Photo of Kanye West performing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 2007 courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Written by Alvan Weathers
New York Fashion Week 2015 featured shows from more than 50 designers including Alexander Wang, Jeremy Scott and Michael Kors; but all eyes were on Kanye West’s show for his new partnership with Adidas. Apart from the clothes, North West’s tantrum and Kylie Jenner in tights stealing the spotlight, Kanye debuted his new single “Wolves” featuring the talents of Vic Mensa and Sia.
This tune comes right after two new collaborations with Paul McCartney and Rihanna, but “Wolves” is a totally new sound from the rapper that fans and critics alike have no choice but to respect.
Kanye is known for producing his own music and “Wolves” is teeming with his style. The pounding 808s set the pace for the entire song. Even though this instrument is used in almost every other song on the radio, it sounds fresh and new.
The beats on his last album — “Yeezus” — were minimalistic and overly percussive. “Wolves” seems to be a continuation of this theme. And with more instrumental melodies, Sia’s iconic vocals and a rare singing performance from rapper Vic Mensa, we are reminded of the Kanye West we used to know and love. The repetitive nature of the song is hardly an issue due to three artists’s unique sounds, all giving a different feel to every verse.
Sia’s haunting melody opens the track. Her beloved voice fits perfectly with the vibe of the song and you almost think Kanye crafted it with her voice in mind. She sings, “Lost and, beat up,” as if she really were, and we become even more immersed in the mood.
West himself offers his typical auto-tuned vocals to the tune of the drums. It is these notes that provide the overall catchiness of the song as a whole. Both Kanye and Sia use them in a specific rhythm that draws us in and keeps our attention.
Vic Mensa, on the other hand, switches up the style along with the beat. The 808s continue stomping away, but the chords that are introduced soften the blow as the song takes a gentler turn. Mensa’s alto range flows through the song with lyrics such as, “Don’t fool yourself, your eyes don’t lie, you’re much too good to be true.” The songs ends shortly thereafter with another switch back to the original melody and a short solo from Kanye as he repeats, “I’m just way too bad for you.”
Kanye West teamed up with Sia and Vic Mensa to form an uncommon alliance and create a whole new brand of music. With another album coming this fall, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a few more brands up his sleeve.