Kanye West has received high praise for his latest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and rightfully so. Billboard critic Mariel Concepcion called My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy “Possibly the best album of the year.” Rolling Stone reviewer Rob Sheffield declared “It’s his (West) best album.” However, you know the cliché phrase “actions speak louder than words.” MTV reports West’s newest album sold over 496,000 copies in the first week. How about that for action?

What makes My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy standout is the raps contain purpose. Tracks like “Gorgeous” and “So Appalled” addresses subjects like racism and failed government. The civil rights topic isn’t commonly discussed in today’s mainstream media. However, West makes a point with this record to let people know the civil rights movement still continues today. One way he does this is through a reference to Rosa Parks and calling himself Malcolm West, an obvious allusion to famous civil rights leader Malcolm X.  Another way is through lines like “Jerome gets more time than Brandon” and “At the airport they check all through my bag and tell me that it’s random.”

In regards to the government, Kanye West, points out different failures. For instance, West says on the “So Appalled” track “Niggas going through real shit, man they out of work.” The rapper makes clear the need for people to take action during these trying times with the lines “That’s why I never gawd damn dance track, gotta hurt/That’s why I rather spit something that got perch.” Keeping the idea of using his music to make a difference, West inspires his audience to take action with “Who Will Survive in America,” the last track on the album. The one minute 38 seconds track calls for a revolution with the line “The new word to have is revolution.”

Besides national issues, the rapper uses My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to address personal issues. Kanye West confronts seemingly all his opponents, from educated critics to the writers of the television show South Park. To all his educated critics West retorts in “So Appalled” “Cause you haters got PHDs/ y’all just some major haters with math minors.”  The rapper responds to the South Park episode which makes fun of him in “Gorgeous,” saying “Choke a South Park writer with a fish stick.”

Beyond all the powerful messages West sends on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the song “All the Lights” proves worth mentioning for how much talent collaborated on the piece. Names that appear on “All the Lights” with West include Fergie, Elton John, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, and Kid Cudi. Having all these artists collaborate on the same song gives you a greater appreciation for each musician and his or her talents. Another noteworthy talent who appears on the record is comedian Chris Rock. Rock reads a monologue on the track “Blame Game,” a song about a cheating girlfriend.

Overall, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has a lot to offer. Even if you don’t like Kanye West, or rap, the album can still be stimulating as a conversation starter. You may not agree with what the rapper says on the album, but that’s okay. Dialogue is the best way to work through the important issues West raises. If My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy can cause discussion, the album reaches a whole new level of success.