I feel like Pablo when I’m working on my shoes (Pablo Picasso) I feel like Pablo when I see me on the news (Pablo Escobar) I feel like Pablo when I’m working on my house (Paul the Apostle)
The album is for me is the peak of the mid 2010s ‘hypebeast’ era. The rollout, Yeezy season 3, the aesthetics, the features… at this point TLOP is like an essential piece of pop culture art for that time.
You’re exactly right. Everyone was wearing the baggy earth tones, dad shoes, dad hats, etc…it really is such an important piece of art/fashion/music history.
@@_nickvogel fr. I wish I could go back to this time. I was in high school about to graduate. I remember the street wear hype. Literally one of my favorite fashion eras so far. Ahh good times
Btw Bob in 30 hours Kanye wasn’t cheating. The first verse was about his relationship with Kim now and the second verse is about his relationship with Sumeke Rainey 10 years prior, he’s reflecting on the difference between each one. It’s called 30 hours because that’s how long it takes to drive from LA to Chicago. LA being where he worked and Chicago where his then girlfriend was
Highjacking this comment to say something. Bob don't listen to what F.D Signifier has to say about hip hop artists like Kanye or Drake. He's heavily biased against both.
@@joebidenjr5902 Everyone is biased. Doesn't make him wrong or invalid. He isn't infallible, but I really enjoy his content. It is at the very least thoughtful. You don't have to agree with someone completely to appreciate what they have to say, and they at the least make you ponder. As someone who watched the videos by him that you are referencing, this is very random, odd, and unnecessary, But, to each their own. I just wanted to hijack this hijacked comment to say that you are clearly biased, as well. So yeah.
@@gruntilda2 he disagrees with Kanye's politics so he is very dismissive of his recent work. With Drake he dislikes him just because he's an old head, also a Kendrick stan but he also presents some really flimsy arguments against Drake as facts when they are not factual. Like saying no one cared for IYRTITL when it dropped. It was literally the biggest album of 2015.
@@joebidenjr5902 idk I feel like on Kanye he does his diligence on the political videos and the music opinions seem to be just opinions with a normal amount of bias. He is an old head for drake tho lmao if he really said that about iyrtitl that’s crazy 😂.
Saint Pablo to this day I still think is one of if not the best track he has ever put out. So personal, great lyrics, fantastic feature from Sampha, everything is incredible about it
I'm SO glad I did the version that had Saint Pablo as the closer. Not having that track as part of this journey would have ruined the entire album experience. That song is critical to the album's structure.
@@JDD- Where did you hear that? I think that him saying that 30 Hours was a bonus track during the song was just him rambling, and the song wasn't actually a bonus.
Man... I ALMOST said something about Veteran during this reaction. Like... THIS close. I was going to mention how this album kinda felt like Veteran in terms of being an audio journey, but I didn't wanna make that sound cliche in a way. My Veteran experience was one of a kind and still very special to me, so I don't want to water that down by mentioning it all the time.
The mood swings in this album is insane with the "Which//One" theme throughout this album. From the non-conscious hedonistic songs like Father Pt.1 and Freestyle 4 to self-reflective ones like Real Friends and No More Parties in LA, it's an real journey.
I dont think you read "too into it" at all... this has got to be the best TLOP reaction I've seen yet. all the conclusions and understandings about this album that I've reached over years of trying to listen and relisten and interpret, you found the essence of on first listen. fantastic. Also, the "warm flesh, on caesar" makes me think about Sia AS caeser, who was betrayed and murdered by 40 people who in name, were loyal to him. despite his immortality myths and emperor status, he was, at the end of the day, still flesh and vulnerable to the wolves around him.
I don't mean to take over or defer from Bob at all but this is the best reaction channel in my opinion, you may enjoy it ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AouJaQ18MhI.html
@@howtoprisonarchitect7892 Technically he invented the title of Augustus when he plunged the SPQR into the Principate (which is early Roman Empire). Caesar was the first one to be granted the title of Augustus, and he was indeed Rome's first emperor, in accordance with the de jure laws of the state. (Augustus was meant to have absolute power, so yes we can say he was a dictator, same as an absolutist monarchy in the Middle Ages and other historical eras).
