If “Condor 2” is an accurate reflection of how Kanye West sees the world, then the Chicago rap legend, never shy about portraying himself as a modern renaissance man, is one of its biggest casualties. Victims of the Music Industry (“Slideshow”). Victim of Adidas (“My Soul”). A victim of Drake’s chart dominance (“530”). He is a victim of his divorce from Kim Kardashian (also known as “530”). Everything is so unfair to Mr. West.
His seminal solo album The College Dropout turned 20 earlier this year, and in retrospect, it’s interesting to note that many of the qualities about Kanye that the world now seems to deplore — his permanently wounded ego, his reserve His Christian faith mixed with irrepressible sexual desire and hurtful boastfulness were embedded from the start.
Vultures 2’s opener “Slide,” the only pre-released single from the album, serves as both the culmination of the long-delayed project and the blueprint for the 15 songs to follow. For a Kanye-led album, the first voice we hear on Vultures 2 belongs to Ty Dolla $ign, a reminder that this is actually a collaborative project, albeit perhaps in name only.
His signature smooth croon introduces the album, and he immediately launches into a cynical misogynistic rhyme, spitting: “Pretty girl, all she does is take selfies/So she only hangs out with a nigga cuz I’m Rich. This is one of the last lines that would lead to Gloria Steinem chasing the duo with a sledgehammer.
Produced by London on Da Track, Wheezy and Fred Again, the song has a vicious beat-switching feel that’s somewhat reminiscent of the industrial darkness of Yeezus, and it taps into the best of Vultures 2 – complete with a An apocalyptic carnival world. Such is the caliber of work on this album. Eyes closed. The headphones are on. The brain shuts down. You can almost have fun with it.
Ty did what he was supposed to do, and he did it well. But after two albums, there will likely be two more, and countless days, weeks and months spent in the studio with each other, even in the light of the post-“Life of Pablo Kanye” Criterion, they still haven’t found any cohesive chemistry and feel stitched together through half-finished ideas and dueling presentations. Although his voice remains harmonious throughout Condor 2, Ty curiously remains anonymous, and for all West’s faults, he can never be blamed for that.
Most damning of all, Condor 2 is the product of a misogynistic nihilist who seems to spend too much time on PornHub and not enough time on God’s green grass. The lyrics range from Viagra-induced childishness (“Reaching for the popcorn, oops, that’s my dick”) to aggressive misogyny, a step away from Andrew Tate or Adin Ross. of Live Just A Yard Away (“The neighbors knew this thing was going to get out of hand, but they smiled / ‘Cause you haven’t had a man in a long time / And not, not for long, until you leave the band / The only thing you really need is one husband”).
West also saved a dose of poison for ex-wife Kardashian in “530,” dating back to the infamous days of “Donda 2,” around the same time their divorce was legally finalized. After a confessional opening poem in which he seems to allude to a dependence on alcohol, his self-reflection quickly turns to solipsism and self-pity as he attacks the SKIMS mogul’s parenting and his inability to connect with his children: “ It’s been a weird time this past year / Visits on FaceTime / Who’s gonna break whose heart first? Always breaks my heart / Looking for the blessings God has given me / I’m just trying to provide for my family, someone should be raising a nanny.
This song truly embodies the confusion at the heart of Vultures 2. There’s a reason why football fan chants aren’t often used in music, but “River,” which is heavily interpolated from Leon Bridges’s track of the same name, should be the backbone of this album. “Fried” is a manic rave song written specifically for angry people in a remote warehouse, but its lyrics seem like they were written by a teenager who’d just discovered his first boner.
Condor 2 is, in its own perverse way, emblematic of 2024 – it’s loud, brash, completely devoid of substance, and will almost certainly be hailed as Kanye West’s latest masterpiece by his ardent fans.
Release date: August 3, 2024
Record company: YZY
Listen to “Condor 2” below:
