My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

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| quote = Dark Fantasy was my long, backhanded apology. You know how people give a backhanded compliment? It was a backhanded apology. It was like, all these raps, all these sonic acrobatics. I was like: "Let me show you guys what I can do, and please accept me back. You want to have me on your shelves."

| source = —Kanye West, speaking to The New York Times in 2013{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/arts/music/kanye-west-talks-about-his-career-and-album-yeezus.html|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828181309/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/arts/music/kanye-west-talks-about-his-career-and-album-yeezus.html|archive-date=August 28, 2016|url-access=registration|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|title=Behind Kanye's Mask|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 11, 2013}}

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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was conceived at Avex Recording Studio during Kanye West's self-imposed exile in Oahu, Hawaii, in 2009, following a period of public-image controversy.{{Cite magazine |last=Callahan-Bever |first=Noah |date=November 2010 |title=Kanye West: Project Runaway |url=http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway |magazine=Complex |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228123251/http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway |archive-date=December 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 30, 2010}}{{cite web|last=Lavin|first=Will|date=November 22, 2020|url=https://www.nme.com/features/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-10-year-anniversary-genius-2821381|title=Celebrating Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 10 years on|work=NME|access-date=October 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191629/https://www.nme.com/features/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-10-year-anniversary-genius-2821381|archive-date=July 5, 2022}} West said that fatigue from overworking led to his controversial outburst at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) when the singer Taylor Swift was awarded Best Female Video at the ceremony. He was disgusted with the media response, which led to a brief hiatus from recording. He also observed at the time of the album's release that Swift never defended him in any interviews, saying she continuously "rode the waves" from the controversy.{{cite book |last=Calafell |first=Bernadette Marie |title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Monstrosity, performance, and race in contemporary culture |url=https://archive.org/details/monstrosityperfo0000cala/page/10/mode/2up?q=%22My+Beautiful+Dark+Twisted+Fantasy%22 |date=2015 |isbn=9781433127373 |publisher=Peter Lang |location=New York City |via=Internet Archive |access-date=February 2, 2024}} West had held recording sessions at the same studio as his previous album 808s & Heartbreak (2008).

