When examining overall themes, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy definitely brought back the idea of concept records, while also inspiring the complex, opposing themes we see in today’s music. MBDTF would eventually flower into an undeniable piece of art, so compelling it would eclipse all of his perceived missteps and reassert his prominence in our culture. Retreating to a self-imposed exile in Hawaii, Kanye began crafting an album that would – in his own words – “win back the public.” And he did just that. At around the same time, Kanye had just broken up with model Amber Rose and faced heavy criticism for the Taylor Swift incident at the 2009 VMAs, which needs no explaining.

However, 808’s heavy use of autotune and minimalist structure proved to be Kanye’s biggest departure from the sound that initially launched his career and subsequently alienated his rap base. His album prior to MBDTF, 808s & Heartbreak (2008), was no different. Love him or hate him, the sheer artistry and unorthodox sound he brings to the table is nothing short of brilliant. It goes without saying that Kanye is a once-in-a-generation influencer.

Looking back almost a decade after its initial release, we hope to examine some of its influences on modern hip-hop and music production. And Kanye - who in spite of his recent stumbles remains an exemplary showman - delivered on every count.

With MBDTF, Kanye created an introspective masterpiece that melds pop potency with an epic splatter derived from alien electronic, R&B ballads, and classic rock. November 22nd marked another full year that has passed since Kanye West dropped one of his greatest pieces of work, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010).

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