Welcome to dissect long for musical analysis broken into short digestible episodes. I'm your host cold Kushner, today. We continue our serialize examination of my beautiful dark twisted fantasy by Kanye West, the last episode marked the end of the album's first act. If you'll remember this first act, title beautiful was comprised of the album's first four tracks and the album opener dark fantasy. We were introduced to Connie's character with stab himself as a success. Celebrity who indulges in materialism, drugs and women, but also subtly acknowledges the hollowness of this lifestyle yeah. I'm second track gorgeous, builds on the character introduced in dark fantasy. He possess

this is achievements within the systemic oppression and racism, black men and women and or in America, while the songs took adds complexity and vulnerability, their Connie, establishes the AL mistakes in his own mind that his life depended the success of this. Album is vindicate after the Vma the that would win over the public approval once again. We also here for the this time subtle allusions to suicide, which we might hypothesize as a consequence. If the album isn't as successful as Connie hopes early on the third Song Power Connie reaches the album Zennith in terms of the projection of his ego and bravado, I kind of armor developed against the emotional turmoil he feels within over the course of the that armor begins deteriorating and it's deterioration. That will continue over the course of the album power ends with Imagine suicide, which is followed by a few interlude. This interlude can be interpreted as Connie's metaphor, death, a portal into a fantastical world.

On a psyche. Connie introduces this world with the song all the lights, which we compared to the bright light experience that supposedly happens after one's death. The songs neon infested binge of glamour and indulgence. Is it unusual but metaphorically accurate backdrop to Connie's fantastical story of an ex con trying to win back his girlfriend and daughter? After being released from prison, if you remember, we heard this story as metaphor for Connie's life post, the amazed with Kanye playing the ex con Taylor, Swift, being the slap girl, the feds being the public's perception of the daughter being khanates, inner child, like creativity, which is put at risk because of its a piece of action. I glued all the lights in act, one mostly for referential convenience. Really, the song acts like a bridge into the album's second act, which I've tried.

Dark here. The ambitious beauty of the albums first Fourtrax begins to decay and an ugly dark side of Connie psyche will begin to reveal itself, indeed Connie waste, no time introducing us to this world as the exquisite adore bins of act, one or altogether chewed up and spat out by the albums next track and the subject of today's episode, monster so right out, all just another lonely night. Are you willing to sacrifice your life. Nope monster was these by Kanye West, with additional production by MIKE Dean and Plain Pat at the time of this release, Kanye tweeted, that monster was to be the second track. On a five song collaborative EP with Jay Z, called watch

of course, that album ended up being a full length release. The monster was placed on twisted fantasy. Instead, it's not difficult to see why it's phantasmagoric musical set and villainous teams are at home in the elms, overarching narrative of fame, and it's dark underbelly. The track will find Connie and others at their most grotesque, revealing the haunted paranoid mind that comes with the vice of celebrity. The track begins a bony, Verres Justin Vernon singing a string, a sinister lines. Is distorted and multi dimensional voice, establishing the songs for boating tone. The opening line I shoot the lights out is, of course, the defamation of the previous track. All the lights declan creation of the albums, tonal and emotional shift. The next line hide till it's bright out flow

the nocturnal stereo types of monsters who usually hide, tells dark out. The following line helps illuminate the somewhat puzzling word play saying just another lonely night. It would seem that the indulgences of celebrity night life is export on all the lights. Are the very things Connie's looking to hide from, as if the neon lights at the Vegas Strip, our story in the economy is the hot sun is to a vampire with the next line. Are you willing to sacrifice your life? I have yet another illusion to suicide on this album. With this in mind, the opening line I shoot the lights out becomes a bit more ominous. We could also interpret this introduction as metaphor for Connie's work, ethic and approach to the creation of twisted fantasy related in Hawaii. It was well known that Connie rarely slept during the making of the album working long hours through the night and into morning which we assume left

life outside the studio, a sacrificed who's willing to make to dedicate himself completely to his art. After this foreboding introduction, we hear a high pitch scream, followed by a literal monster or matched only by the Grizzly Voice of Rick Ross starless is way through a brief, transitory bridge. I no good one Ross begins by cordially introducing himself as a monster. I know good blood sucker and a fat mother well for most people, these descriptors would surely be self deprecating. The aggressive