In response to the backlash to West's behaviour, his scheduled tour Fame Kills: Starring Kanye West and Lady Gaga with the singer Lady Gaga to promote 808s & Heartbreak was cancelled on October 1, 2009, without an official explanation.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-and-lady-gaga-fame-kills-tour-canceled-20091001|title=Kanye West and Lady Gaga 'Fame Kills' Tour Canceled|date=October 1, 2009|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|access-date=February 23, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628201803/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-and-lady-gaga-fame-kills-tour-canceled-20091001|archive-date=June 28, 2011}} A year later, he explained to Ellen DeGeneres the incident served as motivation for his works because he felt like "a soldier of culture", realizing no one wants this to be his role and admitted he will continuously "feel convicted about things that really meant stuff to culture that constantly get denied for years". In 2013, West said that the album served as a backhanded apology after his MTV VMAs outburst, detailing that he used the music to become accepted again. He elaborated that a minimum of 80 percent was genuine, with the remainder "fulfilling a perception" for the public. West also insisted that he was not criticizing My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and instead failed to reach satisfaction, then openly revealed his idea of the truth.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was recorded at Avex in Honolulu, Hawaii. Additional recording took place at Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank, California, and at Electric Lady Studios and Platinum Sound Recording Studios in New York City.{{cite AV media notes |last=West |first=Kanye |title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|year=2010 |publisher=Roc-A-Fella Records}} It was reported that West spent around $3 million provided by his record label Def Jam to record the album, making it one of the most expensive albums ever made.{{Cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Allen |date=September 17, 2010 |title=Def Jam Records Has Reportedly Spent $3 Million on Kanye West's New Album |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.12268/title.def-jam-records-has-reportedly-spent-3-million-on-kanye-wests-new-album |website=HipHopDX |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919020914/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12268/title.def-jam-records-has-reportedly-spent-3-million-on-kanye-wests-new-album/ |archive-date=September 19, 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=November 28, 2010}}{{cite news |last=McPhate |first=Tim |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/kanye-west-beatles-5-expensive-albums-grammy-winners |title=Kanye West, the Beatles: 5 expensive albums by Grammy winners |publisher=The Recording Academy |date=June 28, 2017 |access-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006075939/https://www.grammy.com/news/kanye-west-beatles-5-expensive-albums-grammy-winners |archive-date=October 6, 2023 |url-status=live}} He explained the initial recording process to Noah Callahan-Bever, the editor-in-chief of Complex and West's then-confidant, telling him he had resided in Hawaii accompanied by his favorite producers and artists to work on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and provide inspiration. Various contributors engaged in sessions with West for the album, including Kid Cudi, Elton John, Rick Ross, Pusha T, and Justin Vernon.{{Cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=October 7, 2010 |title=Kanye West Adds M.I.A., La Roux And Alicia Keys To Album |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649541/20101007/west_kanye.jhtml |publisher=MTV News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010002012/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649541/20101007/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 28, 2010}}{{Cite news |title=MIA announces collaboration for Kanye West album Dark Twisted Fantasy |url=https://www.nme.com/news/mia/53089 |work=NME |date=September 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924093553/http://www.nme.com/news/mia/53089 |archive-date=September 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 28, 2010}} Vocals were also recorded by M.I.A., Mos Def, Santigold, and Seal. Producers who contributed in the sessions included Q-Tip, RZA, Pete Rock,{{Cite web |last=Kuperstein |first=Slava |date=April 8, 2010 |title=Kanye West's Next Album To Drop In June |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10985 |website=HipHopDX |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002071534/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10985/title.kanye-wests-next-album-to-drop-in-june |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 8, 2010}} Madlib,{{Cite web |last=Harling |first=Danielle |date=June 25, 2010 |title=Madlib Says Kanye West Requested Beats For 'Good Ass Job' |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11567 |website=HipHopDX |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126084210/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11567/title.madlib-says-kanye-west-requested-beats-for-good-ass-job |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 14, 2010}} Statik Selektah,{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1903598/statik-selektah-kanye-west-what-goes-around/|title=Kanye West Told Statik Selektah 'Jazz Was Dead,' So He Went And Made A Jazz Album|last=Markman|first=Rob|publisher=MTV News|date=August 19, 2014|access-date=May 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518024256/http://www.mtv.com/news/1903598/statik-selektah-kanye-west-what-goes-around/|archive-date=May 18, 2019|url-status=dead}} and DJ Premier.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/93h5tv/dj-premier-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-mamas-boyfriend|title=DJ Premier Talks Kanye West's 'Mama's Boyfriend'|last=Crosley|first=Hillary|publisher=MTV News|date=November 30, 2010|access-date=October 15, 2022|archive-date=October 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015093320/https://www.mtv.com/news/93h5tv/dj-premier-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-mamas-boyfriend|url-status=dead}} Madlib said he made five beats for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, while DJ Premier revealed his work did not make the final cut.