I love your ability to analyze both the music and the lyrics to find a meaning. You caught onto things I had no clue about. Def my favorite Kanye album
The cool thing about the beat on feedback too is the irritating sound is mimicking the feedback that you would get like if you held a microphone to a amp or something like that. So the main part of the beat he’s rapping on is legit sampling the “feedback” sound an electronic device makes. Super crazy
This is maybe my favorite reaction of yours so far. I think you promptly picked up on the thematic explorations in the album *and* provided many distinct insights. Honestly exceptional work. Thanks for all you do!
Best breakdown of Lowlights I've ever seen. I always perceived it as him turning to and falling back on God when he felt low and empty from the hedonism of Highlights and I just absolutely love the dimensions you added to it. This is why I love these reaction channels. We all get different things out of music so to be able to feel together is really special.
Living through the album release cycle was u like anything else. Impossible to understate just how much Pablo and Yeezy season 3 fundamentally changed the culture
I find myself 'missing' these releases in real time more and more after how it felt to be involved with Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. It really is its own experience to get caught up in a release with an entire community.
Mannnnnnnn tell me about it 🤣 that was a crazy ass era. The whole live album stream going crazy. The Famous controversy. The album being exclusive to Tidal and getting pirated hella. Every Kanye album rollout besides maybe Jesus is King has been an experience
the whole "slavery was a choice" controversey was after this in 2018 when he was making his album "ye" he has a song on there that kinda talks about the backlash of that moment and how kim reacted to it. I can't wait for you to hear ye, its a very personal album that touches on his mental health and often underrated in his discography
i think there’s a good chance of him getting emotional on violent crimes, considering he has a young child as well. he should also listen to his single “Only One”, really underrated!
I really respect that opening thoughts sort of pre-amble bit, and I 98% agree with everything said and his level of artistry. However, I do think Kanye is definitely up there in the very highest of tiers with producers. Especially when I look at projects that aren't even solely his, like Daytona or KSG. That entire 2018 period was proof that he's one of the greatest. As always, loving the reviews and insight man
Fair point on his producing other albums. I haven't gotten into that part of his career much yet, but that's coming soon. I look forward to KSG and Daytona.
His production catalog goes back decades and everyone wanted beats from him because they knew it would bang. That’s how his career started plus what has made him different and given him advantage from other rappers.
I woke up to Father Stretch my hands part 1 everyday for 5 years. Now everytime I wake up I hear it in my head and I basically dance out of bed and my wife is annoyed with how happy I am to be awake and alive
I like to think Kendrick chose Sampha for Father Time because of the line in this song "Father, Father, Father, in the night sky" and the context of having both love and resentment for father figures whether its literal or spiritual
I am a massive kanye stan, i love every album he’s put out but this one is just different. I absolutely love this album, it’s my joint favourite of ye’s (the other being yeezus) i think it perfectly incapsulates the “crazy” genius of Kanye especially the Kanye of the 2010s, everything about it screams unhinged creativity. i seriously think that in a couple years this album will have the cult classic status that yeezus has only just started getting. great reaction as always :)
This is my favorite from Kanye to date. It definitely captures that feeling of crazy genius and the chaos of what his life is like. It's abrasive and vulnerable, unapologetic yet full of sorrow. Amazing.
you hit the nail in the head, everything that defines Kanye's creative process and the themes that he's into the most are perfectly encapsulated in this album.
