Kanye West Not Finished With ‘SWISH’ After A Year Of Underperformance

2015 was not a good year for Kanye West in terms of music. As a celebrity, though, he was in top form. He riled people up, gave some very well-received performances, and received tons of publicity over his new son, Saint. However, his songs failed to make dents in the charts. Still, many fans were hoping they would get to hear his new album, SWISH, before the end of the year. According to Billboard, SWISH is almost finished.

“Kanye West‘s long-awaited seventh album, Swish, may soon be seeing the light of day. ‘I’m finishing my album and my next collection…,’ the rapper tweeted Saturday night. West also requested some peace and quiet until he completes the forthcoming musical project, which follows his 2013 album, Yeezus.”

Kanye West has been experiencing a career downslide ever since his album, Yeezus, underperformed. In 2013, Billboard talked about the album’s huge drop in sales.

“Last week’s No. 1, Kanye West’s ‘Yeezus,’ falls by 80% to No. 3 — the largest second-week percentage drop for a No. 1-debuting album in over a year. It sold 65,000 in its sophomore frame. A week ago it bowed with 327,000.”

Even though most artists would love those sales, it was proof to Kanye’s critics that he was losing popularity. In 2015, Kanye has been having a difficult time launching SWISH. Kanye’s first single, a collaboration with Paul McCartney titled, “Only One,” was released on January 1. It only climbed high enough on Billboard’s Hot 100 to reach No. 35. For other artists, that number wouldn’t be so bad. For Kanye, who is used to having new singles chart in the top five, it was a major disappointment.

Kanye West had a little more luck with his next single, “All Day,” which peaked at No. 15. However, Kanye West has experienced PR problems as usual this year. Earlier in the year, he almost crashed the stage at the Grammys when Beck won Album of the Year. Then, there was that “performance” of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The relative lack of success of his new singles and constant rants didn’t stop Time from putting Kanye on its cover as one of this year’s most important icons. Kanye didn’t hold back on his self-importance in the Time interview.

“Every time I crash the internet, it’s like this little drop of truth. Every time I say something that’s extremely truthful out loud, it literally breaks the internet. So, what are we getting all of the rest of the time?”

Please don't ask Kanye West for anything until he is done with his album. https://t.co/lPmvS3dsO9

— MTV (@MTV) December 14, 2015

Kanye has used his recent negative experiences to give an inspiring speech to Los Angeles Trade School graduates. Billboard quotes part of the speech.

“It’s a tough world out there. You’re going to prepare yourself for politics, bad bosses, hating employees, and usually when you’re the absolute best, you get hated on the most. Even for me, as a successful musician, in order to make the transition it was really all but impossible. People always try to box you in to what they know you best for.”

Despite the negativity, there is still excitement for Kanye’s latest album on Twitter.

so excited for SWISH #yeezyseason

— Michael (@MikeyATG) December 13, 2015

can't wait for swish to drop

— Jocoby (@http_jocoby) December 13, 2015

If Kanye wanted the record sales, he could have released SWISH as a Christmas surprise to take advantage of all the record buyers. Perhaps, critical respect is most important to West right now. He has already sold millions of records. The wait for SWISH just may be worth it.

[Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images]