West block-booked the three session rooms of Avex simultaneously for 24 hours a day to work on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, until he felt it was complete. According to Callahan-Bever, when West "hits a creative wall", he changes to another studio room to work on a different song.Callahan-Bever, Noah (November 2010). [http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway?page=3 Kanye West: Project Runaway – Page 3] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125082521/http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway?page=3 |date=November 25, 2010 }}. Complex. Retrieved on October 15, 2022. Sheets of paper were posted on one side of the studio with what were known as "Kanye Commandments", such as "No Tweeting" and "No Pictures". West never slept a full night there, opting instead to take power naps on a studio chair or couch in 90-minute intervals when working during the night. Engineers worked a similar schedule, remaining active 24 hours a day. The heavy work ethic led to West and his crew having multi-course breakfasts each morning at his Diamond Head residence, cooked by in-house chefs.Callahan-Bever, Noah (November 2010). [http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway?page=2 Kanye West: Project Runaway – Page 2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125082515/http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway?page=2 |date=November 25, 2010 }}. Complex. Retrieved on October 15, 2022. Later in the mornings after breakfast, West and most of the crew played games of 21 against locals at the Honolulu YMCA for leisure. Kid Cudi smoked marijuana in preparation and worked out on a treadmill, while RZA exercised in the weight room.Paine, Jake (November 22, 2010). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.13092/title.kanye-wests-studio-arrangement-analyzed-in-complex-cover-story/ Kanye West's Studio Arrangement Analyzed In Complex Cover Story] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002071658/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.13092/title.kanye-wests-studio-arrangement-analyzed-in-complex-cover-story/ |date=October 2, 2012 }}. HipHopDX. Retrieved on November 28, 2010.

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| image1 = Control room with SSL 9000J & custom 3-way main monitors, Avex Honolulu Studios.jpg

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Throughout the album's development, West enlisted other producers and musicians for opinions. At the studio, they went through various conversations and contributions. Observing these discussions during a visit, Callahan-Bever noted that despite the presence of prominent musicians, "the egos rarely clash; talks are sprawling, enlightening, and productive" around the future, present, and past. Q-Tip described the process as "music by committee" and elaborated on its significance to the sessions and West's work ethic:

{{cquote|He'll go, 'Check this out, tell me what you think.' Which speaks volumes about who he is and how he sees and views people. Every person has a voice and an idea, so he's sincerely looking to hear what you have to say—good, bad, or whatever ... When he has his beats or his rhymes, he offers them to the committee and we're all invited to dissect, strip, or add on to what he's already started. By the end of the sessions, you see how he integrates and transforms everyone's contributions, so the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. He's a real wizard at it. What he does is alchemy, really.Callahan-Bever, Noah (November 2010). [http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway?page=6 Kanye West: Project Runaway – Page 4] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125162703/http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway?page=6 |date=November 25, 2010 }}. Complex. Retrieved on October 18, 2022.}}

The rapper Pusha T characterized My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as "a collage of sounds" and found West's recording methods unorthodox. He explained that when the team thought they were focused on a song, West would hear the work of a record producer such as Jeff Bhasker and his attention would be captured as he went through "his mental Rolodex" to the most suitable point for it on the album.Callahan-Bever, Noah (November 2010). [http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway?page=4 Kanye West: Project Runaway – Page 4] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125162548/http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway?page=4 |date=November 25, 2010 }}. Complex. Retrieved on October 18, 2022. Expressing a similar sentiment, the rapper Malik Yusef said that he was mocked for his vision of incorporating collaborators from genres outside hip-hop like John.{{cite web|last=Holmes|first=Charles|date=November 23, 2020|url=https://www.theringer.com/2020/11/23/21590802/making-of-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-elton-john-podcast|title=The Secret History of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, 10 Years On|website=The Ringer|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018112514/https://www.theringer.com/2020/11/23/21590802/making-of-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-elton-john-podcast|url-status=live}} DJ Premier recalled that West insisted to him during the production for no electro, describing him as "that crazy dude he's always been" and pointing out his focus on the album's rawness.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/04/dj_premier_on_the_new_kanye_al.html|title=D.J. Premier on the New Kanye Album: 'No Electro'|website=Vulture|last=Barshad|first=Amos|url-access=limited|date=April 30, 2010|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107015746/https://www.vulture.com/2010/04/dj_premier_on_the_new_kanye_al.html|archive-date=January 7, 2018}}

West ensured that the recording sessions were secretive, placing paper sheets in the studio reading "no tweeting, no talking, no e-mailing", and also prohibiting speaking with people outside of the location. Pusha T recalled West's attitude in an interview for Rolling Stone, saying that following a leak he remembered his strictness, "Fuck this! We're not going to ever work there again!"{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pusha-t-reveals-what-he-cant-reveal-about-kanyes-g-o-o-d-music-project-20120807|title=Pusha T Reveals What He Can't Reveal About Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music Project|date=August 7, 2012|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|access-date=August 11, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810000202/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pusha-t-reveals-what-he-cant-reveal-about-kanyes-g-o-o-d-music-project-20120807|archive-date=August 10, 2012}} In October 2010, West tweeted that the recording of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy had been finished.

