Listening to it right now. I love it so far. Still doesn't live up to the hype though, but I had unfair expectations for it.
People have already started to talk trash about it though, comparing it to Yeezus. I like MCHG heads and tails above Kanye's "new direction".
He's not reinventing the wheel or anything, but its still a good album.
Yeezus...Hold my Liquor and New Slaves was alright (especially the end of new slaves). I like when Kanye gets a little creative. But he tries to hard to shatter expectations, just because he doesn't wanna be boxed in. Sometimes being in a box and soundin alright is better than playing games and makin peoples' ears bleed though.
But, it's like 50 told him, "Go head and switch the style up and if they hate, then let em hate, and watch the money pile up."
I'm not a huge hip hop fan. I like some of Kanye's music, though. I jog to it sometimes (probably mostly stuff from "Dark Twisted Fantasy"). I really didn't like Yeezus at all. I totally don't get it. Maybe it's brilliant, but I didn't enjoy anything I heard on that album.
Listening to MCHG now... it's easier to listen to without question.
Yeah, I don't think Kanye is "brilliant" by any stretch of the imagination, but he defies expectations. That's what sometimes sets him up to be considered great.
If you read too much into his choices, then he might appear like a crazy genius artist, but he's actually just a guy who sometimes makes good music imo.
In my opinion, the brilliant thing to do is constantly feed what people want...more money. Making money is smart to me. Business, business, business. Don't reinvent the wheel if people are still buying a crap ton of old-style wheels.