Kanye West continues to struggle to find his footing as of late on his previously unreleased single “XTCY.” While it’s been ‘freed,’ perhaps it shouldn’t have been.  

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”  True Ecclesiastes 3, so true.  What does that have to do with Kanye West? Well, in my opinion, West’s ‘season’ as one of the top, truly innovative rappers in the game has come and passed at this point. While he still has plenty to offer, he’s merely not quite as electrifying or potent as he once was. His 2018, seven-track album Ye was perfect evidence of a less engaged West, even if the effort had its moments and wasn’t an ‘epic fail.’  He officially releases a new single that missed the album, “XTCY.” Again, “I miss the old Kanye.”

One positive thing about “XTCY” is that it’s a brief record that clocks in just under three minutes.  It commences with an odd intro, which often seems to be the case with Kanye West’s music these days – odd.  Notably, it features some orgasmic sounds, alongside the sample that repeats “ecstasy.” Not hard to see where Mr. West is going with this one – sex, sex, sex.  To his credit, he showcases a solid flow on all three of the verses.  The rhymes on the other hand, are sexually-charged and basic AF as he spits over a sample.

On the first verse, West raps, “You got sick thoughts? I got more of ‘em / You got a sister-in-law you’d smash? I got four of ‘em.”  Sad, and ultimately, cringy, but to each his own.  On the second verse, which is as brief as the first, he showcases a similar flow, asserting, “You remember the bad b*tches that you smashed? I recorded ‘em.” He also gets even raunchier later, proclaiming, “If she suck seed, that’s a success / If a girl c*m, that’s a f**k fest.” Filthy.  On the third verse, the modus operandi is the same, with some “scoop” and “whoop” thrown into the mix. That’s not the first appearance of “scoop” and “whoop” – they actually occur on an interlude between the chorus and the third and final verse.  As for the chorus, he references Mad Max, a smartphone, a dumb ass, and thinking of “all this on ecstasy.” Yep, sounds like it.

Final Thoughts 

Hmm, what does one make of “XTCY?” Not much. It really is hard to know what to make of Kanye West anymore.  The same can be said of the single “XTCY.” Not the worst thing ever released, but pretty unexceptional.

Kanye West • XTCY – Single • GOOD / Def Jam • Release: 8.30.18

Photo Credits: GOOD / Def Jam