The music was described as maximalist hip-hop by numerous publications, incorporating East Coast rap,{{Cite news|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/arts/music/21kanye.html?_r=1&ref=arts|title=Kanye West, Still Unfiltered, on Eve of Fifth Album|date=November 17, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|url-access=registration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912021643/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/arts/music/21kanye.html?_r=1&ref=arts |archive-date=September 12, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2010}} boom bap,{{cite news |last=Washington |first=Jesse |title=Kanye's great 'Fantasy' only lacks fun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/360464879/?terms=My%20Beautiful%20Dark%20Twisted%20Fantasy%20Kanye |date=November 23, 2010 |newspaper=Florida Today |page=22 |location=Cocoa, Florida |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 16, 2024}} R&B ballads, electronic music, and progressive rock samples. Various writers also noticed elements from West's previous four albums.{{efn|Elements were noted by the likes of Julius Bailey, Andy Kellman of AllMusic, Simon Vozick-Levinson of Entertainment Weekly,{{cite magazine|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|date=November 12, 2010|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/11/17/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=November 12, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120052854/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20442911,00.html|archive-date=November 20, 2010}} and Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork.}} The Village Voice{{'}}s Sean Fennessey thought that West had adopted the skills of his collaborators from the five years before My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which he sometimes uses to an increased level. West incorporates lush soul from 2004's The College Dropout, orchestration from 2005's Late Registration, a rich atmosphere from 2007's Graduation, and emotionally tired electro from 808s & Heartbreak.{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-17/music/kanye-west-finally-unraveled/|title=Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|website=The Village Voice|last=Fennessey|first=Sean|date=November 17, 2010|access-date=November 17, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021144431/http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-17/music/kanye-west-finally-unraveled/|archive-date=October 21, 2012}} Pitchfork{{'}}s Ryan Dombal and AllMusic's Andy Kellman wrote My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy seamlessly combines elements from West's earlier albums; the latter felt that "All of the Lights" denotes its varied elements and "maniacal extravagance". David Amidon of PopMatters observed the pop sound of Graduation and 808s & Heartbreak.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was described as a progressive rap record by Carl Williott of Idolator and Rolling Stone{{'}}s Christopher R. Weingarten, with the latter noting that it came at the time of lower album budgets.{{cite web|last=Williott|first=Carl|date=June 13, 2013|url=https://www.idolator.com/7463175/kanye-west-review-discography-grade-albums/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-cover-4?edge=1|title=Kanye West's Pop Report Card: We Grade His Six Albums|publisher=Idolator|access-date=November 25, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221104091603/https://www.idolator.com/7463175/kanye-west-review-discography-grade-albums/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-cover-4?edge=1&chrome=1|archive-date=November 4, 2022}}{{cite magazine|last=Weingarten|first=Christopher R.|date=February 2, 2016|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/will-waves-be-kanye-wests-first-disappointing-album-237857/|title=Will 'Waves' Be Kanye West's First Disappointing Album?|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|access-date=November 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411115220/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/will-waves-be-kanye-wests-first-disappointing-album-237857/|archive-date=April 11, 2019|url-status=live}} The album draws elements from varied genres like progressive rock, soul, and old-school rap, moving towards a new sound. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy follows a dense, wide scope of styles;{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|title=Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|date=November 22, 2010|first=Park|last=Adam|magazine=Clash|access-date=July 16, 2024|archive-date=May 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527110042/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|url-status=live}} Al Horner from NME called it a rap opera.{{cite web|last=Horner|first=Al|date=January 20, 2014|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/kanye-wests-interview-with-12-years-a-slave-director-steve-mcqueen-10-key-quotes-775595|title=Kanye West's Interview With '12 Years A Slave' Director Steve McQueen – 10 Key Quotes|work=NME|access-date=June 24, 2020|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223111509/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/kanye-wests-interview-with-12-years-a-slave-director-steve-mcqueen-10-key-quotes-775595|url-status=live}} The author Kirk Walker Graves thinks West became a collagist, who makes a bold and vulnerable work of art from "scattered pop shards and indelible beats".

