Monster - Kanye West (RC Reviews)

[@RapCritic]

Wrote a (free to read!) piece about the internet think-piece machine's reactions to Dave Chappelle's latest comedy special on my patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/rc-editorial-is-29563830

[@isiahrobertson299]

I wholeheartedly disagree with your piece. he just stating how he views the world and how he shouldn't have to "clean up" any of his jokes. The whole point of this special was to say what he has on his mind and it was all the shit that could end a career.

[@asparagusnoodle]

I agree

[@asparagusnoodle]

Isiah Robertson Being aware of what you're doing doesn't remediate or excuse it in any way, just saying.

[@isiahrobertson299]

@@asparagusnoodle okay let's play this little game. What did he do wrong?

[@Zartofonex66]

How do you feel about suicide boys

[@Weirdgirl213]

This Kanye video is 8:08 long. I’m expecting heartbreaks now.

[@Spoonkid222]

Heh. I see what you did.

[@Kiefyt]

gotta get this comment to 808 likes

[@Weirdgirl213]

fluffy That’s nice of you to say,

[@RapCritic]

@@Kiefyt we're at 303 rn. More bass, dammit!

[@Kiefyt]

Rap Critic lmao

[@ZanraiKid]

“When Nicki ends the song sounding like Marceline the Vampire Queen when she turns into a goddamn bat.” That... is actually a really accurate description.

[@mr.j9103]

If you put kanye's verse into context of the story that the album is trying to tell about kanye's rise, to the public hating him to him realizing he wont change and that the public has to take him for what hes worth, his verse fits perfectly.

[@Humorless_Wokescold]

You guys know Kanye's not that deep, right? He has the emotional depth of a tea spoon.

[@mr.j9103]

@@Humorless_Wokescold the album is a concept album the verse fits in with the narrative. Stop trying to be a contrarian because it really isn't that deep. Especially when you've heard the album and understand the concept. Its HIS story, not some convoluted arc. It really isn't that complicated.

[@jollyboy6161]

Julian Francisco just because it has a concept, doesn’t mean it is necessarily deep lmao

[@yashchenko999]

​@@Humorless_Wokescold "emotional depth of a tea spoon." Someone hasn't listened to Late Registration and The College Dropout not EVEN 808'S

[@SLagonia]

@@Humorless_Wokescold Everyone is going to pretend that Kanye never had a deep thought in his life now after years of praising him for being an artist with incredible depth... Sure.

[@PassivesAbseits]

This song is the main reason, I am so disapointed by Nickis career: After that feature all i wanted was one Album, where she is hungry, really tries and cares and rips everything apart. That album never came, she instantly started making Pop Albums and with little glimpses of what could have been possible....

[@RyanStorey1231]

Yeah, the closest she's come to replicating her highs on the Monster verse is Chun Li.

[@restreven4455]

Jamie Ryan Storey the Roman holidays are really good!!!

[@mariokarter13]

The result of years of no real competition. Name a female rapper that was popular in the first half of this decade. You have Nicki and......... Does Iggy Azalea's flame out count? Say what you want about Cardi B, but unlike Nicki she actually opened the door for other female rappers to hit it big.

[@PassivesAbseits]

@@mariokarter13 wait, what kind of reason is that? Missy Elliot never needed female competition to make good albums. Neither did Eve... And if that lack of competition really led to a lack of motivation, Nicki could have just compared herself to Jay-Z or Eminem... And yes, if she actually tries, she can outshine Eminem on Romans Revenge... a motivated Eminem... The real problem: actually trying would have cost Nicki money. Because the masses dont want to hear complex flows, they want "Starships". So she was "why should I try, if nobody cares"... And she isn't the only "I'll keep it simple to improve my sales" offender... but since her ceiling is so damn high and she never released that one hardcore album, she is the one that wastes the most potential...

[@dallasdegourville7046]

What about romans revenge ? Did any of you listen to queen , on queen did you listen to llc or her feature on plain Jane or her feature on welcome to the party . Nicki slaps when she wants to but to deny her talent because her most famous songs are pop doesn’t mean she doesn’t go hungry and slap on a few songs .

