The Life of Pablo

The Life of Pablo is the seventh studio album by the American rapper Kanye West. It was released on February 14, 2016, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. West recorded it between 2013 and 2016, and produced it with a variety of producers, including the executive producers Rick Rubin and Noah Goldstein. Guest appearances include The-Dream, Kelly Price, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kid Cudi, Desiigner, Rihanna, Young Thug, Chris Brown, the Weeknd, Ty Dolla Sign, Vic Mensa, Sia, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, and Sampha.

West summarized The Life of Pablo as his interpretation of the Gospel, and music journalists have described its sound as blending hip-hop with gospel music. The Life of Pablo has been noted its intentionally messy, fragmented composition, often shifting between subjects abruptly. Lyrically, it explores West's Christian faith, family issues, and celebrity status. West changed the title frequently throughout the recording process, with the final one referring to three individuals: the drug dealer Pablo Escobar, the artist Pablo Picasso, and Paul the Apostle.

West played an early version of The Life of Pablo at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2016, before the initial release on Tidal. West continued to work on it post-release; an updated version was released on other streaming services and for download on April 1. It was supported by six singles, including the Billboard Hot 100 hits "Famous", "Father Stretch My Hands", and "Fade", and West's Saint Pablo Tour throughout 2016. The Life of Pablo received positive reviews, with particular attention paid to the fragmented, unfinished nature of the composition and release. Multiple publications named it one of 2016's best albums, with Paste ranking among the "300 Greatest Albums of All Time".

The Life of Pablo received five nominations at the 2017 Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album, though numerous publications deemed its lack of an Album of the Year nomination a snub. Following Tidal's initial disclosure of its streaming data and its release to competing streaming services, The Life of Pablo debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming the first album to do so primarily through streaming. It also debuted at number one in Norway, and in the top ten in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2018.

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