West's lyrics explore themes of excess,{{cite news |last=Pagnani |first=Renato |title=When more becomes too much |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/475903045/?match=1&terms=My%20Beautiful%20Dark%20Twisted%20Fantasy%20Kanye |date=November 23, 2010 |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |page=23 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716153922/https://www.newspapers.com/image/475903045/?match=1&terms=My%20Beautiful%20Dark%20Twisted%20Fantasy%20Kanye |url-status=live }} celebrity,{{Cite news |last=McNulty |first=Bernadette |date=November 26, 2010 |title=Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark may be easier to admire than to listen to. |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8163167/Kanye-West-My-Beautiful-Dark-CD-review.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823063653/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8163167/Kanye-West-My-Beautiful-Dark-CD-review.html |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=July 10, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Grischow |first=Chad |date=November 23, 2010 |title=Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Review – Music Review |url=http://music.ign.com/articles/113/1136440p1.html |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401122744/http://music.ign.com/articles/113/1136440p1.html |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 30, 2011}} grandiosity,{{cite news |last=Cormier |first=Ryan |title=Of note |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/164951907/?match=1&terms=My%20Beautiful%20Dark%20Twisted%20Fantasy%20Kanye |date=December 5, 2010 |page=86 |newspaper=The News Journal |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716153924/https://www.newspapers.com/image/164951907/?match=1&terms=My%20Beautiful%20Dark%20Twisted%20Fantasy%20Kanye |url-status=live }} self-aggrandizement, self-doubt,{{cite web|last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=November 30, 2010 |url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=b533be49-60d0-4718-b4b3-2bf1928c2e40 |title=The Roots/Kanye West |work=MSN Music |access-date=November 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208033741/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=b533be49-60d0-4718-b4b3-2bf1928c2e40 |archive-date=December 8, 2010 |url-status=dead}} romance, escapism,{{cite news |last=Dunlevy |first=T'cha |title=Inside Kanye's fantasyland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/497671922/?match=1&terms=My%20Beautiful%20Dark%20Twisted%20Fantasy%20Kanye%20Review |date=November 23, 2010 |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |via=Newspapers.com |page=27 |access-date=July 16, 2024}} decadence,Amidon, David (November 22, 2010). [https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/133594-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/ Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822015739/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/133594-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy |date=August 22, 2012 }}. PopMatters. Retrieved on November 22, 2010.{{cite web|last=Cole|first=Matthew|date=November 20, 2010|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/2325|title=Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|work=Slant Magazine|access-date=November 20, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910085530/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/2325|archive-date=September 10, 2012|url-status=live}} and sex.{{cite news |last=McCoy |first=Heath |author-link=Heath McCoy |title=Epic Fantasy – Kanye West doesn't back down with intense album |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/488227525/?match=1&terms=My%20Beautiful%20Dark%20Twisted%20Fantasy%20Kanye%20Review |date=November 23, 2010 |newspaper=Calgary Herald |via=Newspapers.com |page=50 |access-date=July 16, 2024}} My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy also openly acknowledges alcohol and drug usage more than West's previous albums. West places an introspective focus on fame, detailing the perks of power that he links to neoliberalism. He addresses deep personal insecurities, although philosopher Julius Bailey writes that he embraced his narcissism in contrast to the chipmunk soul on The College Dropout. West displays varied emotions,Kot, Greg (November 17, 2010). [http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2010/11/album-review-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy.html Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406144711/http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2010/11/album-review-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy.html |date=April 6, 2012 }}. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on November 17, 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2010-12-31/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|access-date=July 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107204336/https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2010-12-31/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|archive-date=November 7, 2012|last=Powell|first=Austin|title=Review: Kanye West - Music|newspaper=The Austin Chronicle|date=December 31, 2010}} which range from lows to highs of his mental state.Rabin, Nathan (November 23, 2010). [https://www.avclub.com/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-1798166605 Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] . The A.V. Club. Retrieved on November 23, 2010. He conveys feelings of despair with his public image since 808s & Heartbreak, depicting his out-of-control world.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/kanye-west/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy|title=Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|date=November 23, 2010|last=Richards|first=M.T.|magazine=Paste|access-date=July 16, 2024|archive-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527114446/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/kanye-west/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://americansongwriter.com/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|title=Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|date=November 22, 2010|last=Maloney|first=Sean L.|magazine=American Songwriter|access-date=July 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523110959/https://americansongwriter.com/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|archive-date=May 23, 2022|url-status=live}} According to author Bernadette Marie Calafell, West used My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to celebrate monstrosity after his troubled year.