This in sureness with which are performed, make clear that these are badges of honor. It sets the tone of things to come as all three of the tracks remaining performers will openly the bracer inner monster. Ross concludes his brief appearance by providing more vivid imagery saying, as you run through my jungle, all you hear is rumbles kind. West samples. Here's one for example, again Ross is doing an exemplary job as setting the song seen as a beat literally Rommel's beneath him. Ross is the use of the word you on the line, as you run through my jungle, and urges us listeners to visualize running through the murky swamps of his haunted psyche, perhaps being chased by the fat Motherfucker himself. Justin, Vernon's, introduction and Ross is brief. Appearance set up Connie's dramatic entrance

He comes in performing the song gas gas of needed to stop it. Everybody knows Connie wraps gossip, gossip and we're just stop it. Everybody knows I'm a mother monster. This is almost certainly direct commentary in the country's reaction to Connie's interruption of Taylor. Swift is a gossip columns and late night tv shows use the incident as material for months after the Vmas Connie is shown brief moments of monstrosity on the album. Thus far monster sees Connie fully embracing the villain role. The public bestowed on him Post Villa maze made clear by the vulgar

and narcissism of this verse that follows the opening her the best live in right now and about the ticket to win at the the only and it's the same yeah that number you want to make Connie opens up versus the best living or dead hands down. Let's talk more head right now:

and my eyes more red than the devil is, and I'm about to take it to another level bitch in four lines. Connie claims himself to be the best rapper of all time demands oral sex from his haters establishes that he's high aligns himself with the devil, and if that wasn't enough, let us know that he's actually going to take his brashness, Further assist song continues. Clearly, Connie is unleashes dark side and the vulnerability in self consciousness alluded to on the albums. Previous four tracks have been at least for now, sold by the monster within later Kanye says: do the rap and the track triple double no assists. This is clever wordplay as triple double refers to NBA player, with double digit stats in at least three category which most commonly includes, assists mcconney. Being both a rapper and producer, doesn't need assistance. Make a track so as musical triple double includes no assists The verse continue Connie says I heard that people sing raps to give the track pain.

Which is a reference to the artist T pain, the popular, is should have auto tune in the early two thousand, and ten Connie then says bought the chain that always give me back pain. This would seem to be a direct reference to the enormous gold Horace chain. We discussed in our power episode, accompanied by his custom, made already Phillip Lim suit, which is undoubtedly a tribute to Michael Jackson, Coney Ward, this gold horse chain for several performances promoting twisted fantasy. After its release, an absurdly large chain, apparently enough to give Connie Back Pain a slight job at the irrationality of his materialism. The line my money so yeah I had the axing comes next, which seems to be another direct reference to the backlash of the Vmas here. It would seem any genuine remorse regarding the incident was just for the sake of good publicity, as is tarnished reputation was diminishing as income after clever sequence of lines about the women that court him

concludes his verse by turning up his monstrosity and delivering some of the most quotable lines of the album. You know it's not, but it ever had sex with a fair rd.

The now iconic succession of lines to conclude the verse. He says, because you'll never get on top of this so mommy, which sounds a lot like money. By the way, this advice is just to get on. Top of this, have you ever had sex with a Pharaoh put the pussy in a sarcophagus, as we discussed in our power episode, egyptian culture had a strong influence on twisted fantasy and, while more serious songs like power, it's influenced leads to deep introspection and philosophising on h and ideas on monsters put through Connie's, unique, comedic, filter and outcomes. A line like put the pussy in a sarcophagus the punch line is top only by its infectious delivery with the long drawn out, oh of Pharaoh, perfectly setting up the rapid fire sarcophagus line, and we can't help it to sing along everytime. Connie concludes averse, I'm living in the future. So the present is my past. My presence is a present kiss my ass as an impactful exclamation mark on

filled with extreme braggadocio and, however egocentric its delivery. It's a true statement. Connie is time and again proved his forward. Looking artistry the impact of his work felt year, after the releases and often misunderstood at the time of publication, all in all Connie's versus a remorseless calculated blitzkrieg of egotism, he shows no signs of vulnerability, as he does on the albums previous four. Nor should he monsters, a song about the cathartic release of antagonism. Connie embracing the villain well, bestowed on him by the public and unapologetically basking and untamed unadulterated, malice. After a repetition of the songs hook, Jay Z enters the track list.

