Kanye West’s ‘The Life of Pablo’ Album Certified Platinum
On "Diamonds From Sierra Leone," Kanye West rapped about his name being misspelled on plaques, but 11 years later it seems the rapper has had the matter sorted, his seventh solo album The Life of Pablo certified platinum this week. The milestone is of particular note because the album was never pressed for physical copies. While it debuted on Tidal, receiving a reported 250 million streams in the 10 days after its release, it later expanded to other streaming platforms, Kanye saying in March that CD versions were on the way, though they never materialized.
Instead, West took a different approach to the album, updating its tracks through the spring and into the summer and listening to fans about what to include on songs like "Wolves." Kanye's form-bending ambition carried over to his live show as well, as his Saint Pablo tour, which began in late August, featured a floating stage that hovers above portions of the audience. The result has been an interactive concert experience that allows Kanye to deliver a more intimate performance, seeing his fan's tattoos and serenading them, but it has also created the potential for disruption, with one fan in Atlanta attempting to climb onto the rapper's platform.
While the rollout for Pablo and Kanye's constant tinkering has provided the album with a unconventional narrative, the rapper has proven that his musical output and creative vision matter most, the project reaching the million mark after its release in February.
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