My favorite track is 'Im in It' the drum break on the beat switch never gets old. I hated the Yeezus album cover at first, but looking back there's nothing but respect for the audacity to strip down the cd format bare and have it be recognized as a body of work for Ye.
Yeezus literally changed my life. Everything from the guerrilla marketing to the overall soundscapes really opened my mind to all the boundaries that art can break. The album cover will always be my favorite. I think my favorite song is probably Blood On The Leaves just because of how raw and emotional it is but I honestly love every song on Yeezus.
the entire aesthetic and vibe surrounding everything during the yeezus era is my absolute favorite. the concert merch, his style, the masks and the sounds are incredible. i truly think that yeezus is one of hip-hops most important records for shaping and molding how industrial experimental music can work so beautifully with the sounds and production of modern hip-hop and rap. utterly flawless
My favorite track is “Guilt Trip”. I really like how Kanye incorporates the piano with the synths to create a masterpiece. Also the vocals and the Cudi part make it even more good! Rip Virgil 🕊🖤
I’d say my favorite has to be new slaves. The passion he was spitting with on the song is unreal. To me, it takes you on a journey of being pissed off and screaming and letting that emotion out. And right when you’ve gotten to the point of letting it all out, relief hits with the outro, and it’s almost as if you’re alleviated of your angst. Awesome track
Favorite track has to be guilt trip. i love all the synthesized sounds and just the sound scape is amazing. with that kanye autotune. just the absolute perfect YEEZUS track imo. Super cool and informative video too. I love virgil. RIP.
My favourite track is on sight. Its a polarising start to the album but a needed one. It throws you directly into the sonic deep-end with the blown out synth tracks and ye’s verse is still heard over all of it. Perfect way to start an album like yeezus..
This cover is the ultimate cover once you see the rest and know the backstory. I’m very glad you actually spoke on the theming of minimalism and maximalism and there was no better way to show how open the casket for CD’s was. the orange tape highlights the temptation to peek in and see what it sounds like and to me that’s the next step in getting the full message. Also my fav song has to be guilt trip or send it up
My favorite is definitely On Sight, the surprise of playing it for the first time was the best and I love how the cover stands out with it's shine and red label
I think Kanye's final design choice is a very clean and interesting cover, and it serves as a good send-off to the music industry's focus on CD's. As for my favorite track, definitely Black Skinhead because it's just a banger in the car and a classic. I really love your videos man, I was surprised when I finally checked your sub count. I expected a few hundred thousand. You're definitely on your way though!!
I'm truly inspired by Abloh's process and especially since we've been getting more information about his work with Kanye. With enough work, I'll match half that man's creativity one day.
My favorite track is Bound 2. And Kanye's album cover choice was perfect. It breaks all rules about a final project. Imagine turning in a book report to your teacher with nothing besides blank pages and your name written on the back of the last page. 😱🤯
i think my favorite is also hold my liquor, just the sound that it brings to us feels different but I think it was a great idea to use the cd just as simple like that to show it pure as it said in the video that cd’s we’re dying because of itunes so i found it so fascinating
my favorite track is guilt trip, even tho cudi didn’t really give clearance to use his vocals, they fit perfectly. cudi 🤝 ye. the final cover is brilliant. while trying to make a statement with it, i feel like this was the birth of ye’s use of minimalism
I love how unique the cover is and looking at the other more grand and detailed iterations makes me appreciate the direction they went in, the simplicity I feel really captures the rawness of the sound. My favorite songs are On Sight, New Slaves, and Guilt Trip, I can't just choose one lol
My favourite track of the album is Black Skinhead, I love how direct he is with his story and references. I also like the album cover, I have to say that I was fascinated with the ones that didn’t make it. I just can’t see a different cover than the one we all know
my favorite has to be 'Send It Up' theres something spo hypnotic about the alarm in the background that i cant get enought even after 10 years of its release ..nice video
That first listen of on sight I will never forget... have to go with New Slaves for favourite track. The final album cover is still the best. Would’ve been a cop out if it was condo art painting again. Still love how Yeezus is the open casket death to CD’s and that’s when stream services started to gain traction!!