West ventures into the id of his own ego on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, showing his perspective as a celebrity.{{cite web|last=Dombal|first=Ryan|date=November 21, 2010|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14880-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|title=Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|work=Pitchfork|access-date=November 21, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123200046/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14880-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|archive-date=November 23, 2010}}{{cite journal|last=Martins|first=Chris|date=November 11, 2010|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-roc-fella|title=Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella)|journal=Spin|access-date=November 11, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114061718/http://www.spin.com/reviews/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-roc-fella|archive-date=November 14, 2010}} He poses a risk of self-destruction with the id, while perusing any goal or girl he can and driven by the buzz of consumer culture, despite ultimately being unsatisfied. Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times depicted the songs as "pornographic boasts, romantic disaster stories, devil-haunted dark nights of the soul" and perceived West as not welcome nor sure about the purpose of his presence due to the discussion of race. Powers felt that rather than an issue for West, it is the inherent curse of author Michael Eric Dyson's theory of "the exceptional black man" whose talents are welcomed, but he is excluded for his skin color. According to Rolling Stone{{'}}s Rob Sheffield, the album serves as "a rock-star manifesto" in a world where expectations have generally lowered.

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| description = "Dark Fantasy" showcases orchestration that The Village Voice{{'}}s Sean Fennessey thought West learnt from working with Jon Brion on Late Registration (2005), and begins the album's decadent, hedonistic themes.

