Yandhi is Yeezus + JIK

Okay guys, I know this is a long post but hear me out for a second.

Yandhi exists as a weird grey area in the Kanye timeline. It has a totally unique sound compared to past Ye projects (just like Yeezus did upon release) and lyrically, it feels like a crossover between a more spiritual Kanye, and the Yeezus Kanye. From sexual songs like New Body and I Love It which praise the body. Songs like Spread Your Wings where Ye comes across as confident but vulnerable, discussing his fame, mental health, and trashing those who doubted him. Metaphysically spiritual songs like Alien and Chakras/Law of Attraction which reference higher beings and living in a simulation, as well as religiously spiritual and motivational songs like Sky City which preaches a philanthropic message, and We Got Love which emphasizes the importance of brotherly/community love. The chorus of Hurricane also alludes to religion, talking about “floating over water”, “making our nirvana”, and “lifting up the child”. The whole project felt like a mix mash of the two themes or personalities and the track The Storm pretty much encapsulates that. The “storm inside” mentioned in the chorus is of course a metaphor for someone battling themselves. An internal storm. Ye’s verse on the song and the the bridge of the song are very positive and encouraging while X’s verse is super aggressive. The verses completely contrast each other and are representative of the album itself. Ye also touches on slavery and the history of the African American community throughout the project but specifically on New Name. I’m not gonna bother getting into The Garden or Water as it’s not entirely clear if those were ever meant to be on Yandhi.

Now let’s talk about the artwork for the album. When Yandhi was originally announced, it was clear the album was connected to Yeezus in some way because of the art: a CD case with purple tape (and of course, the title). Flash forward to Yandhi being scrapped and most people (including myself) assumed that any thematic connection to Yeezus was scrapped as well, including the artwork. While all the listening parties were happening (the Detroit and NY ones), we thought this was the album cover for JIK. And that was the nail in the coffin which confirmed the projects had no relationship to Yandhi aside from songs that were transferred over. However, upon seeing the new cover, I made the connection. The cover for JIK being a blue vinyl record not only seems super meta but in my opinion, is very deliberate.

Yeezus: Shocking and abrasive new sound (at the time). Kanye at his most aggressive. Touches on sex life, ego/confidence, the fashion industry, the black community, racism/slavery, the haters, relationships, etc. Iconic minimalistic artwork - CD with red tape.

JIK: (judging from the Sunday Services and listening parties) Heavy gospel sound. Touches on killing the ego but staying confident, putting faith in god, spreading religious morals, mental health and self acceptance, family, posers and woke culture, etc. Minimalistic artwork - not a CD but a blue vinyl.

Yandhi: Sounds almost otherworldly. Kanye displaying a vulnerable side, acting both out of spirituality and boastfulness. Touches on religion and religious morals, sex life, mental health, family, the haters, contemporary slavery, the black community, body positivity, etc. Minimalistic artwork - Almost futuristic looking CD case with purple tape.

What I gather from all of this is that JIK is (no pun intended) the anti-Yeezus. They are opposites. Take the themes of Yeezus (red) and combine it with that of JIK (blue) and you get Yandhi (purple). Yandhi is the middle ground of the two projects that will never see the light of day but in a way, it already has.

Submitted October 24, 2019 at 03:56AM by yearofthemishima https://ift.tt/2oZtFA6