[@unlimitedredux8367]

Can't believe someone doesn't like Ye's " my presence is a present" line, one of my fav Kanye lines ever, shit too hard lmao

[@Kimura1313]

Guys a weirdo

[@aaronjohnson8490]

Go watch “Oh My God” by this guy (as Masta Chef or something dumb like that). Dude wouldn’t know a good flow or delivery if it showed up at his doorstep. Insanely corny guy

[@heydoeradio7298]

@@aaronjohnson8490 I CANT BELIEVE THIS

[@BrownProductionsTV]

“I’m living in the future so your present is my past” hard as fuck too. a perfect setup line and it flows sooooo nicely. That line is so so so good and the performance backs it up. This dude just loves to not like Kanye

[@SOV724]

@@BrownProductionsTV I know right moreover he's literally trying to downplay Jay Z's verse like that shit wasn't hard he buggin on this one🤡🤡

[@isabellamorris7902]

Please bring back Thoughts Kanye West Must Have Had in a future video!

[@PlaceboZypresse]

Isabella Morris send a link to one of these videos

[@C00kii0]

Please

[@GriffinWelch]

we need an entire series tbh

[@commaJim]

Ay shout-out Marceline the vampire queen.

[@BrosMinecraft2]

damn i enjoyed your comment

[@C00kii0]

Lol

[@johndavis9321]

Fuck Marceline its all about flame princesses

[@ImmortalKat4ever]

I listen to Monster a LOT, and while I sing along to the whole thing, Nicki's verse is undeniably, immeasurably better than any of the others. And despite that, even the weaker verses are fun enough to sing along to. Totally agree with the rating.

[@mariokarter13]

Nicki Minaj: Proof that one good verse can carry an entire career.

[@ImmortalKat4ever]

@JAMES MCROY I'm not hugely into Kanye, so I'll admit that I have no idea how it sounds in context. Definitely smacks as a single tho.

[@unluckycrown]

KatFangz listen to the album, its easily one of the top 10 albums this century

[@theroundone4943]

KatFangz not a huge Kanye fan but MBDTF deserves the praise. Easily one of my fav hip hop records

[@FidoeFTW]

Man I wish I could get into her verse... but the amount of times she brings up her MONEY pisses me off.

[@christopherminutolo9384]

0:03 Did he just 1. Use a Spongebob reference? 2. Use a Spongebob reference to respect someone's privacy?

[@jacm4150]

yep and it killed me

[@teababe27]

I noticed that too, lol. Loved it.

[@InoMercy]

1. Yes he did. 2. Yes he did.

[@BHanif1996]

I knew that was familiar

[@khalis6973]

Remember when we all thought Nicki was going to be a great female rapper cause of this song. Yeah that aged really well

[@mariokarter13]

This is why people like rap beefs, rivalry is what forces rappers to improve their craft. Nicki ran unopposed in the "female rapper" lane for most of the decade, Nicki is at her least relevant today because she finally has competition.

[@kozmikoblivion]

I was just gonna say... we really didn’t know that Monster verse was going to be the high water mark of Nicki, and she’d float off it for the next near decade.

[@hasafienda]

I never liked her verse.

[@Bighomie39]

@@mariokarter13 If anything, her competition today isn't any better than her at rap.

[@yubbityyubba7749]

But this song/album came out on the same day as Nickis first album???

[@inugamidalton8270]

The only monster Jay-Z symbolically represents is Capitalism.

[@jordanthejq12]

Well, that is a pretty hefty monster.

[@mariokarter13]

No, if Jay represented capitalism he wouldn't be buying a million copies of his own album. Repeatedly. To keep his increasingly fraudulent #1 streak.

[@inugamidalton8270]

mariokarter13 Borderline fraudulent market inflation for the sake of marketing and saving a man’s fragile ego sounds like capitalism to me.

[@GeneralUile]

I was hoping someone would make that "joke". Wasn't disappointed

[@PlaceboZypresse]

Go back to Twitter Jay Z is a smart business man

[@KingBenny]

Man I'm still waiting for someone to request a kid Cudi song

[@johnny3402]

Or oldie by Odd Future

[@nosidezero]

Profile pic checks out

[@mariahwondersalot1980]

And I’m waiting for someone to request an Azealia Banks song

[@grumpyoldman925]

Hhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@lydiavalentino]

@@johnny3402 HEY IT'S JASPER NOT EVEN A RAPPER

[@ashtonelee]

"And then the album came out..." 😂😂😂😂😂

[@1rockcrawford]

I've been waiting for this song to get reviewed for ages....and the fact that you didn't dig into ANY of Nicki's lyrics, on what is arguably her best song ever, is almost as disappointing as her discography after Monster.

