Kanye West - "Only One"
A critical Review by
JD Collins
After almost a year, one of the most innovative artists of this generation (maybe ever), Kanye West drops the music video for the first single on his seventh solo studio album, "Only One". But before we go into Ye's new music and vision let's touch on the controversial year and a half Ye's had and how this year may be different.
First Ye dropped his polarizing, experiential studio album, "Yeezus" which split audiences and music critics alike. The album was sonically innovative but angry and confusing to many fans and critics. Along with dropping an album that left many confused Ye's rants and streams of consciousness on stage and on radios caused just as much controversy and criticism as the album. Fans will never forget his famous interview with MTV's Sway and the phrase "Sway you ain't got the answers" will live in pop culture forever. Many even felt his marriage to the infamous Kim Kardashian would damage his career as musician and star but it seems in 2015 Yeezus may prove his doubters wrong.
One of the things Kanye vented about on stage and on radio was his lack of respect in the fashion world and the disrespect NIKE has shown him in the past even with the success of his own shoe line, The Air Yeezy's. But in 2014 Kanye inked an even better shoe deal with Adidas and promises much better product. Coming off a successful Yeezus tour and shoe deal, Rolling Stone Magazine named Kanye's 4th studio album "808s & Heartbreak" one of the most groundbreaking albums of all-time. This critical acclaim put Ye on the same pedestal as his idols Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, etc. For people following Kanye's career this critical acclaim from Rolling Stone is huge because we all have watch Kanye West strive for greatness and genius and steadily push the envelop in hip-hop, rap, R&B, and pop music in general. These breakthroughs in 2014 are catapulting Kanye to a fresh start in 2015 where he dropped his first single, "Only One" on new years day.
I've been a fan of Kanye since he was was just a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records and I have noticed how his sound has evolved over the years. At first listen of "Only One" as a fan and critic I was surprised and relieved at the same time. The song was minimalistic, melodic, simple compared to the electronic layering of songs from "Yeezus". "Only One" features heartfelt lyrics about his deceased mother and first child, daughter Nori West. Also something that could play a huge factor in Kanye's career and on his new album is that many of the tracks were co-produced by Paul McCartney from the Beatles! Leave it up to Kanye to get an ex-Beatle and music legend to lend his hand to a hip-hop/rap artist. "Only One" and the abruptly released single from Rihanna & Kanye "FourFiveSeonds" see Kanye transcending genres. The tone of these songs gives me a bluegrass, country feel, as if Kanye is striving for a place in the contemporary pop American music canon.
All and all Kanye's first two tracks from his 7th album are solid, heartfelt, minimalistic in production, and melodic. Hopefully Ye doesn't go too pop on us and gives us true hip-hop fans a taste of the old Kanye. The edgy, braggadocious, witty, sonically innovative Kanye we all to love to hate.
View Music Video here: www.kanyewest.com
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