Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Pusha T, RZA and CyHi Da Prynce all repeatedly chant, “It’s like that sometimes, I mean ridiculous / It’s like that sometimes, the shit is ridiculous” over the track, So Appalled, debuted on Ye’s fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. And that’s exactly what the whole entire album is, ridiculous. Ridiculously good.

Kanye is not just a rapper. In fact, it’s hard to place him into any particular genre without suffocating him. He has evolved as an artist and has found a way to use his creative talent  in music production as a form of social stability. His latest creative journey, his fantasy, is enchanting, open, poetic, dark, insane, twisted –an all around hip hop and cultural masterpiece.

Reading the credits for MBDTF explains everything behind the mind blowing beats and influential lyrics. MBDTF originally entitled, Good Ass Job, features the voice talents of John Legend, Dwele, Fergie, Rihanna, Chris Rock, Jay-Z, RZA and Drake, to name a few. Elton John even has a piano solo and only Kanye West could get Alicia Keys to sing soft background vocals.

Bon Iver also played a big role in the album’s production. Kanye flew out Justin Vernon of Bon Iver to do the vocals on the track Lost In The World, which was sampled from Iver’s Woods. Somewhere in the midst of the Lost In The World rhythmic trance mix, the song momentarily cuts to the album’s first single Power.

The fluidity of composition between Lost In The World and Power is definitely Kanye’s redemption. Power was quickly followed by the Power Remix. With help from Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz, Kanye addressed some of the controversy surrounding his name over the past year.

“My socket was out the plug / Now it’s time to get the power back, clap, clap / I seen people abuse power, use power, misuse and then lose power / Power to the people, at last, it’s a new hour.”

Kanye singing off-key in Runaway alludes him as human. He’s not perfect and he apologizes. Well, kind of. Basically, it’s a Kanye apology followed by a Kanye shrug.

“Yeah, I always find somethin’ wrong / You been puttin’ up with my shit just way too long / I’m so gifted at findin’ what I don’t like the most / So I think it’s time for us to have a toast.”

There are also rumors that the track Blame Game addresses his break up with ex-fiancé Amber Rose.

“On a bathroom wall I wrote / “I’d rather argue with you than to be with someone else” (else, else, else)”

Kanye ends Blame Game with the interpretation that he overheard his ex having an intimate conversation with another man. The whole album has all the answers and yet plays into the fantasy which seems to be his life –beautiful, dark and twisted.

MBDTF is getting great reviews and is currently number one on the Hits Daily Double Chart. His singles are also climbing to the top of the Billboard Charts. Proof that most people still have faith in Kanye, forgiving him and his ego.

Who Will Survive In America? Kanye West may have a shot.  Stream the album here and judge for yourself.

Words by Yael Reed Wachspress