A string of monsters creatures. She got some with no question come. Everybody knows some a mother. Must it happened? Everybody wanted after J, he's the source entry of ghoulish creatures. He clarifies the origins of this haunted psyche, as as I bring in the streets of Brooklyn, which he likens to a swap. He says none of you and words know where the swamp is none of you and words. I've seen the carnage that I've seen. I still hear fiend scream

my dreams as a dope dealer. The feeds here are likely to addicts. Gissell drugs do who are either withdrawing from the drugs they crave or I've just taken drugs and entered a state of chemical psychosis. After somewhat disturbingly claims to rape and pillage of village full of women and children. The verse breaks down, as he admits as Yes, what he wanted to know what my get enough of me. All I did is these vampires and blood suckers. All I see is that made million is million about any financing. The only way to back you J, MRS Weaknesses, love which he claims he doesn't get enough of it follows with what he receives. Instead vampires blood suckers Backstabber is, and no fang fakes, Finally, he and his burst by smelling blood implies a massacre on his enemies is not

and that we can say Jay, Z, definitive hip, hop great over on a song, but this was his fate on monster. You senator between great verses by artist with everything to prove. As you know, Connie dropping as if his life depended on the success of this album, and thus he wrote down his wraps for the first time and also crowd sources rhymes with the top mcz imported to Hawaii. Nicki Minaj, who enters after J, was relatively unknown to the general public at this time and saw monster as an opportunity to showcase their skills along to the world's greatest artists. Indeed, Nicki Minaj had not yet released a proper album win monster first appeared online she's been making ways as a mix tape artist for a few years and then signed a little Wayne's young money records in August of two thousand and nine. She did a slew of featured versus alongside artists, like Gucci, Mane Mariah, Kerry and Robin Thicke, but it wasn't Tell me nauseous monster verse that she really broke the mainstream to this day,

college credits, coneys monsters their big break. Regarding her experience in Hawaii and working with Connie, she told complex magazine quote, I heard through Drake that Connie wanted me on his album, and I got on the next thing. Smoke into Hawaii he's a legend in hip hop an in pop culture and to be honest, album is a blessing. I don't even remember him ever working with the female rapper so to be on an album on a record this monstrous. I could have planned it better in a perfect world. I remember station I had with Connie every time I sit down to write now, every single time I said down. I remember him asking what is it that want to say it's not about rhyming words. It's about what you really want to say the fact that he wasn't even looking at me when he said it. He was on the computer. Looking at naked girls, I think it was just a life changing experience outside of Wayne. No one is ever spoke to me that way and cause me to better my craft. I credit him with bringing out something miraculous in me. I really do unquote

Nicki Minaj's verse on monster is a master class in lyricism, but even more so in delivery. She performs a phenomenal dynamic range of vocal peaks and valleys. Her elastic voice, effortlessly fluctuating from subtle softness to diabolic crescendo like a virtuoso pianist throughout her verse, Monodia Laska late between two opposing alter, egos, roman zolanski and hard Juku Barbie. These two characters played a prominent role in Minaj is earlier Karere, Anon Anon. Full contrasting duality, their presence on monsters, a perfect somatic fit Minaj spends the majority of the verse embodying the Roman in Lanski Character and arrogant, insensitive, outspoken mail from London, England,

Bowman is a crazy boy who lives in me an he says that things that I don't want to say. I think he was born out of rage. He was conceived in rage, so he bashes everyone threatens to beat people and is violent. Of course, it doesn't take much to see why,

He chose to perform as a lance again. The majority of the verse as a character's maliciousness is at home on a song about embracing your inner monster hello. Well last week, thank Nikki begins with the with imagery, as she arrives, onset, saying, pull up in the monster automobile gangster with the bad bitch that came from Sri Lanka? Yeah I'm in the tonka color of Willie? The passenger from Sri Lanka speculated by some to be the musician MIA born to Sri lankan parents.

In m. I friends and I've called run, songs together, so the possibility of MA being the bad Mitch passenger seems likely. Next Nicki says you can be the king, but watch the queen conquer this to me is uh delete line for a few reasons in and of itself, there's a passive right off of the position of king. We think of the Game of chess kings are mobile, dead weights. What queens savage in limitlessly, agile,. She also says: watch the queen conquer, which is self Upcoming, verse, of course, pay off, that she backs up her words above and beyond our expectations. Indeed, the now I line that follows is first things: first I'll eat your brains. It's a drawing right, look at the line. The monster persona fide that in a detailed enough message next, she describes the teeth and fangs currently eating your brains as gold plated Nikki, then establish is a rhyme scheme in cadence centered around all things monster. Her monster high in the fashion capital MILAN,

