We are four songs in with So Help Me God‘s impending release and I still have no idea what it will sound like. From the folk tinged “Fourfiveseconds” to the emotional “Only One”, you can tell that this upcoming album is going to be a more eclectic release from Kanye West. Perhaps, that’s a good thing. West is currently taking us through loops and valleys exploring different sounds and emotions. When I first listened to the studio quality version of “All Day”, I had to visualize West’s Brit Awards performance of the song complete with fire and crew in tow. This is the ultimate posse record with a Kanye twist.
“All Day” returns to the braggadocios, triumphant feeling that we got from listening to Watch The Throne. It almost sounds like this particular track could have made the joint album with Jay-Z and fit in perfectly. (Maybe we’ll get a remix with Jay?) While there is a southern rap element to the main musical parts of the track with the high hats and structure, there are hints of My Twisted Dark Fantasy and Yeezus within this five plus minute track as well. “How long ya’ll playas ball?/All day/How long ya’ll spent at the mall?/All day”. Theophilus London gives us a little reggae flavor for the chorus. The proclamation of “get low” towards the end of the track will have everybody bobbing their heads in unison while grabbing their friends.
There are tempo changes, most noticeably with Paul McCartney‘s whistle sample and the major synth explosion at the tail end of the track. I’m a fan of how West is placing either McCartney through a small sample or instrumentally throughout some of the songs that we have heard. Those who were calling for a more upbeat composition from the Ye got their wish. With this Jekyll and Hyde feeling of songs we have received over the last couple of months, SHMG should be a rewarding listen – that is while we are still going crazy “all day”.
Rap | Def-Jam Records
