Kanye West has never been afraid to play with sound—or our patience—and “The Life Of Pablo” proves it once again.
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TOP 5
5. Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1
The jump from church choirs and Kirk Franklin on “Ultra Light Beam” to Ye rapping “if I f**k this model with bleach in her ass” is downright diabolical.
Still, hearing Kid Cudi and Kanye West link up for what feels like the 100th time is always heartwarming. I love that Cudi opens the track, especially since the song has this heavenly, floaty tone that perfectly matches his brand of moody crooning. Kanye, on the other hand, leans heavily on the autotune, singing about liberation on the hook while also spending way too much time talking about bleached assholes on his verse, which doesn’t exactly make him sound like a decent human being.
That said, the chemistry between the two is undeniable. The passion is there, the energy is there, and the track does manage to move you.
4. Waves
I’m convinced Chris Brown would sing his ass off for a sandwich.
“Waves” is arguably the safest track on the album, at least structurally. The instrumental is mesmerizing enough that I wouldn’t mind just floating off into the sky while it plays, and Chris Brown delivers one of his signature passionate performances—honestly, he could probably win a singing contest mid-album, and I wouldn’t even be mad.
Kanye, on the other hand, tones it down a bit compared to some of his usual raucous energy, but he still manages to drop out-of-pocket lines. He talks about snatching girls that aren’t his and preparing for fights that, let’s be real, Vegas would probably set at +1000 against him.
Despite Kanye’s wild flexes, the track works well as an album filler. The combination of Chris’s smooth vocals and Kanye’s chaotic energy creates a unique dynamic that keeps the song interesting without overshadowing the rest of the project.
3. Famous
I would’ve been okay with Taylor Swift suing Kanye West over this track.
You get Kanye West at peak cockiness on “Famous,” basically acting Mandingo in this b*tch (pause). He kicks things off by declaring he made “that bitch Taylor Swift famous,” before flexing about all the extravagant, pointless things he does just because he’s rich. His delivery is laid-back and carefree, which matches perfectly with the wild, mad-scientist-in-a-club vibe that the production brings.
Rihanna steals the spotlight with a bold, striking chorus that cuts through the chaos. Meanwhile, Swizz Beatz plays hype man, flooding the track with endless “goddamns,” sounding like that old uncle at the party who lives for watching wild sh*t unfold.
Altogether, it’s messy, loud, and unapologetic—which is exactly why it works.
2. Real Friends
Having zero friends > having friends. F**k friends, bro!
There’s a lot to appreciate about “Real Friends.” For starters, the track hits on a universally relatable topic: dealing with backstabbing friends while staying loyal to the ones who matter. The production nails it too, striking a balance between punchy and chill, letting Ye rap like he’s just speaking his truth while Ty Dolla $ign steps in with his signature heartfelt singing. That said, I could’ve done without the whole porno laptop story—it came off like a weird flex disguised as a complaint. It’s like when someone brags that their girl draws attention… come on, you’re enjoying that part!
1. Ultralight Beam
I guess when Kanye said this is a gospel album, he wasn’t joking.
“Ultra Light Beam” comes packed with a choir, booming drums, a black woman’s voice that’ll lift your spirit straight out of your body, and even a cameo from Kirk Franklin. Some might be turned off by the fact that Kanye only sings here, but honestly, I think he does it really well. His part is short, but it feels raw, heartfelt, and full of passion.
And then—Chance the Rapper! Who doesn’t get excited when Chance shows up? Granted, I’m not sure he realized this was supposed to be a gospel record, because he’s dropping curse words left and right. Still, his verse is fantastic. I love his energy, the way he balances sins with blessings, and how he brings a playful, carefree vibe to the track.
This is f**king beautiful music.
SONG BY SONG RATING
1. Ultralight Beam (5/5)
2. Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1 (5/5)
3. Pt. 2 (5/5)
4. Famous (5/5)
5. Feedback (3/5)
6. Low Lights (N/A)
7. Highlights (4/5)
8. Freestyle 4 (3.5/5)
9. I Love Kanye (2.5/5)
10. Waves (5/5)
11. FML (4/5)
12. Real Friends (5/5)
13. Wolves (4/5)
14. Frank’s Track (5/5)
15. Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission (N/A)
16. 30 Hours (4.5/5)
17. No Parties In LA (4.5/5)
18. Facts (Charlie Heat Version) (3.5/5)
19. Fade (5/5)
20. Saint Pablo (4/5)
RGM RATING
(91.6%)
This album’s brilliance lies in how Kanye West fuses hip-hop swagger with gospel soul, creating something that sounds both divine and disruptive. The creativity is definitely there; you can’t take that away from him. But when it comes to the finer details—the stuff that makes good music great—he occasionally misses the mark (I could’ve done without “I Love Kanye,” “Feedback,” and “Facts”). At times, it feels like he forgets when to sing and when to pull back, leaving some moments sounding more like overindulgence than inspiration.
All in all, the quality is there, even if it doesn’t hit the way some fans might hope. Kanye’s not rapping as much as I’d like, but the production? Flat-out phenomenal. The way he blends genres, flips samples, and builds sonic layers is nothing short of genius. The album is completely listenable, full of ideas to unpack. So instead of comparing it to his past work, just sit back, press play, and appreciate it for what it is—a creative experiment only Kanye could pull off.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
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