That’s my favourite track too. I think that the simplicity of that cover is exactly what makes it so iconic, it was probably the perfect choice artistically.
The Takeaway : My favorite track off of Yeezus would be Black Skinhead. Not just the song but the entire back story of how Rick Rubin got involved and helped steer its minimalistic, primal sound to the forefront in a matter of three weeks. There's one part of this interview where Rick Rubin explained that he had to find a way to make it sound cohesive with numerous tracks causing mixing problems and the only was to eliminate them was to strip it down bare, which lead to the more tribal drums focus. Genius. The George Conte influence and work on this and on other album covers with Virgil Abloh is one of the reasons I went to the exhibit he had at The New School Museum in NYC. It really had an impact on me.
My favorite songs from Yeezus are Bound 2 and Guilt Trip. Bound 2 sounds very different from the rest of the album and is a song I can always come back to. Its heartfelt and fun. Guilt Trip sounds unlike anything I have heard before and I love Kanye's vocals, the production and Kid Cudi's feature is absolutely amazing. I used to think that the cover was kind of boring, but its really grown on me. I think the minimalism contrasts nicely with the albums loud abrasive songs and I appreciate the CD sendoff aspect. I also like how different the album cover looks as opposed to the rest of Ye's discography.
my favorite track has got to be hold my liquor too. the guitar synth riff towards the end is unmatched in how raw and emotional it is. in regards to the album cover, i think that i liked some of the alternative covers more (specifically the gold foil covers) just due to personal preference, but i honestly think that the final decision was what was right for the album. i also think that it's really a mindblow that this album is a "sendoff" for CDs since TLOP came out 3 years later and was only available for digital download. really cool in my op.
As a black creative my favourite song on yeezus is new slaves, but send it up is a close runner up just because of it´s "apocalyptic" and different sound, the sirens sound like a world collapsing to me. Even tough all of the Yeezus covers impress and inspire especially as "remixes" of michealangelos david are just dope, I just have to think of all the amazing yeezus fancovers that exist and see its true worth
My favorite is Guilt Trip, the journey it went through is interesting to me as it was originally produced by S1 and had Jay-Z on it because it was on WTT, but (kinda like the cover to Yeezus) would have some changes done to it, like Hov being removed and S1's drums being swapped for Travis', even tho we don't know how the OG sounded, the current one we have feels a bit more naked like the Yeezus cover. Weird comparison but yeah, as far as covers I liked, I somewhat prefer one of Joe's earlier ones, it was orange and sorta had a prescription label on it which fit the OG title at the time, but the final cover is great too.
My favourite tracks are New Slaves and Blood on the Leaves. The raw energy ye provides vocally on yeezus gets me hyped every time. And also the subject matter of the songs. whether it be problems in the industry, rasicm in the modern day climate. Or just something simple like I'm In It. The cover signifies the production very well to me. The just plain cd with the red tape like a bootleg disc. Ye and his team are on a whole other level.
My fav track is New Slaves. You can feel the anger during first couple of verses. The beat switch in the end is almost euphoric, similar to Beethoven's symphonies.
Yeezus is my favorite Kanye album. Used to pick Blood on the Leaves as easily my favorite because of those crazy horns...but now I'm leaning towards Hold My Liquor!!
After seeing the final choice it doesn't surprise me that there was a deeper meaning. After seeing Vice video of his deconstruction or minimalistic take on songs it makes sense in hindsight bias that he would do more than what meets the eyes even if we were not able to understand it right away. My first initial impression when it came out was that it was a weird way of boasting something very simplistic and call it a masterpiece. This video definitely makes me appreciate the work that was done and understand a bit better of Kanye overall.