[@robertolanzone]

Agreed. I understand that the video can't be too long, but if he's going to say "5/5, this verse made me forget the previous ones" it'd only make sense to break it down and gloss over the other verses, instead of the other way around...

[@rubygloommel8850]

Yeah, I was looking forward to him actually talking about the verse and not just mentioning that it exists.

[@sambrown8034]

I was hoping you would cover the kanye line about the pharaoh

[@Codexter1]

6/5 line

[@oskabro]

AAAAAAAAaaa putthepussyinthe SARCOPHAGUS

[@livingabstraction2206]

Thoughts Kanye must have had. Needs to be a recurring segment.

[@tylerhackner9731]

Yesss I want this to happen

[@mariokarter13]

Thoughts Rap Critic Must Have Had: "Why does this poet keep repeating the same line at the end of every stanza about the cycle of life and death?"

[@tonberry2670]

This review pretty much went exactly how I expected it to. Critiquing Ross, kanye and Jay to the point of nitpicking the video, then Nicki Minaj happens and 5/5

[@asparagusnoodle]

Ton berry ok

[@chabboyaysen5460]

rap critic....... when they refer as themselves as "monsters" its implied that they are "monsters" in their industry due to their skill and success in the music industry. "monsters" as in they are big and threatening and cant be stopped.

[@KhayJayArt]

But Kanye really is a monster

[@johnwill4560]

Honestly wearing a suit makes me think you're more of a monster rather than a bloody doctors outfit. The suit radiates power and power is kinda what makes a monster a monster in way or another

[@Kimura1313]

Yeah he’s off in this, it seems like he goes out of his way to not understand shit.

[@ob5443]

Nicky’s verse is one of the best ever. Excellent word play and it really encapsulates the mood of the song of these titans as monsters of the rap industry

[@brianbadonde9251]

Best ever 😂😂

[@jordanromesburg6819]

"I mean, do you feel cool when you sing along with Kanye saying my prescence is a present, kiss my ass?" YES I DO STOP HURTING MY FEELINGS

[@sean269]

Do Erase Me by Kid Cudi I love Kanye but his diarrhea line on that song always makes me cringe

[@RyanStorey1231]

Let me rewrite Rick Ross's part for you: 🎶Rick Ross and I'm up first I didn't get a whole verse They only gave me one line Well, good night folks, that's my time🎶

[@Pokemongal9]

That's from The Key of Awesome lmao

[@brianbadonde9251]

@@Pokemongal9 ducky of awesome

[@aryehwaggoner]

I would love to see Nicki doing this with Tyler and A$ap for a good, grimy, unhinged, horror-themed banger.

[@Kimura1313]

Lucas Waggoner she don’t deserve it, Rico Nasty would be a better fit.

[@Reazy-E]

I didnt even know this song had a video lol

[@killingthemood2000]

Nicki was the only one that read the instructions for the assignment, and it tells

[@BatCritic21]

I lost it during your Stewart impression! 😂

[@TyroneGParks]

First time ever watching a KZbin premiere! Glad it's for the RC! 🙏🏾

[@theastridgonzalez]

And now I wanna listen to “Monster”.

[@BHOPDaMaestro]

Nicki will never make anything that'll top her Monster verse.

[@samirmouladad6633]

B-HOP I don’t think so. When you look at her work as a whole there have definitely been some really good contenders. She’s really talented when she wants to be

[@KingKrakenSports]

The Stuart impression lol

[@ethanwarring4472]

We need a whole series on "thoughts kanye must have had"

[@daneg007]

it's about fucking time that you reviewed this.

[@Draculia]

This is my favorite channel for sho, plz we need more at least two videos a week.plz

[@DarcOfTheShadows]

5:39 Just reminds me of this tumblr post I saw once about this song. Went something like: kanye: "hey jay-z, you wanna do a verse on my new track? it's called monster." jay-z: "aight, cool, i know lots of monsters"

[@ty_teynium]

That So Appalled line was pretty funny tho.

