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The Life of Pablo
The Life of Pablo is the seventh studio album by the American rapper Kanye West. It was released on February 14, 2016, through GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. West recorded it between 2013 and 2016, and led its production with the executive producers Rick Rubin and Noah Goldstein. Guest appearances include The-Dream, Kelly Price, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kid Cudi, Desiigner, Rihanna, Young Thug, Chris Brown, the Weeknd, Ty Dolla Sign, Vic Mensa, Sia, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, and Sampha.
West summarized The Life of Pablo as his interpretation of the Gospel, and music journalists have described its sound as blending hip-hop with gospel music. Critics described its soundscape as intentionally messy and fragmented, combining the sampling, Auto-Tune, avant-pop, and industrial rap of West's previous works in an experimental fashion. It often shifts between subjects abruptly, as West exhibits braggadocio and paranoia. Themes include his Christian faith, family issues, and celebrity status. West changed the title frequently throughout the recording process, and the final one refers to three individuals: the drug dealer Pablo Escobar, the artist Pablo Picasso, and Paul the Apostle.
West played an early version of The Life of Pablo at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2016, before the initial release on Tidal. West continued to work on it post-release; an updated version was released on other streaming services and for download on April 1. It was supported by six singles, including the Billboard Hot 100 hits "Famous", "Father Stretch My Hands", and "Fade", and West's Saint Pablo Tour throughout 2016. The Life of Pablo received positive reviews, with particular attention paid to the fragmented, unfinished nature of the composition and release. Multiple publications named it one of 2016's best albums, with Paste ranking among the "300 Greatest Albums of All Time".
The Life of Pablo received five nominations at the 2017 Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album, though numerous publications deemed its lack of an Album of the Year nomination a snub. Following Tidal's initial disclosure of its streaming data and its release to competing streaming services, The Life of Pablo debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming the first album to do so primarily through streaming. It also debuted at number one in Norway, and in the top ten in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. It was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2022.
In November 2013, Kanye West began working on his seventh studio album, with the working title of So Help Me God intended for a 2014 release date. Q-Tip announced he and Rick Rubin, one of the executive producers of West's sixth studio album Yeezus (2013), would produce the album. Early recording sessions resulted in several tracks released as standalone singles or given to other artists, including West's Paul McCartney collaborations "All Day", "Only One", and the McCartney and Rihanna collaboration "FourFiveSeconds". In 2015, West announced the album's new title as SWISH, though he noted the title could change. West announced in January 2016 that SWISH would be released on February 11. He released a new song "Real Friends" that month simultaneously with a snippet of "No More Parties in LA". This signified a revival of the GOOD Fridays initiative where West had released new singles every Friday. On January 26, 2016, West revealed he had renamed the album Waves.
The track "Famous", featuring vocals by frequent West collaborator Rihanna and American hip-hop recording artist Swizz Beatz, was scrutinized on social media for its controversial lyrical reference to American singer Taylor Swift, because West had interrupted her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
On February 9, 2016, several days ahead of its release, West changed the title to The Life of Pablo. On February 11, West premiered an early version of the album at Madison Square Garden during the presentation of his Yeezy Season 3 clothing line. Following the preview, West announced he would modify the track list again before its public release. He delayed the release further to finalize the recording of the track "Waves" at the behest of co-writer Chance the Rapper.
The Life of Pablo was recorded between 2013 and 2016, though recording for the track "No More Parties in LA" started in 2010, during the sessions for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Ty Dolla Sign reported that writing and recording for the album took place in Mexico in September 2014; he recalled McCartney and Rihanna were present. American rappers Pusha T and Consequence confirmed that they had ended their feud to work with West on music to be released by him.
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The Life of Pablo
The Life of Pablo is the seventh studio album by the American rapper Kanye West. It was released on February 14, 2016, through GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. West recorded it between 2013 and 2016, and led its production with the executive producers Rick Rubin and Noah Goldstein. Guest appearances include The-Dream, Kelly Price, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kid Cudi, Desiigner, Rihanna, Young Thug, Chris Brown, the Weeknd, Ty Dolla Sign, Vic Mensa, Sia, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, and Sampha.
West summarized The Life of Pablo as his interpretation of the Gospel, and music journalists have described its sound as blending hip-hop with gospel music. Critics described its soundscape as intentionally messy and fragmented, combining the sampling, Auto-Tune, avant-pop, and industrial rap of West's previous works in an experimental fashion. It often shifts between subjects abruptly, as West exhibits braggadocio and paranoia. Themes include his Christian faith, family issues, and celebrity status. West changed the title frequently throughout the recording process, and the final one refers to three individuals: the drug dealer Pablo Escobar, the artist Pablo Picasso, and Paul the Apostle.
West played an early version of The Life of Pablo at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2016, before the initial release on Tidal. West continued to work on it post-release; an updated version was released on other streaming services and for download on April 1. It was supported by six singles, including the Billboard Hot 100 hits "Famous", "Father Stretch My Hands", and "Fade", and West's Saint Pablo Tour throughout 2016. The Life of Pablo received positive reviews, with particular attention paid to the fragmented, unfinished nature of the composition and release. Multiple publications named it one of 2016's best albums, with Paste ranking among the "300 Greatest Albums of All Time".
The Life of Pablo received five nominations at the 2017 Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album, though numerous publications deemed its lack of an Album of the Year nomination a snub. Following Tidal's initial disclosure of its streaming data and its release to competing streaming services, The Life of Pablo debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming the first album to do so primarily through streaming. It also debuted at number one in Norway, and in the top ten in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. It was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2022.
In November 2013, Kanye West began working on his seventh studio album, with the working title of So Help Me God intended for a 2014 release date. Q-Tip announced he and Rick Rubin, one of the executive producers of West's sixth studio album Yeezus (2013), would produce the album. Early recording sessions resulted in several tracks released as standalone singles or given to other artists, including West's Paul McCartney collaborations "All Day", "Only One", and the McCartney and Rihanna collaboration "FourFiveSeconds". In 2015, West announced the album's new title as SWISH, though he noted the title could change. West announced in January 2016 that SWISH would be released on February 11. He released a new song "Real Friends" that month simultaneously with a snippet of "No More Parties in LA". This signified a revival of the GOOD Fridays initiative where West had released new singles every Friday. On January 26, 2016, West revealed he had renamed the album Waves.
The track "Famous", featuring vocals by frequent West collaborator Rihanna and American hip-hop recording artist Swizz Beatz, was scrutinized on social media for its controversial lyrical reference to American singer Taylor Swift, because West had interrupted her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
On February 9, 2016, several days ahead of its release, West changed the title to The Life of Pablo. On February 11, West premiered an early version of the album at Madison Square Garden during the presentation of his Yeezy Season 3 clothing line. Following the preview, West announced he would modify the track list again before its public release. He delayed the release further to finalize the recording of the track "Waves" at the behest of co-writer Chance the Rapper.
The Life of Pablo was recorded between 2013 and 2016, though recording for the track "No More Parties in LA" started in 2010, during the sessions for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Ty Dolla Sign reported that writing and recording for the album took place in Mexico in September 2014; he recalled McCartney and Rihanna were present. American rappers Pusha T and Consequence confirmed that they had ended their feud to work with West on music to be released by him.