LA Monster explained

LA Monster
Type:song
Released:March 2020 (leak)
Artist:Kanye West

"LA Monster" is an unreleased song by American rapper Kanye West. The song was initially intended for West's ninth studio album Jesus Is King (2019) and previewed during listening parties in September and October 2019. West criticized the city of Los Angeles where he lives, saying it is controlled by Satan. The song was leaked online in March 2020 featuring production done by American producer Dr. Dre. "LA Monster" is the second song to leak from Donda, after "Up from the Ashes" leaked online in February 2020.

Background and recording

In August 2019, American rapper Kanye West's wife, American media personality Kim Kardashian, announced that her husband's ninth studio would be titled Jesus Is King.[1] On September 27, 2019, West held a listening party for the album at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan.[2] Kardashian shared a track list via Twitter that included the track "LA Monster".[2] On September 29, 2019, the listening party in New York City altered the order of the track list, making "LA Monster" the eighth song played out of ten.[3] During the listening party, West announced the song's title as "Ugliest Nightmare".[4] Jesus Is King was released on October 25, 2019.[5] "LA Monster" was not included on the final cut of the album.[6]

On November 18, 2019, West announced on Twitter that he was working with American recording artist Dr. Dre on a sequel collaborative project Jesus Is King Part II.[7] In March 2020, the reworked "LA Monster" for Jesus Is King Part II leaked online.[8] [9] The leaked track was co-produced and mixed by Dr. Dre.[10] Another Jesus Is King Part II track, "Up from the Ashes", had previously leaked online in February 2020.[11]

Composition and lyrics

In the song, West talks about his life and grapples with "the challenges of being in [Los Angeles] and what it can do to you."[6] West, who lived in the suburbs of Los Angeles with Kardashian at the time, raps about the city letting Satan run the streets.[12] West pleads to God to save the people of the city from the "LA Monster", an image of the wild lifestyle of Los Angeles.[9] West criticizes those who claim to be woke, saying that they are sleepwalking and have sold their souls.[13] Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press wrote that "LA Monster" continues the overarching spiritual theme of Jesus Is King by warning "against the temptations of superficial culture."[14]

Critical reception

Gary Graff of Billboard described the song as "prayerful".[2] Elias Leight of Rolling Stone reported on gospel artist Donald Lawrence praising the song's narrative as refreshing.[6] Lawrence compared "LA Monster" to gospel songs that have a vertical relationship with God, stating that West talking about his life was "something praise and worship doesn't allow you to do."[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Kim Kardashian Teases Track List for New Kanye West Album 'Jesus Is King'. Rolling Stone. Charles. Holmes. August 29, 2019. March 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190914093002/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/new-kanye-west-album-jesus-is-king-878415/. September 14, 2019. live.
  2. Web site: Kanye West Plays 'Jesus Is King' Album for Eager Detroit Crowd Ahead of Release: Inside the Event. Gary Graff. Billboard. September 27, 2019. March 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191226182326/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8531647/inside-kanye-west-jesus-is-king-album-detroit-sunday-release. December 26, 2019. live.
  3. Web site: Kanye West 'Jesus Is King' Album Tracklist, Guest Spots: Everything We Know So Far. Samuel Spencer. October 22, 2019. March 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200119175503/https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-jesus-king-album-tracklist-guest-spots-everything-we-know-so-far-1466940. January 19, 2020. live. Newsweek.
  4. Web site: 'Jesus Is King' Is Kanye West’s Attempt To Get Right With God. Vibe. October 1, 2019. March 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191218173527/https://www.vibe.com/2019/10/jesus-is-king-is-kanye-wests-attempt-to-get-right-with-god. December 18, 2019. live. Kiana Fitzgerald.
  5. News: Leight . Elias . Kanye West Releases 'Jesus Is King,' Capping Hectic Rollout Saga . Rolling Stone . October 25, 2019 . March 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191025162934/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-album-892092/ . October 25, 2019 . live .
  6. Web site: Can Kanye West Save Gospel Choirs?. Elias Leight. Rolling Stone. October 25, 2019. March 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200207171352/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/can-kanye-west-save-gospel-choirs-893633/. February 7, 2020. live.
  7. Web site: Kanye West and Dr. Dre Announce 'Jesus Is King Part II'. Orwitz, Edwin. Complex. November 18, 2019. March 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191119134421/https://www.complex.com/music/2019/11/kanye-west-dr-dre-jesus-is-king-part-2-announcement. November 19, 2019. live.
  8. Web site: Unreleased Kanye West Song "LA Monster" From 'Jesus Is King' Leaks. March 17, 2020. March 23, 2020. Vibe. William E. Ketchum III. https://web.archive.org/web/20200323134642/https://www.vibe.com/2020/03/kanye-west-la-monster-leak. March 23, 2020. live.
  9. Web site: Kanye West Music Leaking Again, New Song 'LA Monster' Surfaced Online: Reports. Sasha Star. Urban Islandz. March 16, 2020. April 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200402144148/https://urbanislandz.com/2020/03/16/kanye-west-music-leaking-again-new-song-la-monster-surfaced-online-reports/. April 2, 2020. live.
  10. Web site: Kanye West – LA Monster (Mixed by Dr. Dre). Viral MVP. March 23, 2020. March 17, 2020. OnSmash. March 23, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200323135307/http://onsmash.com/music/kanye-west-la-monster-dr-dre-song-stream/.
  11. Web site: LISTEN: Kanye West’s "Up From The Ashes," prod by Dr. Dre surfaces online (Full). R. Gelenidze. Southpawer. February 20, 2020. March 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200331122346/http://southpawer.com/2020/02/28/kanye-west-up-from-the-ashes-full/. March 31, 2020. live.
  12. Web site: 'Jesus Is King' Album: Kanye Warns Of Modern Evils, Says LA 'Run By Satan,' Only Making Gospel Music Here On Out. BroBible. September 29, 2019. March 23, 2020. live. March 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200323133059/https://brobible.com/culture/article/jesus-is-king-kanye-west-gospel-album/.
  13. Web site: Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' film gets exclusive Imax deal; songs arranged 'in the gospel tradition'. The Washington Times. March 23, 2020. September 30, 2019. Douglas Ernst. https://web.archive.org/web/20191107123249/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/sep/30/kanye-wests-jesus-is-king-film-gets-exclusive-imax/. November 7, 2019. live.
  14. Web site: Brian McCollum. Kanye West plays new album 'Jesus Is King' for fans in Detroit, previews new gospel movie. Detroit Free Press. USA Today. September 27, 2019. March 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200301193206/https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2019/09/27/kanye-west-plays-jesus-king-detroit-fans-previews-new-imax-movie/3794975002/. March 1, 2020. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "LA Monster".

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