[@ToddRodSkimmins]

I’m commenting because I enjoyed this episode. “I’m helping!” *said in Ralph Wiggums voice*

[@wolfdemexico]

That awkward Napoleon Dynamite is my favorite part of the song. Well that and the fact that Rick Ross only has a single line (which does raise the question why bother including him in the first place but then again guest verses always seem mysterious to me) Also can we point out the lameness of Jay-Z when listing monsters goes with Goblin? It just comes off as so low rent

[@stickyickybandit]

Love this one 😂😂 good ass jokes my guy

[@ryansudol3281]

That SpongeBob Christmas Special reference at the beginning, tho!!!!!!!!

[@Thunderbolt210]

To the patreons who are paying for special requests STOP. He didn’t review anything on this video. This has been a trend for a while. No real break down of anything just commentary. 8mins and somehow nothing was learned or gained

[@UBvtuber]

Fucking agreed, I was honestly surprised this was 8 minutes, because it felt like maybe 2....and not in a good way. His reviews lately feel really brief and souless despite the fact he's clearly trying to ham up his jokes to compensate, and I didn't quite know why, but you summed it up perfectly.

[@Kimura1313]

Ugly Bastard facts, he seems like he doesn’t even understand what he’s talking about half the time.

[@laterferaligatr2947]

I think this was Nicki's best feature imo. She had the best verse on this song hands down. Proof that if she tries she can do something lol

[@ZadnoleyaEdits]

Ive been whispering "my presence is a present. Kiss my ass" to myself for ten years.

[@teolyles325]

Thank you Rap Critic. For acknowledging that Nicki Minaj has talent, half the time when I try and discuss rap with friends and female rappers pop up (I'm 22 and they are all around 20 so late 2000s and since ones) I get dismissed for saying Nicki has good lyrical and vocal abilities when she wants to.

[@Speculativedude]

Dude you should make "Thoughts Kanye West must have had" a recurring segment on your show. :D

[@ylgotbars4531]

Needed this for sure! Love the analysis of the slight missteps....but I knew it was a 5 Nicki's Feature is in a top 25 list for me

[@toomanywindows]

5:28 I was NOT expecting a MADtv reference, let alone a STEWWWWARRRT reference but I'm glad it happened. It's a true comparison and a nice throwback.

[@duke86fan]

dont be dissin MBDTF that albums a masterpiece

[@seppoleonvervloet132]

Correct but this is prolly the worst song on the album

[@alexperryman23]

@@seppoleonvervloet132>assuming any song was actually bad

[@horndog2224]

@@seppoleonvervloet132 no

[@EternalYorkieMom]

Marceline the Vampire Queen ❤️❤️❤️ I’m so happy Rap Critic knows Adventure Time

[@ironidol]

RC falling because of Nicki's scream is one of the best things I saw all week

[@TheAnimalKing]

“Has Jay ever seem monstrous to you?” The guy sold crack man, that’s a pretty bad thing to do

[@FirionLeFleur]

You should listen to the Dissect Podcast take on this song and the album as a whole. A lot of things make more sense about the lyrics' connection to the post VMA backlash.

[@glyle2504]

The moment at the end of the video when you realize you weren’t subscribed all this time and you’re going to the pit of hell where they threw Ice JJ Fish’s discography😔😔😔

[@dustinkeversmith]

Now this is some good content these videos of you are far from where you came on nerd with glasses but still the old stuff is good you are a master

[@joshdough4992]

Love you

[@TSFboi]

Nicki has a verse at the end of her recent "Barbie Dreams" that I think parallels the Monster verse. The beat changes and she just goes off with different voices like here.

[@michaelhaydenbell]

Please dial back the cheesy "acting" aspect, please dear God. I love ya but if you would just try a tiny bit to be subtle it would feel organic and be SO much better. Genuinely not tryna hate, just being honest. Thanks for the vids either way.

[@joshuaangeloedward]

04:45 "Thoughts Kayne West Must Have Had" flew over my head first time I saw it

[@psychonaut1502]

Top of this could rhyme with monstrous (pronounced monster-push). The line could be "Cause y'all know I'm monstrous." It'd also fit with the theme of the song.

[@v9productions]

“I’m living in the future so the present is my past, my presence is a present kiss my ass...” - Kanye Definitely one of the best bars on that song and still a great one today!

[@whilesuncastle2231]

Ohhh boy. You done did it

[@jd5726]

I love the Good Morning music video

[@biggary1238]

I just paused and read the whole disclaimer backwards because I didn't realize the next one was the same thing but normal.

[@megano2000]

*LOOOOVE!* I don't get enough of it.

