Yeezus

Yeezus is the sixth studio album by American rapper Kanye West, released on June 18, 2013, through GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album followed a period of intense creative exploration for West, who reportedly worked on numerous unfinished projects before settling on the sound and themes of Yeezus. Production was handled by West himself, alongside collaborators such as Daft Punk, Arca, Hudson Mohawke, and Mike Dean.

The sonic landscape of Yeezus marked a significant departure from West's previous work, characterized by its abrasive, industrial, and minimalist sound. It incorporates elements of electronic music, noise, and industrial hip hop, often featuring distorted samples, harsh synthesizers, and unconventional song structures. Lyrically, West explores themes of ego, societal critique, religion, and his own complex public persona. The album's title itself is a portmanteau of "Yeezy" (West's nickname) and "Jesus," reflecting his provocative and often divine self-image.

Upon its release, Yeezus received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its experimental production and bold artistic vision. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 297,000 copies in its first week. Despite its commercial success, Yeezus was also a polarizing album, with its challenging sound and controversial lyrical content sparking debate among listeners and critics. It has since been recognized as a highly influential work, impacting subsequent hip-hop and experimental music.