Something to note: Pt. 2 is a remix of "Panda" by Desiigner. It was the most popular rap song around the time of TLOP's release. Desiigner had recently signed to Kanye's G.O.O.D Music label and I believe a part of the reason this track was included on the album was to promote Kanye's newest signee. Despite this, I still think Pt. 2 fits perfectly into the chaotic nature of TLOP and it's definitely a highlight for me
Yeah I totally forget that it was dessigner song as he was a flash in the pan and fell off. I did think Kanye choose to correlate the songs lyrics into pt.2 as a way of expressing his own thoughts relating to that track. Basically killing 2 birds with one stone
I’m so glad that ur getting into The Life of Pablo. It’s always exciting to see to your reaction to every Kanye album cause every single one has a special sound that makes them it’s own record
loved this reaction, I really think Ultralight Beam and Saint Pablo are such strong opening and closing tracks to bookend the album. the comparisons between Pablo Escobar, Pablo Picasso and Saint Pablo on this album were so interesting too
Ultralight beam into father stretch my hands pt 1 is probably my favorite Kanye transition. Two amazing tracks with completely different vibes somehow work so perfectly.
This album has forever been burned into my soul because it came out during a strange bout of depression / paranoia / betrayal. The track FML (especially the end ) always makes me feel a certain way
How I see the "I feel like Pablo" section in NMP is that Kanye says that 3 times to signify the 3 different Pablos he resonates with: "workin' on my shoes" is most likely referring to art - Picasso "see me on the news" is definitely referring to fame - Escobar "workin' on my house" is less certain but I think Kanye's "house" is his friends and family who he surrounds himself with and only trusts - Saint Paul
I forgot to add but "house" could also mean label, so working on his house could mean improving his group of artists (which is a pretty stacked label btw)
FML reminded me that XO needs you on the entire The Weeknd discography 😁someday, you won't be disappointed , lot more than just a pop singer with an excellent falsetto
I didn't finish the Famous reaction before I had to stop and write this comment. Congratulations Bob. You're a real Kanye stan now. The way you effortlessly threw out that "Stuntin' on a Jumbotron lyric"" is proof of your ascendance. I've been watching your channel since the earliest Hip Hop reviews; it's been a pleasure to watch you delve into a new genre and develop a genuine appreciation. Great content!
I know other people have said this but this is really the best analysis I’ve seen on this album. Whether it’s accurate or not we’ll never know. That’s what great art does, makes you interpret. But this analysis makes me love this album even more. 10/10 my friend
In this album Pablo represents 3 different figures Pablo the artist, the drug dealer and the disciple and they represent art, money and god/family things Kanye was struggling to have all at once in this album and those themes play apart in his scatter mindset hints the messy cover art
This album is interesting because it kept changing, at first it was a tidal exclusive leading to people illegally download it . Then it came out on the other platforms with some of the tracks being “fixed” like wolf and the last track saint pablo being added. This album actually shows what you can do now with music, it’s never over you can fix this and that maybe remove frank from wolves or add a bar to father stretch my hands, the music is forever evolving and never actually finished.
The idea of an album changing post release is really upsetting to me 😂 Especially if I put 3hrs of time into a first listen just to find out that wasn't the 'real' version... like, no. Just no.
@@bobthepoppop if this bothers you you’ll definitely have an hard time finding the “right” version of donda. Personally I’d recommend listening to the original as is and then listening to deluxe versions new tracks because the sequencing in that version is way worse then the one in the original
@@nivleckone9106 I bought Donda on CD and they're only selling the deluxe version (you wouldn't know because there's no track list or anything on the cover "art") and the track listing is sooooo fucking frustrating. Jail is like track 5 or 6 and it makes no sense and makes me not even want to listen to it. The only good thing is that ALL of the great songs are on the first disc lol
Waves, FML, Real Friends, Wolves is probably the best 4 consecutively/sequentially songs on any album ive ever listened to. I heard them the day the album release and have listened to them consistently since. Just 4 perfect songs that can be played 1 by 1 by 1 by 1
BTW 30 hours is one of my favorites of this album. Feel like it’s one of the hidden gems on the track list. Listening to it on a cool breezy late day/night driving with the windows down hits different 🙏🏽
First person I've seen to get low lights. Love the song (as a Christian myself we all feel that way at one point or another) love the reaction/review and yes this my favorite Kanye album, probably the best imo.
