ye (2018) - Kanye West

Ye is Kanye West’s eighth studio album, released on June 1, 2018. The album was recorded in Wyoming and reflects Kanye's mental state at the time, addressing topics like bipolar disorder, relationships, and personal struggles. It’s a short but deeply introspective project, running for just 23 minutes across seven tracks. The production, as expected from Kanye, is meticulous—ranging from soulful samples to minimal, atmospheric beats.

Tracklist:

1. I Thought About Killing You
2. Yikes
3. All Mine
4. Wouldn’t Leave
5. No Mistakes
6. Ghost Town
7. Violent Crimes

ye is one of Kanye’s most personal albums, diving headfirst into his struggles with mental health, fame, and relationships. The opening track, I Thought About Killing You, is unsettling, featuring Kanye in spoken-word mode as he explores dark thoughts and inner conflicts. Yikes follows with a more energetic approach, embracing his bipolar disorder as a “superpower.”

All Mine brings a brash, playful energy with controversial lyrics, while Wouldn’t Leave takes a softer turn, addressing his relationship with Kim Kardashian and how she stood by him during turbulent times. No Mistakes is a brief but hopeful track with a classic Kanye soul-sample touch.

Ghost Town is the album’s emotional high point, featuring Kid Cudi and 070 Shake. It’s a powerful anthem of liberation, nostalgia, and the pains of growing up. The closer, Violent Crimes, is a heartfelt reflection on fatherhood, where Kanye expresses his fears about raising a daughter in a world that objectifies women.

Personal Reflection:

While ye may not have the grandeur of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy or the raw innovation of Yeezus, it shines in its vulnerability. The production is sparse but effective, letting the emotions take center stage. Ghost Town is easily the standout track—it’s uplifting, melancholic, and captures the album’s essence perfectly. Yikes and Violent Crimes also hold strong replay value, each offering different sides of Kanye’s artistry.

At just seven tracks, ye feels more like a raw journal entry than a polished album, but that’s what makes it special. It’s Kanye at his most unfiltered, for better or worse.