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The album begins with "Dark Fantasy", opened by rapper Nicki Minaj narrating a rework of Roald Dahl's 1982 poem Cinderella, followed by a chorus including Auto-Tuned "oohs" and "ah-ah-ah-aahs", as well as backing accents.{{cite book |last=Graves |first=Kirk Walker |title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy |url=https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/18077349 |date=June 19, 2014 |isbn=9781623565428 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |via=Goodreads |access-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206191056/https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/18077349 |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-1068382/|title=Kanye West, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'|date=November 30, 2010|first=Mariel|last=Concepcion|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 8, 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191645/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-1068382/|archive-date=July 5, 2022}} The song introduces the themes of decadence and hedonism, with West musing how it had been planned to drink to release pain, "But what's worse, the pain or the hangover?"{{cite magazine|last=Denney |first=Alex |date=November 19, 2010 |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/kanye-west/11723 |title=Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy review |magazine=NME |access-date=November 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124182314/http://www.nme.com/reviews/kanye-west/11723 |archive-date=November 24, 2010 |url-status=dead}} The track's lyrics contain musical and popular culture references, including fellow rapper Nas, the 1820 short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", British singer Leona Lewis, and the song "Sex on Fire" by Tennessee rock band Kings of Leon.Anderson, Kyle (November 15, 2010). [http://www.mtv.com/news/2579973/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-dark-fantasy/ Inside Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: 'Dark Fantasy'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912144717/http://www.mtv.com/news/2579973/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-dark-fantasy/ |date=September 12, 2017 }}. MTV News. Retrieved on December 11, 2017. "Gorgeous" is an uplifting blues-styled track, relying on a guitar riff juxtaposed with melodic piano. The track is seen by Graves as West's "scattershot mission statement" and it sees him tackling racial injustices, including comparing himself to black rights activist Malcolm X with the title "Malcolm West".{{cite book |last=Bailey |first=Julius |title=Gorgeous – The Cultural Impact of Kanye West |url=https://archive.org/details/culturalimpactof0000unse/page/86/mode/2up?q=%22Gorgeous%22 |date=2014 |isbn=978-1137395818 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=New York City |via=Internet Archive |access-date=February 6, 2024}} "Power" features a dark production that relies on a sample of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man" (1969), which Fennessey found to be "apocalyptic" and it is accompanied by chants loosely resembling a choir. West delves into escapism on the song, mentioning his struggles with the public and narrating his vision of a career suicide.{{cite web|last=Paine|first=Jake|date=November 15, 2010|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.1569/title.kanye-west--my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy|title=Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Album Review|work=HipHopDX|access-date=October 25, 2022|archive-date=November 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102154354/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.1569/title.kanye-west--my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy|url-status=live}}

"All of the Lights" incorporates drum 'n' bass breaks, energetic percussion, and horn instruments. The opening lines mention the death of Michael Jackson and present the narrative of a man who goes through multiple issues including abusing his lover and serving prison time.Weiner, Jonah (November 22, 2010). [http://www.slate.com/id/2275730/ Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429125704/http://www.slate.com/id/2275730 |date=April 29, 2011 }}. Slate. Retrieved on January 29, 2011. West enlisted 11 guest vocalists for the song, including Alicia Keys, John Legend, Tony Williams, and Elly Jackson; Rihanna sings the hook.{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651506/20101104/west_kanye.jhtml|title=Kanye West's Massive Posse Track 'All Of The Lights' Leaks|publisher=MTV News|url-status=dead|date=November 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129062249/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651506/20101104/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-date=November 29, 2010|access-date=November 26, 2010}} In an interview with MTV, Jackson said that West designated her to layer up the vocal arrangement with other people as he simply used his favorite vocalists worldwide "to create this really unique vocal texture on his record, but it's not the kind of thing where you can pick it out".Roberts, Steven (November 22, 2010). [https://www.mtv.com/news/wbo545/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-all-of-the-lights-a-vocal-breakdown Kanye's 'All Of The Lights': A Vocal Breakdown] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025090752/https://www.mtv.com/news/wbo545/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-all-of-the-lights-a-vocal-breakdown |date=October 25, 2022 }}. MTV News. Retrieved on October 25, 2022. "Monster" is a posse cut, which features staccato strings that invoke paranoia and it was described by Calafell as addressing critics through exploration of their "monstrous construction" of West. West rap about using inappropriate methods to drown his pain and Nicki Minaj asserts her queen status on the song. The fellow posse cut "So Appalled" is built around piano and strings, with the performers delivering their odes to success and affirming that "this shit is/fucking ridiculous".

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| description = "Devil in a New Dress" utilizes West's characteristic style of altering the pitch and tempo from classic soul records with a sample of Smokey Robinson's 1960 song "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", though the production was instead handled by Bink. Andy Kellman of AllMusic called the song "a throwback soul production" that invokes West's early work, while The New York Times{{'}} Jon Caramanica saw it as resembling "the slowed-down soul" of The College Dropout (2004).

