“I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I never change…”
Kanye is nothing if not outspoken; he has been since the days before Jay-Z asked him to provide the beat and sing the chorus for Jay's “Never Change”. Over the course of his storied solo career – which began with the release of The College Dropout in 2004 – Ye hasn't just maintained artistic and commercial relevancy, but controlled a seat (throne?) at the pinnacle of the rap/pop world with apparent ease. This rare accomplishment, facilitated by his ability to reinvent himself musically and tendency to express his opinions with very little reservation, has undoubtedly guaranteed him a spot in music history. And though it may seem that lately his fame is perpetuated principally by what he says and does, rather than his music, Kanye continues to take us by surprise, and demonstrates his unique knack for reinvention once again with his latest release, a track entitled “No More Parties In L.A.”
Before it even begins, “No More Parties…” shows Kanye venturing into new territory in working with Kendrick Lamar and Madlib – both L.A. natives – for the first time, at least officially. After a brief snippet from Johnny Guitar Watson's “Give Me My Love”, whose infectious, catchy quality mirrors that of Yeezus's “Bound 2”; a bass-heavy and driving, though minimalist, beat in Madlib's trademark style takes over, as Kanye recites the song's chorus, “No more parties in L.A./Please, baby, no more parties in L.A.”.
After Kanye sets it off with a set of two very Kanye-esque lines, “Hey baby you forgot your Ray Bans/ And my sheets still orange from your spray tan,” K-Dot takes over, diving into a verse in which he addresses a beautiful young woman with a formidable skillset who's come to the L.A. looking for “an A-list rapper” and any opportunity to let loose. Though Kendrick recognizes that the lifestyle of sin and excess she's adopted since her arrival in the City of Angels is damaging for her, he is ultimately forced to admit his susceptibility to her exquisite beauty (and her bougie booty).
After returning to repeat the song's chorus, Kanye launches into an impassioned verse chronicling his rise to fame and fortune from humble beginnings. Recalling times when nobody gave him the respect he knew he deserved, and periods in which his inspiration left him, Ye wonders briefly, “When did I become A-list, I wasn't even on a list,” before pressing on with that brash confidence we know and love him for. He goes on to describe the things and people that define the Hollywood lifestyle, beautiful but opportunistic women, selfish friends, fast cars, clothes and jewelry, which he now finds him fully immersed in and make it as dangerous as it is enjoyable, if not more so.
“No More Parties In L.A.” marks a return to the defiantly-triumphant delivery and autobiographical content that helped us get to know Kanye over the course of his first three albums. Though some may criticize it, citing a lack of freshness or innovation, for many the track represents a welcome return to the style that first attracted us to Kanye's music. Whatever your opinion, “No More Parties…” proves beyond doubt that Kanye's unique ability to reinvent himself musically hasn't left him. Conceptually, it serves as a warning against the excesses of L.A.'s fast life, which – though exciting at first – can prove damaging in the end. Furthermore, it spurs excitement at the prospect of more collaborations between Kanye, Kendrick, and Madlib (which Ye has already hinted at). Granted, Kanye doesn't do anything he doesn't want to (except maybe that time he and Kim went ziplining), but you can bet that the next time he decides to put something out, and new fans alike will be waiting for it.