[@sudevsen]

I am now nostalgic for Anita'video about Monster. It was the calm before the Gaergate storm.

[@Elscoliosis97]

His MAD TV reference was hilarious

[@AngellusRavenix]

Any chance of a review with you and Lady Jess on Ready or Not?

[@livingabstraction2206]

Hopefully, but since they broke up I don't think they're still in contact.

[@AngellusRavenix]

@@livingabstraction2206 So, they did break up.

[@eddiedingle767]

Stuart reference; 10 thumbs up

[@TheBbswisher92]

Rap critic says new grounds, I slap that like

[@-Scrapper-]

How did this get a flashing lights copy strike but not a monster onr

[@tobiokandi]

Rick Ross plays the narrator. A trope used historically in horror movies. Kanye West, the 🐐, uses Rozay to set the scene. ✍️

[@TuxedoKnox]

I'm just commenting to comment

[@XPrinceOfDorknessX]

I am replying to your comment to comment

[@thefez-cat]

Can "Thoughts Kanye Must Have Had" please become a running bit?

[@starhustler1453]

What was that one video with the guy in the hockey mask?

[@bthsr7113]

The amount of effort I expect for a music video varies based on their resources. Some do a lot with limited time and money. Others put out lousy product that I'm close to being able to do, and they probably overpaid for the underwhelming snooze. There's defintely some good content though, and some artists seem to be using youtube as the closest thing there is to old MTV.

[@docrussojr]

Jay-Z's verse went over RC head. He was talking about the monster that his former buddies and general public made him out to be during the collapse of Roc-a-Fella. Most of everyone in the group was dissing him and calling him a sellout for doing what was in his best interest, instead of staying on the sinking boat. Through all of the drug dealing, incarceration, close encounters with death, etc. his achilles heel (weakness) is love, which he doesn't get enough of for what he accomplished. Instead, all he get is what he perceives as monsters (his former buddies that he made rich being ungrateful and painting him as the monster).

[@harisditta5695]

I appreciate the adventure time reference Rap Critic

[@zanuelmoore1320]

LOVE !!!!!!!!! i dont get enough of it :(

[@charlesjunior5087]

2:07 what music video was that ??

[@SilentSheikah]

The only part of this song I ever heard before this video was Nicki's verse as I remember it spreading on tumblr because it's so dang good

[@lucabeale8001]

don't think I didn't notice your killer impression of Stuart from Mad TV

[@mr.mister873]

Did not expect yo get a madtv reference

[@Nim03]

Top 5 rap album of all time

[@dantrice78]

Had to like when I you said, "Thoughts Kanye West must have had." Thank you, sir.

[@dantrice78]

Must second this for "wolfman gloves"

[@Yonteez]

NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD!

[@Official.bigmarv]

“My presence is a present, KISS my ass” 😤😤😤I say that shit and it’s heat

[@dabwiso784]

On this day we make our offering to the algorithm

[@thema1998]

That SpongeBob homage at the beginning was hilarious. 😂

[@drfreshey]

Wait, there were TWO videos for flashing lights? I only knew about the one with the lingerie and the murder.

[@RyanStorey1231]

[Christmas at the West-Kardashian house] Kim: "Kanye, why are you wrapping yourself?" Kanye: "My presence is a present. Kiss my ass."

[@chachisadventures3378]

Kanye is GOAT status

[@tsartomato]

satisfaction banned? it was in rotation 24\7 on mtv and every other channel

[@NdemNkem]

I remember when I first heard this, I thought this song was hard, but as I listened to what all they were saying I was like hmmm.jayz you are a monster because of ”love”..... Ok. Nicki comes off the most as a monster on the whole track .she has so much fun with it. The beat is so hard on this and overall I still love this song. Being a kanye fan it was hard not to like this song. I feel you rap critic.

[@codyfedeler8284]

Good stuff

[@Bloodinhoo]

Maybe one day someone will request a Fort Minor song.

[@davidmerkyobich]

We need more Rap Critic videos... How long does it take to make each video?

[@travishogan5523]

We need a runaway video

[@robertgaskill1970]

I just love Kanye man. I think he mans a genius. Maybe not a political genius or mathematic or scientific but hes certainly a creative genius

[@webbykrooger]

Nicki's best feature ever...

[@shadowandluigifan989]

Considering the concept of the song, this is the one time I found that Nicki's weird (and usually annoying) vocal inflections actually worked.