I just knew you would love this album and think its kanyes best by far, I felt the same. its so Kanye, so raw, so him, and I love what he does with the sound on this one. Everything about it just makes sense in the end, and while some people think it's just a mess, I think its a statement and a masterpiece. 10/10 for me
Man you really know how to build the anticipation for these Kanye albums! These delayed reactions, first MBDTF and now Pablo, the suspense is killer! Glad you're back to Kanye, feels like it's been way too long since the last one.
I love this reaction, diving into tracks even like I Love Kanye for 3x the song length where he repeats more or less the same words just shows how much you really resonate with the tracks
Ultralight Beam is one of the biggest masterpieces in hip hop history in my opinion. That song is such a complete product that just feels great every time I hear it. I love it
Glad you loved Saint Pablo, self doubt is a very relatable thing to so many people that i’m sure he didn’t even realize when making. Sampha’s angelic vocals made the feeling of doubt seem like a cry for help which is kind of heart wrenching. Far and away my favorite song from him.
You have such a great way of analysing the music and lyrics, that it actually enhances my experience with the albums that I thought weren’t as concept driven or cohesive. I never noticed the wait (and doubt) for God being a prominent theme on this album, and how it ties the whole thing together with Low Lights and Saint Pablo. I think The Life of Pablo is great already, but you added to my enjoyment of this album for any future listens!
What I love about your reactions are when you read between the lines and point out when an artist is trying to tell us something we might easily ignore. I did skip over Lowlights for some reason. I just assumed there was nothing I'd get out of it. But there is some insight there
Greatest most well rounded artist, producer and rapper / vocalist of the last 20 years hands down and still ahead of himself let alone everyone else. His albums in the second half of his career so far make his first albums just seem like cute blueprints of just getting going. His old fans stuck on the first albums as his best are refusing to see the big picture of his greatness.
I completely agree with your take on Waves. It's my favorite Kanye song and one of my favorite songs period. I put it on whenever I get overwhelmed with anxiety, because it is so soothing and life-affirming to me. "I'm still gon' be here in the morning, that's just the wave" to me this means that no matter what problems you are facing in life, it will pass. Like waves crashing and retracting on the shore, the song is about the ebb and flow of life. Such a beautiful track and I'm glad you enjoyed it in the same way.
You missed the meaning of the pablo lines on No More Parties in LA. Pablo is meant to represent 3 aspects of Kanye: the artist life, the superstar life, and the family life. These 3 aspects are presented in those lines, in that order.
No one really mentioned that the shock value of this album was off the charts at the time. He started the trend of not listing features throughout whole album and initially no one knew who was on the album except for the singles already released. He changed this album around 3/4 times post release for the sake of his perfectionism which people had not seen done with a hip hop album. He had a lot of buzz around the Yeezy brand at the time as well. Hearing certain artists who were difficult to get hold of (Frank Ocean, 3stacks), new artists (desiigner n.b everyone thought the sounded like Furture) and big producers who he had never worked with before (metro boomin) was massive and it created a crazy party atmosphere at his listening party. For listeners and longtime fans this was a rollercoaster experience which I think is best captured around time of release.
Best reaction I've seen in a hot minute. I've understood this album but so much more was revealed as I listened to each breakdown. Also came up with my own opinions, had some small disagreements with what you had said, and then the answers were revealed to you through further listening. Great experience for the viewer to see your own growth of understanding as the album progresses. 20/10 album reaction.
Bob, your ability to think for yourself what YOU think about the art is so powerful and reminds me of the reasons why I love this album so much. No one can tell you what the fuck to dislike about anything and all of your reactions are a true reminder of it
The title is very important because it’s not even a duality he goes through in this album. It’s three experiences all represented by a Pablo (Saint Paul, Pablo Picasso, Pablo Escobar).
I find it really calming and soothing watching you dissect these songs from your point of view and which effect they have on you. Almost like listening to a new album with a friend and discovering the music together. Even though I‘ve listened to the whole album multiple times already, you still bring out certain aspects that seem so obvious, but that I still haven‘t noticed yet. I really appreciate you doing this.
YESSSIRRR LETS GOOO EDIT: loved your reaction!!!!! enjoyed hearing this album from fresh ears again. It's such a different but interesting album and you just had to be there in 2016 when Kanye took over. It was a fun time. I went to his Saint Pablo tour in LA where he had the floating stage and I was there on the floor. One of the best nights of my life!!
