Haiku Reviews: Kanye West's "Cruel Summer"
Don't even talk to Slava P about fashion. He wrote the entire third season of Project Runway.
In Sao Paolo, Brazil, there exists a luxury fashion emporium called Daslu. In 1979, the founder of Daslu, Eliana Tranchesi, began making and selling clothes from home, eventually going on to rent out the neighboring houses to keep up with growing interest from locals. In the mid-nineties, Eliana brokered a deal with Chanel that allowed them to display and sell goods in her store, leading to interest from brands like Gucci and Prada to set up similar boutiques in Daslu.
In June, 2005, Eliana closed the doors on the antiquated store and inaugurated the new 180,000 square foot Daslu in Vila Olimpia, complete with hundreds of high-end boutiques, luxurious spas, a wedding chapel, a Maserati dealership, and a Ferretti Yacht broker. It is one of the most expensive locations in Latin America, and 75% of the people who walk inside Daslu buy something. What does any of this have to do with Cruel Summer?
The story of Eliana Tranchesi closely parallels the life of Kanye West, who started making beats for local artists before getting a break with his own Chanel, Jay-Z. Now, almost nine years after releasing The College Dropout, Kanye opens his personal Daslu in Vila Olimpia. This is the album that Kanye West wants to listen to, and he doesn't care if you agree. He wants to blend his posse cuts into Hudson Mohawke beats with some Mannie Fresh thrown in; he wants to insert any Wu-Tang members that know how to reply to emails; he wants to resurrect the corpse of Mase.
This is Kanye West's Daslu: a collection of luxury items (Wu bars, Kellz hooks, 2Chainz fluff) blended together to create a one of a kind, signature Kanye West experience without a stitch out of place. Except for all those times he decides to rap.
"To The World" – Kanye West feat. R. Kelly & Teyana Taylor Zombie Kellz croon-boasts over strings and 808s. Kanye shows up too.
"Clique" – Kanye West & Big Sean feat. Jay-Z & Cocaine 80s Angrier "Crew Love" with bravado filled Seans and introspective Ye
"Mercy" – Kanye West, Big Sean & Pusha T feat. 2 Chainz Cross layered samples and luxurious punchlines. Autoexotica.
"New God Flow" – Kanye West & Pusha T feat. Ghostface Killah Jesus piece debates and cocaine inuendos over haunting keys.
"The Morning" – Pusha T, Common, CyHi The Prynce, Kid Cudi & D’banj feat. Raekwon and 2 Chainz A sonic patch quilt with a designer label. Even Cyhi tries.
"Cold" – Kanye West feat. DJ Khaled & DJ Pharris A tantrum on wax. Arcane whines over arcade production. And....Khaled.
"Higher" – Pusha T feat. The-Dream, Ma$e & Cocaine 80s Chanting hymns and a desperate from Mase. JUST OKAY Music.
"Sin City" – John Legend, Teyana Taylor, CyHi The Prynce & Malik Yusef feat. Travi$ Scott All of your least fave elements of a Ye song, like that pun pastor.
"The One" – Kanye West & Big Sean feat. 2 Chainz, Marsha Ambrosius & Cocaine 80s A theatrical composition of come ups and healthy self praise.
"Creepers" – Kid Cudi The complex musings of a tortured soul -- who cried to get his own song
"Bliss" – John Legend & Teyana Taylor An upbeat ballad by the two GOOD-mates with real musical talent.
"Don’t Like (Remix)" – Pusha T, Kanye West & Big Sean feat. Chief Keef & Jadakiss Remixes, old songs, that's the shit I do not like. However, this bangs.
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