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TLOP breakdown:
(rts appreciated <3)
(rts appreciated <3)
Ultralight Beam: “Ultralight Beam” is about Kanye’s faith in God. This track establishes strong parallels for The Life of Pablo with the life of Saint Paul the Apostle. Paul (Saul at the time) was blinded by a light beam from Heaven as he was journeying to Damascus to persecute
Christians. He remained sightless for three days before regaining his sight and dedicating his life to serving the Lord. He has been credited with writing 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament and is considered one of the most influential figures in the early church.
His writings dictated much of Christian theology and doctrine post-Resurrection.
Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1: On “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1,” Kanye reflects on an argument he had with a girl he loves. By the end of the verse, he realizes nothing else matters but waking up next to her every morning.
Stretching one’s hands out is a common image of prayer and supplication. As in the opening sample, Kanye is expressing a desire to submit to God’s will despite his own pride.
Pt. 2: The second part of “Father Stretch My Hands” details Kanye’s most personal moments—from not having time to call his wife due to work, to talking about his mother’s death.
Famous: The video features nude images of famous celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Amber Rose, Ray J, Caitlyn Jenner, Bill Cosby, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Anna Wintour, George Bush, and Donald Trump.
Feedback: “Feedback” is Kanye’s unapologetic ode to success. After nearly 3 years since the release of Yeezus, the Chicago-bred rapper joyfully announces his return to the rap arena. He flaunts his money, trashes his haters, and reps his humble beginnings.
In the second verse, Kanye draws comparisons to Pablo Escobar. A reference to the T.L.O.P tracklist notepad which had the words “which one” scribbled near the title, implying Kanye was drawing inspiration from more than one famous Pablo.
Low Lights: Kanye took to Twitter to explain why he added “Low Lights” to the album, stating: “I put Lowlights on my album just thinking about all the moms driving they kids to school then going to work…” “Low Lights” samples the acapella version of a 2004 tribal house track.
Highlights: This is Kanye’s sixth song with “lights” in the title; Graduation’s “Flashing Lights,” 808’s & Heartbreak’s “Street Lights,” My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’s “All of the Lights,” the opening to The Life of Pablo, “Ultralight Beam,” and the preceding song.
Freestyle 4: “Freestyle 4” represents a libido-driven, intoxicated Kanye, who raps about the fast life and wilding out at fancy dinners. The title itself is representative of the communication he is having with his own mind. He describes being out of control, and throughout the
verse he highlights his drug abuse, thus causing a distorted reality, much like the feedback of an amplifier.
I Love Kanye: By reciting many of the same criticisms that others have of him, he says them in a way that makes them sound ridiculous and petty. Many of Ye’s followers resent his new artistic path of bad moods,
angry outbursts, and narcissism and wish he would return to the wisdom he promoted on The College Dropout.
Waves: “Waves” is about Kanye’s relationships with loved ones. Waves never truly die; they flux and reflux, but are ever-present. The song features Chris Brown, who first worked with ‘Ye on “Down” in 2007.
FML: Kanye West addresses his haters on “FML.” While the acronym typically stands for “Fuck My Life,“ the second line reveals that, for Kanye, it might also mean: “For My Lady.” This symbolizes the difficulties Kanye may be facing as he struggles with fame, self control.
Real Friends: “Real Friends” is an introspective look at Kanye’s relationship struggles with his friends and family. As a father, husband and artist, his hectic lifestyle has caught up to him and he blames himself for his not keeping up with his friends and family.
Wolves: “Wolves” explores a gamut of emotions, including fear, hope, and love. Kanye makes reference to his mother, Donda West, as well as comparing himself and Kim to Mary and Joseph.
30 Hours: “30 Hours” finds Kanye reflecting back on a past relationship—likely with Sumeke Rainey—from the point of view of his present relationship with Kim.
No More Parties in LA: This song is the first collaboration between Kanye West & Kendrick Lamar. The L.A. based artists swap stories on “No More Parties in LA,” playfully venting their frustrations with “rich people” problems and highlighting Hollywood’s greatest production:
the fake celebrity lifestyle. Kanye’s verse has drawn parallels to his sophomore album, Late Registration.
Fade: On “Fade,” Kanye calls out to a distant lover, claiming they’re not 100% invested in their relationship. He can feel them slipping away.
Saint Pablo: “Saint Pablo” addresses Kanye’s deepest thoughts and insecurities, namely the $53 million dollars of debt he mentioned before the release of The Life Of Pablo, Twitter controversies, and media speculation over his mental health.