are monster. Shoes from designer just Seppi's in Ot enter monster record labels- young money throughout section, Nikki's voice wavers with the strange, a broader that would seem to be imported. Transylvania, as which continues she pivots door, Barbie character Mark by the Senate. Change in our focal inflection personification of Barbie begins. Let me get this straight. Wait, I'm the rookie. But my features and my shows ten times your pay 50k for first album out, as we they Minaj hadn't, yet released a commercial album at the time a recording monster. Yet she still

and high fees for features due to the respect she garnered three mixtape trilogy. More though words themselves with the introduction of Barbie Nicki dynamic performance of the verse begins to take center stage on the phrase no album out she suddenly pivots back to the scratchy aggressive acts in of Romans, Ski a transition made more impactful by the beat dropping back in after having been and for several measures over the next six bars Nicki ride the momentum of the beat and establishes a rhyme cadence into sharp accents placed on the ending phrases: climate, climate, violent Ynet, Wildin it sounds like she's, literally spitting out some of these words. But in another sudden, one hundred and eighty she South Shore accents in elongates the phrase when I sign it to the point of absurdity: moving on. I would just like to point out a phrase that I personally never understood until sitting down to write this episode in this section, it's discussed. She says Tony Matterhorn duty wine it while and Tony

Matterhorn is a jamaican dancehall reggae dj who's big was a song called duty wine released in two thousand and six sunshine on about Matterhorn could be self referential to the axe she's using on this particular part of the verse it does sound strikingly similar to Matterhorn as a burst continues. Nikki pivots back to Barbie. Time we just heard Nikki keeps the energy comparatively low, which is the Brill wind up for versus upcoming, dramatic conclusion. The only brief appearance of Roman during these bars,

is an excellent moment during the line she on a diet, but her pocket eating cheesecake, which begins as Barbie and schizophrenic. Lee Morse midline to roman immediately after this line, Nikki cleverly references, a split personality. She just displayed by saying I'll, say: bride of Chucky is child's play. Both bride of Chucky in child's play were movies in the Chucky horror, film, ranch eyes that centered around a homicidal but sweet. Looking toy doll, not unlike the contrast between the keys, Barbie and Roman, alter egos, the line's besides the eight they can't stand besides me, I think me, you, Ann M, Sherman, Nosh Friday contains a few clever. References am here short for Amber rose, Connie's girlfriend at the time of writing monster. She implies that the three Sherman nausea twice, which of course right

This is our name Nicki Minaj. The significance of specifying Friday cleverly lose to massage his debut album pink Friday. Both this album and twisted fantasy were released on the same day, Friday November, twenty second two thousand and the kind of massage a between Kanye Nicki in their share release date after maintaining the longest period of calm in the verse us bar the beat drops to kick Joe alone and Nikki delivers a tko of an outro I think we think that's good. Let things get cash make complete this now. I can outros accentuated by rapid heart pants between the left and right channels. Creating a

bring audio strobe light. Like effect, she uses a complex, rapid fire, three phrase: double rhyme scheme saying pink, wig thick ass, given whiplash, I think big get cash, making blink fast within each of the two lines: the last two phrases rhyme as whiplash cash blink fast, while the first phrase in both lines, rhyme wig pig. This creates an accelerating effect into the versus final lines, which is punctuated by a high scream in a statement of the songs is motif. I'm a mother monster all the Mcs on the tracks, a variation of I'm a monster at some point in their versus Rick. Ross, of course, opens with the fur No! What also opens with the phrase and says it negative stopping everybody, know, Jay Z also states that early on in his verse-

everybody knows some a monster must, by the time Nikki's part comes around. We've heard the phrase eight times So we know it or not. The repetition of this line has been conditioned into our minds as credential as resolving the answer to the songs unasked question. Rather than open with the line like everyone else, Nikki uses her entire verse to build towards it and when she finally delivers it's extremely impactful heightened by the grueling high pitch squeal that precedes it. It's a monster moment so large that Connie doesn't reappear to perform the songs hook. Instead, the be continues instrumental. I kind of metaphoric

king of the MIKE Nicki Minaj. His verse on monster has quickly become one of hip hop's all time treasures. Its impact was felt immediately upon the release of the track. It is seen by most, including make yourself as their first big break into popular culture. In two thousand thirteen complex magazine named the verse, the best birth of the last five years that same year, Connie admitted that We had a momentary thought of potentially cutting the verse from the track because he felt it was the best verse not only on his song, but if the entire album it was like that moment. You know when I thought about taking Nicki's verse for months, because I knew people would say it has the best verse on the best hip, hop album of all time and arguably top ten albums of all time right.

