The Life of Pablo

West began the album in November 2013 under the working title So Help Me God, and it later went by Swish and Waves before he settled on The Life of Pablo on 9 February 2016. The title refers to Pablo Escobar, Pablo Picasso and the Apostle Paul. West told Big Boy Radio that it was a gospel album with a whole lot of cursing on it. Rick Rubin and Noah Goldstein were the executive producers, and the guests include Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kid Cudi, Desiigner, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, Post Malone, Ty Dolla Sign, Sia and Young Thug.

An early version was played at Madison Square Garden on 11 February 2016, during the presentation of his Yeezy Season 3 clothing. The album reached streaming on Tidal on 14 February, after West performed Highlights and Ultralight Beam on Saturday Night Live. He kept altering it. A major update on 30 March changed at least 12 tracks, an updated version reached Spotify, Apple Music and Google Play on 1 April, and Saint Pablo with Sampha was added on 14 June. West later told GQ that nothing is ever done.

Reception

It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, the first album to do so primarily through streaming, and was certified triple platinum in 2022. Metacritic gives it 75 from 35 critics. It earned five nominations at the 2017 Grammys, including Best Rap Album. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone wrote: "This is a messy album that feels like it was made that way on purpose." The singles Famous, Father Stretch My Hands and Fade reached 34, 37 and 47 on the Hot 100. The Saint Pablo Tour began in August 2016.