SAINT PABLO

I can see a thousand years from now in real life
Skate on the paradigm and shift it when I feel like
Troll conventional thought, don't need to question
I know it's antiquated so sometimes I get aggressive

There’s a certain freedom in accepting that some of your favourite artists are invariably complex and flawed individuals, as it somehow makes their best art seem even more miraculous—like a flower breaking through cracks in a concrete pavement.

Given that Kanye West is currently living in exile in Japan and is essentially a toxic brand—persona non grata to the mainstream music industry, like a cultural pariah—it’s fascinating to revisit an old track of his, Saint Pablo, from his living, breathing, ever-evolving 2016 album project The Life of Pablo. At that time, Kanye seemed as close as an artist could get to walking on water, performing on a floating stage and boasting about existing outside conventional thought and timelines. Now, a fallen man with YZY feet of clay, he more closely resembles Icarus after his earthbound descent, having flown too close to the sun.

The track’s title, Saint Pablo, references Saint Paul (Pablo in Spanish), a significant figure in Christianity known for his transformation and for spreading the gospel. Kanye draws comparisons between his role as an artist and Paul’s role as a preacher, suggesting that he views his music as a form of sermonising—intended to inspire and provoke thought while addressing themes of personal struggles, artistic vision, and spiritual salvation.

I've been woken from enlightened man's dream
Checkin' Instagram comments to crowdsource my self esteem
Let me not say too much or do too much
'Cause if I'm up way too much, I'm out of touch
I'm prayin' an out-of-body experience will happen
So the people can see my light, now it's not just rappin'
God, I have humbled myself before the court
Drop my ego and confidence was my last resort

Despite his ego-driven bravado, the Atlanta-born artist is self-aware enough to recognise his polarising status. He speaks candidly about how fame has affected his personal relationships and mental well-being, making him feel both divorced from reality and empowered by his art.

The various iterations of “Pablo” identities on The Life of Pablo album reflect where Kanye was in 2016, oscillating between Pablo Picasso, Saint Paul, and Pablo Escobar. Each of these figures highlight West's complexity as an artist and a man, as he veers between creative, prophet, and hustler.

I've been wakin' the spirits of millions more to come
A million illegally downloaded my truth over the drums
I believe in the children, listen to the kids, bro

Always believing himself to be a visionary who pushes boundaries without apology, Kanye asserts that his work transcends monetary value, aiming for a deeper, spiritual impact—especially with the younger generation. He also conveys his loneliness on this path, breaking through assumptions and categorisations of his role in the culture.

Listening to Saint Pablo in 2024, the track feels light-years away from the darkness he’s since fallen into, marked by endless lawsuits, scandals, and contractual issues. Yet, the ultralight beams of his earlier boasts and confessions have only grown more poignant to my ears.

Maybe I need my heroes broken to fully appreciate the art they make. After all, if we demand moral perfection from our artists, we might as well leave the future of culture to the robots.