And I would do all that work, eight months of work on dark, fantasy and people to this day would say to me all my favorite thing was Nicki Minaj verse. So if I let my ego get, the best of instead of letting that girl get to shop to get that flat come on, she could be. I would take it off or marginalize her try to stop her from having a shining moment. So what happens when mark? What was riding on J with what I come up to him and say my son issues easy that it could be a work on the indeed Connie providing Nikki with a phenomenal plot for not only with his audience in influence, but a musical plot as well. For me, the success of a song like monster is just as much about the musical details than it is about the quality of the songs versus monsters and exemplary model of cohesion. Everything about the track contributes to its monstrous theme. The production rumbles and shakes with the persistent driving low, end and minimal treble there's use of multiple sound effects, including literal monster, roars and screams.

Voice is the sound of a crowd when Connie asks to see our hands at a concert. Honey also selects artists and coaxes them to staying on theme. Justin burns distort sinister introduction, Rick Ross's, Grizzly Monster Voice, Jaycees, clever, wordplay and, of course, Nikki's osculating alter egos lyrically. We could display How on topic, everyone stayed by reciting, a simple list of quote: unquote monstrous theme: words I compiled from the track lonely night sacrifice: Bich monster, bloodsucker, jungles, rumbles, dead, red devil, cold pain, Sasquatch Godzilla, King Kong, Loch Ness, Goblin, cool zombie, swamp carnage, Feins, scream murder, rape pillage vampires blood, suckers, fangs blood massacre, eat your brains, Chucky and kill this content.

Rainbow Cabul Airy the continent performance of each of the tracks versus, as well as the production and tasteful insertion of sound effects. The route create a tightly knit cohesion rarely executed this well in a song with so many features, while songs like dark, fantasy power and all the lights might be more obviously polish and therefore more easily perceived as cohesive everything about monster, start out to the tiniest detail, and this brings us to the song's outro, which features a reappearance of Justin Vernon. Well, Vernon was Jordan and sinister on the tracks. Opening here on the outro he's much more bone.

This passage is a signal of resignation and coming after tracks, so outwardly brash. It creates a strange, unexpected juxtaposition against the onslaught of egos. Laura Fication and remorseless embrace of wickedness that preceded it. It seems to be Another direct acknowledgement of the VM a incident backlash. Burnin begins. I crossed the line light the word limelight is pronounced in such a way to also hear the word line. This cleverly comments on both crossing the line at the Vm A's and his relationship with the limelight of fame. But when we

center, the next line and I'll, let God decide crossing the line like come steps celestial connotation, perhaps alluding to the bright light once he's after death, as we discussed at the top of the show, all the lights could be viewed as a portal into another world. Chinese dark twisted, fantasy and crossing the lime light. Maybe an acknowledgement of that transition, letting God decide the fate and consequences of his actions, find Connie a bit indifferent to the whole of the inmate to buckle now, perhaps ready to move on and let the chips fall where they may. Finally, the lines I wouldn't last two shows so I'm heading home can be interpreted a number of ways. First, we might still think of the Vmas with Connie. Knowledge in his inability to lassie shows we're stay quiet when he believes the mistake was made, could also be alluding to the

It is world tour with Lady Gaga was canceled due to the aftermath of the Vmas, but I think more than this, these last lines are in exhalation of forfeiture Kanye, who, on the songs hook repeatedly addressed an imaginary crowd on an imaginary stage, is exhausted by his efforts to uphold what now seems like a manufactured anti hero image. It says this: the song monster was Kanye's best attempt to try and the villains, clothes and after having a little fun, is ready to call it a night. Indeed, monsters resignation transitions directly into a track. That is in many ways a continuation of monster, just viewed through a different lens like monster. It's also set at a concert like monster the hook acid

see our hands at said concert, but, unlike monster, the motional quality is much more somber. What two hands yeah. It's like this, sometimes a mean ridiculous. This is like that. Sometimes yes, one man in the this is not a dreary dream like Khan, Where is the setting of the albums next track so appalled, which was thoroughly explore next time on dissect is written and produced by me, dick by bureaucratic Fargo. I want to tell you about a podcast. You should be listening to you don't already. It's called switched on pop switched on pot breaks down what makes a pop hit work, music

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