on his verse as a personal career highlight, calling it one of his best performances and a standout moment that showcased his lyrical prowess amid elite competition. In the broader hip-hop community, "So Appalled" was embraced by fans as an emblematic portrayal of rap excess, with its boastful on fame's pitfalls and opulent resonating as a critique and celebration of . The track has been sampled and referenced extensively in mixtapes and underground releases, including Conway the Machine's "So Appalled," underscoring its influence on subsequent production styles. Its enduring popularity persists in hip-hop discussions, often cited in analyses of posse cuts and Kanye's peak-era lyricism for its raw energy and cultural commentary. The song's legacy extends to shaping posse cut formats in later projects, such as those on and Kanye West's collaborative album (2011), where multi-artist showcases echoed "So Appalled's" structure of high-profile features and thematic bravado. Viewed as a high point in Kanye's collaborative era, it exemplified his ability to assemble star-studded ensembles without overshadowing individual contributions, with no major updates or re-releases following the album's certification at 3× platinum by the RIAA as of March 2022.

References

  1. https://genius.com/Kanye-west-so-appalled-lyrics
  2. https://genius.com/Kanye-west-so-appalled-lyrics/q/producer
  3. https://genius.com/a/no-i-d-said-kanye-west-s-so-appalled-was-actually-made-for-jay-z-s-the-blueprint-3
  4. https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/So-Appalled/
  5. https://www.stereogum.com/2107693/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/reviews/the-anniversary/
  6. https://www.complex.com/music/a/noah-callahan-bever/kanye-west-project-runaway
  7. https://rapradar.com/2010/10/20/cyhi-da-prynce-on-appalled-verse/
  8. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/cyhi-the-prynce-no-dope-on-sundays/
  9. https://www.complex.com/music/a/andrew-barber/no-id-tells-all-the-stories-behind-his-classic-records
  10. http://albumlinernotes.com/My_Dark_Twisted_Fantasy.html
  11. https://tunebat.com/Info/So-Appalled-Kanye-West-JAY-Z-Pusha-T-CyHi-Swizz-Beatz-RZA/6K07Ahf6V7CAQn0ikrOztl
  12. https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-a-sonic-analysis-of-kanye-wests-magnum-opus/
  13. https://music.apple.com/us/song/so-appalled-feat-jay-z-pusha-t-prynce-cy-hi-swizz-beatz-rza/1445866460
  14. https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/So-Appalled/samples/
  15. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14880-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/
  16. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/02/mc-hammer-jay-z
  17. https://www.complex.com/music/a/frazier-tharpe/pusha-t-best-verses
  18. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1062&context=backstage-pass
  19. https://rapradar.com/2010/09/25/mc-hammer-appalled-by-jay-z-reference/
  20. https://pusha-t.com/2011/11/03/pusha-t-talks-the-difference-between-working-with-kanye-and-pharrell-and-writing-his-im-so-appalled-verse/
  21. https://www.complex.com/music/a/julia-pimentel/swizz-beatz-on-the-one-thing-that-still-drives-him-crazy-about-so-appalled
  22. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/kanye-west/so-appalled
  23. https://pitchfork.com/news/40186-kanye-west-drops-new-track-with-jay-z-rza/
  24. https://consequence.net/2010/08/kanye-west-announces-g-o-o-d-fridays/
  25. https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-album-9486939/
  26. https://www.avclub.com/cataloging-g-o-o-d-fridays-kanye-west-s-beautiful-dar-1798286945
  27. https://consequence.net/2010/10/kanye-west-surprises-the-brooklyn-bowl-924/
  28. https://consequence.net/2011/03/kanye-jay-z-and-friends-bring-g-o-o-d-music-to-sxsw-2011/
  29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxr335510-w
  30. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Kanye+West&ti=So+Appalled
  31. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/why-have-sales-of-kanye-wests-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-1196172/
  32. https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/5K4W6rqBFWDnAN6FQUkS6x_songs.html
  33. https://www.spin.com/2010/11/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-roc-fella/
  34. https://www.metacritic.com/music/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/kanye-west
  35. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/19/kanye-west-review
  36. https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-mw0002035833
  37. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/mc-hammer-releases-jay-z-diss-video-952096/
  38. https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/mc-hammer-drops-jay-z-diss-better-run-run-54791/
  39. https://www.rap-up.com/article/2010/11/01/video-mc-hammer-better-run-run-jay-z-diss
  40. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jay-z-responds-to-mc-hammer-slam-102230/
  41. https://rapradar.com/2011/12/18/rza-speaks-on-kanyes-work-ethic/
  42. https://hiphopdx.com/news/pusha-t-says-his-verse-on-kanye-wests-so-appalled-is-his-personal-favorite
  43. https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/06/50-greatest-rap-verses-since-2010.html
  44. https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/So-Appalled/sampled/
  45. https://www.treblezine.com/best-hip-hop-albums-21st-century/
  46. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/watch-the-throne-jay-z-and-kanye-wests-10-best-collaborations-468192/
  47. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Kanye+West&ti=My+Beautiful+Dark+Twisted+Fantasy#search_section
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