My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - "The Last Real Masterpiece"

At some point three years ago - Kanye West was probably the most hated man in not only music, but show-business as a whole.  His Taylor Swift stage-bomb exploits; left him humiliated, embarrassed and hated by all. Myself included, I had lost a lot of faith in the egotistic rapper, prior to the VMA's even. More so, as a result of his then latest album 808's and Heartbreaks, which I felt at the time was very substandard to its predecessors. And now with his drunken exploits at the VMA's, I truly thought this was the end for Kanye - (giggles) BOY WAS I WRONG! After exiling himself for a year in Hawaii, many critics, journalists and fans all discussed what exactly the ostracised rapper was doing - when in actuality, he was making a modern classic album. 

After leaked versions of the first single Power marauded the internet, the official version was finally released in July with the visuals for the track, causing mad  hysteria . It seemed as though Yeezy was back, but a Yeezy who had now mastered his own sound (I'll come back to that later). Following this, he further blessed us with weekly free giveaways building up to the album, noted as "G.O.O.D FRIDAYS" and mind you despite 3 of the songs being on the album, most if not all were album-worthy. This, plus the short-film Runaway whetted everyone's appetite for the album itself. November 22nd, 2010 *Wipes Tear*.

Ok, now this is where I explain why I think My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (MBDTF) is a masterpiece and why all hip-hop albums thereafter have to try and beat it - to be mentioned as a modern classic...

I won't go into great detail about the songs within the actual album, (you can listen to them for yourself really). But, what I will do is discuss the album as a composition. As a whole Kanye made an all-encompassing album - by that I mean the album is a construct of each of his previous four albums. Particularly, the production, you can hear the soulful samples in songs like Devil in a New Dress reminiscent of The College Dropout, opera-like and stadium'esc sounds in All of the Lights similar to Late Registration and Graduation, while his recent spurge of using auto-tune which is prominent in 808's is present throughout the album, especially Runaway. While encompassing all his previous sounds - he had now mastered it and rendered something newer and more daring, with his Rock-like samples and heavier bass production which is most appreciated in the overwhelming song Power. Here, in terms of production we found a Kanye West who had grown to new heights beyond conventional hip-hop, which of course he was always doing with his previous albums - nonetheless he did it this time embracing his previous sound and evolving to a new level. Having said that, it is clear to see why Kanye considers himself to be more than just a rapper- but rather a great artist that raps. 

It is often debated that Kanye is a producer who can rap rather the other way round, or that he's good at both. Nonetheless, with this album, he demonstrated that he is very much so, a strong rapper, who can compete with best lyrically. Without a doubt in my mind his best display of lyricism was in MBDTF - and no song on the album best displays this than Gorgeous. In actual fact, Kanye denounces the negative stigma of him being a producer who can rap, in Gorgeous where he goes on to say -  'Act like I ain't had a belt in two classes, I ain't got it I'm going after for whoever who has it, I'm coming after whoever! Who has it?'. Firstly, this is a really dope line to be honest - more importantly he negates the stigma of him being a producer who can rap, but rather a champion at both crafts and to be fair, off this effort, who can really argue with him. 

I mean, what I most appreciate about the album is it's duality - by that I mean; it's an album for all lovers of music, whether you're lover of hip-hop or not, but at the very same time it still resonates with the core foundations of hip-hop, so not straying away from the genre itself. It has probably the best posse-cut track in the last decade with So Appalled, as well as an honest and very candid song that all listeners can relate to in Devil in a New Dress. Plus, it really demonstrated and allowed other artists/producers to flourish- both his own artists in G.O.O.D Music, but as well as emerging/new-gen' rappers like Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross to drop arguably their best verses. 

Having said all of this, I genuinely feel this album deserved all the plaudits it received- considering Kanye was all against it at that specific time, he really did deliver a stellar album that will go down as a classic, if it isn't already. I mean it got 5 mics from The Source even (who even knew they still existed lol). This is certainly, in my opinion the best hip-hop album in the new decade (2010- ) and probably since the Carter 3 or well before even. In which, for me this is the plateau that all forthcoming attempts should aim to top - a reference of what a modern classic is, if you will. 

Cheers...

Was it worth it? Superstar goes as 7 new recruits enter...

Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring winner against West Ham last season

After weeks of speculation, near confirmation and U-Turns it can finally be confirmed that Real Madrid have secured the signature of their marquee summer target Gareth Bale (subject to a medical); for a world record transfer of 100m Euros (£85.3m), (whether he is worth it or not, is a whole different debate in itself). Bale who now carries the hefty price tag has all to prove his worth, as he can now add himself to the ever glowing list of Galácticos.

While, the Bale saga was taking place and receiving mass media attention, a lot of action was happening behind the backrooms of the Lane. As Daniel Levy and Franco Baldini were fashioning the plans for the post-Bale Tottenham - which has now resulted in the signing of some of Europe's top footballers, seven to be exact. Which totaled to a staggering £110.5m and with a few more hours left in the transfer window who's to say it's stopping there.

Anyhow, while on paper it does seem all rosey for Spurs, one can't dismiss that Tottenham are ultimately weaker without Bale whether or not they've signed some of Europe's top players.  Don't get me wrong, the signings Spurs have made are top draw and any Football Manager fan like myself has probably tried to buy one of the lucky seven before. However, Bale is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world and has been the best player in the Premier-League over the past two seasons. Thus,  being the linchpin and saviour for Spurs for the last couple of seasons - to which weaker counterparts truly do not equate to the former Spurs superstar, that is Bale...

New Tottenham summer signings Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen

Yes, you heard right, I said superstar! Need I remind you of his stats last season; 21 goals with 7 assists in the league alone, with a run of 11 goals in 10 games this very year. While his stats speak for himself; he was very much a big-match/cometh the hour, cometh the man type of player for Tottenham, with his spectacular strike against West Ham in the final minutes of the game coming to mind. Whether or not you agree, Bale was single-handedly deciding games for Spurs last season.

Which is why I feel they are now quite significantly weaker without Bale. For two specific reasons. The first being the most obvious - while they now have a squad with a lot of depth and quality, they are now plagued with a bulky squad full of stars that want to start. Which,  of course will need time to gel as many of these players have been bought after or in the middle of the preseason period. 

Secondly, Spurs's recent success was built around Bale and the "Bale factor" worked for Tottenham, however, now they have to completely restructure and find a formula that works, bearing in mind its a Premier-League season where in my opinion there's six teams who are all close to each other in terms of quality and all fighting for the promise land that is the "Top 4". Had they somehow managed to keep Bale and added to their squad they would have definitely in my mind finished among the top 4. Now however it'll be increasingly difficult even with the quality they've added. 

Yes I can hear you saying how much creativity Eriksen has, or that Lamela scored 15 in 35 for Roma last season. Regardless of this it's a completely different league, style of play and these players need time to gel with their new teammates. 

Having said all of this, this is football and it is a matter of opinion and believe me, my opinion has been wrong a number of times (I said Liverpool were going to win the league in 09/10 and they finished 7th :/).  For all I know Tottenham could be champions come May. Nonetheless we'll let the football do the talking. Have a good one people!