It took me an acid trip listening to this to get to an understanding that you got to on your first listen…makes me wonder how cluelessly and superficially I approach music, probably because I have access to such an excess of it. Great breakdown as always bro, love hearing your thoughts on these!
He definitely belongs in the conversation, but I've already heard other producers that I enjoy more when it comes strictly to beats. Obviously, that comes down to personal preference and what the beat is doing in/for the song, but there ya go
this is great cause breaking it down this much i'm finding links between songs i never noticed like when rhianna sings 'i don't blame you for wanting to be free' when he just said 'i want to feel liberated'
God I love this album so much! Its just weird, all over the place, kinda badly mixed, but as a whole is just beautiful. I still get jumpscared by Waves tho, cus holy fuck is it sooooooo much louder than everything else, but its fucking gorgeous so what ever.
Kanye isn’t necessarily “distracting himself from the pain,” but he’s more-or-less distracted BY the pain and anxiety surrounding his mistakes and feelings of not being sure about himself, especially while he’s in private. I wish he would release Slave Name so I can continue to preach my Slave Name Theory. It’s the third part, the conclusion, to a trilogy of songs, including New Slaves, Saint Pablo, and Slave Name.
great video! i’ve been waiting for this one. btw i recommend listening to x, he has a lot to unfold in his music too. but i would recommend starting off with some of his singles, then dropping down to “17” his sophomore album
The “Pablo” in the title refers to 3 different real Pablo’s Picasso, Escobar, and Saint Paul which all represent the 3 different aspects of Kanye’s life represented in this album his art, his vices, and his faith
Every Kanye album has a story behind it and this one might be my favorite. I won’t go super in depth because that would make this comment too long and there’s plenty of video essays out there that explain it better than I thought ever could. Anyways, Kanye going through a mix of all time highs and lows is perfectly represented here musically. Yeezy is off the ground and very hype yet he had to go into debt to get it there and he has no idea if it will sustain (I’m sure he thought it would but things were not looking good from the outside looking in). He finally had a wife and kids but he realizes that the lifestyle he grew accustomed to doesn’t mix well with the family life and he must try to fight to protect both. I’m sure by now you know about the 3 Pablo’s concept and him describing the album as a “living and breathing experience” instead of just admitting that it wasn’t finished upon release. The most interesting component in my opinion is the addition of the final song “Saint Pablo” months later. As this felt like him letting everyone know which “Pablo” he would choose to be going forward (or at least focus on the most). This album is not the first time his mental health seemed to be at a somewhat low point but it’s the first time it went from “this guy is pretty sad” to “I hope this guy gets the help he needs”. Also him being severely in debt during this album triggers laughter these days when considering his 7+ billion net worth today (according to Forbes)
Man, I didn't think I could love this album any more. I thought it was a bit too long and there were some things that could have been cut. But you made me appreciate everything about it more, and realize it is perfect just the way it is. Including Lowlights, Facts, and even the second verse on 30 hours.
TLOP, Yeezus, MBDTF and 808s with the honorable mention of DONDA 1 and 2 are my absolute favorite but truthfully I’m a Stan and love anything he’s dropped even some of the JIK songs. Love the review and your honest opinions!!!
I think I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again, your reaction/reviews to albums are something I greatly look forward to there’s an honest tone throughout every video I’ve watched (and I’ve been watching for a while now) but what gets me the most is that you can tell there’s an effort to understanding the music sometimes some albums don’t need to be understood rather than just listened to personally I’d say like Igor, but this is the first reaction/review to TLOP where I’m satisfied which is disappointing in a way because others listen to the album but they give little to no insight even if it’s a reach the attempt is still there. Anyways I’m excited for you to reach donda, personally I hate it, but I think it’s an important album in terms of why it was made, how it was made and what is going on with Kanye at the moment. As a Kanye fan thank you, and as your fan keep up what you’re doing a lot of us appreciate what you do.
