Yeezy Season is upon us. Producer, rapper, fashion icon, and potential 2020 presidential candidate Kanye West is finally set to make a return to the music world after his 2013 critically-acclaimed, schizophrenic composition Yeezus. Now the world is mere weeks away from hearing West’s next artistic statement. To truly understand what is to come one must journey way back to 2014 when the word that Kanye was working on a new
album started floating around. Immediately following the whispers and the speculation came the leaked release of the supposed lead single to this album, All Day. This hip-hop banger was assisted by the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom, Puff Daddy, French Montana, Vic Mensa, and even Kendrick Lamar, who had writing credits on the track. Ye would go on to preform this track at the 2015 BRIT Awards in a spectacle that would shake the Internet. Before that would happen though, West broke his silence mid-2014 to announce to the world that his next album will be titled So Help Me God. The stage was set, the next coming of Yeezus was around the corner…or so the world thought.
Fast forward to December 31st, 2014 New Year’s eve. Yeezy returns with yet another single, once again assisted by Paul McCartney, but this time instead of a wild cast of artists it’s just Ty Dolla $sign providing some soothing backup vocals. However instead of another party anthem, we get a touching ballad dedicated to West’s first child, North, in the form of Only One. It was a friendly reminder that the larger than life West could be vulnerable as he sung to his daughter from his since deceased mother’s perspective. Two singles in, the album seemed to change from a long forgotten myth to a potential reality.
Just two months into 2015 and West returns to the world stage, but not with an album, rather with his new fashion line under Adidas, Yeezy Season 1. While the apparel received some mixed reviews from critics, one thing that was certain was the song that accompanied the line unveiling was hauntingly amazing. Wolves, featuring hit singer Sia and young Chicago rapper/Roc Nation signee Vic Mensa, made waves (pun highly i
ntended) on the Internet. It had the cold sophistication of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but the booming horror of Yeezus. The song may or may not have heightened the cool factor of Ye’s clothing line, but once again it meant the album couldn’t be too far away.
May 2015, Kanye West has a change of heart and tweets he has decided to title his next LP, Swish. Thus, we have our second title. Skip past the summer of 2015, and we’ve reached September and the unveiling of Yeezy Season 2. Just like the previous fashion show, this event also came with new music, but in form of Fade featuring White Iverson singer, Post Malone, and second time collaborator, Ty Dolla $ign. This track however wasn’t like Wolves or any of the previous releases, as it resembled something one might hear in a futuristic dystopian dance hall. Cool no less, but the anticipation of Kanye’s new album was practically through the roof. That would be the last the public would hear from Ye in 2015.
Now here we are in 2016, the year of our lord and savior Yeezus Christ. Who better to ring in the New Year again other than Mr. West himself This time instead of a sweet lullaby, the airwaves get Facts. No, not a list of facts compiled by Kanye himself, instead a remix of the popular Drake-Future track, Jumpman. This seemed to be an underwhelming return to the masses. While West does tackle hot topics with the likes of Bill Cosby, Steve Harvey, and Nike, the Metro Boomin produced track wasn’t as impactful as it should have been. Hold the phone though, don’t give up on Yeezy just yet because just one week later Kanye’s wife, the one and only Kim Kardashian announced via Twitter that Kanye West’s GOOD Friday’s had returned while including the hashtag, Real Friends.
For those of you who don’t know, GOOD Fridays was originally a promotional campaign leading up to Ye’s fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Leading up to the albums release, West dropped a new song every Friday. The compilation of all these tracks are online, so I suggest you check them out if you get the chance, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. The resurgence of this campaign did not fall flat because that very evening the internet broke when the track Real Friends hit the internet. This is what many have called “the return of old Kanye”, of course referring to West’s College Dropout days when he made songs that were as genuine as they could get (All Falls Down, Heard ‘Em Say, Good Morning, you know old Kanye). This track was in every way a descendent of those great records, with a simple-sad, but angelic beat and Ye’s honest bars, the internet was pleased. Swish once again seemed like a real possibility. The following week, as promised (not completely on schedule), the world was blessed with No More Parties in LA, a soulful thumper featuring none other than Compton’s golden child, Kendrick Lamar. Lamar starts the track off with fire in true K.dot 
fashion going off about having a hell of a night with some out of town girl unfamiliar with the fast life of Los Angeles, and then West comes through, stealing the show with a near endless tirade that hits everything from him feeling like Pablo Escobar when he’s designing his clothing line, to his daughter North dressing in all pink like Cam’ron, (I highly suggest you check that reference if you don’t know what it is).
Another solid edition to the new GOOD Friday Series. Soon after No More Parties in LA’s release, on January 9th Kanye announced Swish will arrive February 11th 2016. A release date finally! Its real! It’s really happening! January 25th, West reveals he is done with “The best album of all time,” and shows off a hand scribbled track-list for Swish to the masses on his Twitter account complete with a Kylie Jenner doodle. Previously heard tracks Wolves, Fade, Real Friends, and No More Parties in La are all present, although noticeably absent from the listing are All Day and Only One.
Nina Chop
Father Stretch My Hands
Waves
High Lights
30 Hours
No More Parties in La
Fade
FML
Real Friends
Wolves
January 27th, Ye updates the track-list, and the title. The third title attributed to this album is Waves, Ye also adds an 11th track, Ultra Light Beam, to the list and a part two to the 2nd track Father Stretch My Hands. So we’ve finally arrived, with merely days until Kanye West reveals whatever storm he’s been brewing in his studios. Mr. West you’ve had our attention for years, literally. So Help Me God, Swish, Waves: whatever you want to call the final product, I think the world is more than ready.
– Brandon Wilkins
UOE 
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