Review: Kanye West's 'Ultralight Beam.'

‘Ultralight Beam’ is a song recorded by American rapper and fashion mogul Kanye West.  It features efforts from The Dream, Kelly Price, Chance The Rapper and Kirk Franklin.

Charged with black power and choral performance, ‘Ultralight Beam’ stands bold and fearless, yet gentle to the touch with its message that takes on issues as suppression, hope, faith and resilience  that form the block of ‘Life Of Pablo’ album.  

'Ultralight Beam' is a Gospel in its arrangement and instrumentation that seamlessly infuses jazz flavours accentuated through resounding horns.  What really sets the pace on ‘Ultralight Beam’ remains its subtlety in the way it gives room for each act to vocally express themselves.

The track sets off on the zestful vocals of 4 years old Natalie Green, culled from a YouTube video that sees Green pray for her family shortly before they embark on a journey. The infusion of Green's vocals easily buys the emotions of the listener, first with surprise, and then followed by appreciation for her sheer audacity. 

Throbbing beats, elusive synths and hypnotizing strums, West walks in charged with a choir. On vocals, The Dream sticks to the falsetto range evoking a bemoaned state while Price rides on a stronger range that implies inner strength. Amid the somberness, the choir soars above and beyond with vocal energy serving as wings to lift heavy hearts. Chance The Rapper raps through his verses progressively. Kanye West on this track remained surprisingly mellow.

The use of a choir arrangements is similar to works of R Kelly's ‘Storm Is Over’ and Kirk Franklin's ‘Lean On Me’, but doesn't necessarily live up to their glory of both. With 'Ultralight Beam', the combo of singers works in harmony.

Lyrically, ‘Ultralight Beam’ weaves tales of modern day realities with vocal cadence as keys to decrypt its message at various points. At certain points it pleads, at others it brags and accuses, while at others times rages. The shape-shifting nature that depict the arrange is nothing short of the versatility of these different acts.

Kanye may have shone on this track; however, he fails to create the perfect picture that blends all acts to project perfection, put simply, it was a good, but not great effort. The assemblage of acts was good, but this track is not one of those "standouts" like 'Lean On Me,' or Storm Is Over.'

Rating: 4.2/5 

Ikenna Bede