That sculpture is so sick, but even if it fits the album's aesthetic, it doesn't fit the album's message, and most important it doesn't feel like Kanye. I'm both very happy and kinda sad that they scrapped it, reminds me of the cover on Atrocity Exhibition (Probably my favourite album cover possibly of all time)
one of if not the last album designs virgil did, was 'talk memory' for badbadnotgood. in my opinion it pays homage to the work he did on yeezus in the sense that it uses the physical format to create the art. it comes in a functional printed plastic sleeve which not only protects the record but also finalises the art, and it's sealed with a coloured sticker the same way that yeezus. also like yeezus the album art on streaming services is literally a photo of the record in its sleeve. in an age where designers are prioritising their work to attract eyes on streaming platforms, it's incredibly bold to forfeit the effectiveness of your album art on streaming in order to create physical art that only people who will be able to touch and see the physical media will be able to appreciate. for that it's one of my favourite album designs and is up with yeezus for me his design for yeezus was a funeral for the CD format, and talk memory was a celebration of the vinyl record format
i think the cover of Aleph by Gessalfestein had a big influence in the process. He worked on the album and the industrial sound vision came pretty much from this album too.
Haven’t seen the video fully yet but gessalfestein was a huge influence on yeezus, so if this dude doesn’t mention him he’s tripping. The aleph cover is super similar
Kanye wanted to work with Gesaffelstein after hearing the song "Viol". Aleph came out 4 months after Yeezus. Aleph's cover is a nod to Yeezus, not the other way around. It's very likely though that Gesaffelstein influenced the Donda cover in some way
Guilt Trip is my favorite. Yeezus is the greatest album of all time and it changed the entire course of my life, it’s perfect in every way and I owe so much of my life to that album
I absolve love this video. You do Kanye proud with these videos. Glad to see you continue to provide your own unique perspective on music and hip hop. This is just the begging. Already copped my yeezus figure, thanks again !
Hold my liquor is def the best one. The guitar solo and Justin Vernon’s verses take you out of your body. Reminds me of the old days when I would sleep in my car after drinking and partying. Super intense track.
What a great video. I’m gonna subscribe. This was a great piece you put together. Thank you. Virgil was and is Amazing. I wish him and Ye were still working together. I think YE still Carries a lot of Hurt over Virgil’s passing . Two geniuses of our Generation.
HOLD MY LIQUOR IS MINE TOO!!! I had a crazy experience listening to yeezus high and I found such a new angle to hold my liquor, it’s related aesthetic (for me) is like sitting by a misty lake in the dawn whilst tired and hungover, but also angry
I'm in it my favourite as a kid who had to work at the chinese takeaway and hearing that sweet and sour sauce line my brain exploded. Love this version of the album cover, have a physical one and it just feels so clean
My favorite Yeezus Track is New Slaves. So ahead of time, the pop music with the techno is something that only now is coming popular. And the choice for the cover is simply iconic.
DOPE video!! I never knew about all those different covers. The jewel about perfection and creating all those prototypes to come up with the ONE, solid my guy!!
Virgil truly changed fashion and design forever, as this cover might be the best cover in the past few decades. While the album is not my Kanye favorite I still get super inspired listening to it and my favorite gotta be Bound 2 LLV
Went into this vid thinking "nah that cover is and was ass"..... Thank you for changing my mind with giving me more information then I previously had on the project as a whole with such passion and calmness. 🙏🏽
Super well made video! Yeezus is one of my top 3 favourite albums of all time and I think such an iconic album cover had a big part in it. The whole statue thing would´ve been interesting for sure too, but I think such simplicity is what really makes it powerful. First hearing the breakdown on I´m In It is where I really got into Kanye. Hold My Liquor has got to be my favourite track though.
My favorite track is New slaves, I think when Kanye saw the artwork it showed the era that we were coming from on how we consumed music through a disc and how we’d start consuming through the internet via a phone
actually amazing video, I watched it earlier today but came back to rewatch it since it stuck with me, my favorite yeezus track is tied between I'm in it, Bound 2, and Guilt trip it can switch from day to day. Before I watched the video I still liked the cover, I didn't really understand it but I loved the use of contrast between cd with cold tinted colors and the bright redish tape and that was what I got out of it because yeezus had so much contrast compared to anything kanye west had made up to that point. After watching it take shape with the many other versions and hearing the story behind the concept made me love the album cover even more.