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"Devil in a New Dress" is built on a sample of Smokey Robinson's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (1960). The lyrics range from self-criticism to warning and lust to heartache, with its sexual and religious imagery described by one critic as "part bedroom allure, part angelic prayer".{{interlanguage link|Thomas Conner (journalist)|lt=Conner, Thomas|de|Thomas Conner}} (November 21, 2010). [http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2010/11/cd_review_kanye_west_my_beauti.html Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019235105/http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2010/11/cd_review_kanye_west_my_beauti.html |date=October 19, 2012 }}. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on November 21, 2010. The song is the only track without production by West, yet features his characteristic style of manipulating the pitch and tempo of classic soul samples.Burrell, Ian (September 22, 2007). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/kanye-west-king-of-rap-403127.html Kanye West: King of rap] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704122336/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/kanye-west-king-of-rap-403127.html |date=July 4, 2017 }}. The Independent. Retrieved on January 29, 2011. "Runaway" contains a piano-based motif comprising a series of uninterrupted descending half and whole notes,{{cite magazine|last=Frere-Jones|first=Sasha|author-link=Sasha Frere-Jones|url=http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2010/12/06/101206crmu_music_frerejones?currentPage=2|title=Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Page 2|magazine=The New Yorker|url-status=dead|date=December 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211002241/http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2010/12/06/101206crmu_music_frerejones?currentPage=2 |archive-date=December 11, 2011 |access-date=October 26, 2022}} with a coda that incorporates cello at first, before a violin section and West's vocoder-singing, which is distortion that covers the final three minutes. West uses the song's lyrics to address public opinion and his character issues, proclaiming a toast to all with those flaws.Wete, Brad (September 12, 2010). [http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/09/12/kanye-west-performs-runaway-vmas/ Kanye West admits he's a douchebag, debuts 'Runaway' to close VMAs: Watch here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110004721/http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/09/12/kanye-west-performs-runaway-vmas/ |date=January 10, 2011 }}. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on November 30, 2010. Fennessey cited "Runaway" as the point in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy where "self-laceration overtakes chest-beating", while Graves is taken aback by how the song contains all of its contradictions; "self-mythologizing, rife with hubris, [and] assertively 'artistic' to the point of unintentional parody".

Inspired by West's two-year relationship with model Amber Rose, "Hell of a Life" samples the Mojo Men's "She's My Baby" (1966) and follows a narrative of marrying a porn star that Graves calls "pornographic anxiety". According to Dombal, the song "attempts to bend its central credo—'no more drugs for me, pussy and religion is all I need'—into a noble pursuit". He wrote that it crosses the lines of "fantasy and reality, sex and romance, love and religion, until no lines exist at all". "Blame Game" is a low-key track that is built around a sample of Richard D. James's piano composition "Avril 14th" (2001),{{cite web|last=Bain|first=Becky|date=November 9, 2010|url=http://idolator.com/5682822/kanye-west-john-legend-blame-game|title=Kanye West Gets Caught in The 'Blame Game' With John Legend And Chris Rock|publisher=Idolator|access-date=April 27, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711060750/http://idolator.com/5682822/kanye-west-john-legend-blame-game|archive-date=July 11, 2012}}{{Cite news|last=Sherburne|first=Philip|title=Aphex Twin Speaks on His New Album, Being Sampled by Kanye, More|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/56459-aphex-twin-speaks-on-his-new-album-being-sampled-by-kanye-more/|access-date=October 27, 2022|website=Pitchfork|date=August 25, 2014|language=en|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419040036/https://pitchfork.com/news/56459-aphex-twin-speaks-on-his-new-album-being-sampled-by-kanye-more/|url-status=live}} and features additional vocals from Legend. The song focuses on a painful domestic dispute where West and a woman go back and forth aggressively,{{cite book |last=Bailey |first=Julius |title=Blame Game – The Cultural Impact of Kanye West |url=https://archive.org/details/culturalimpactof0000unse/page/94/mode/2up?q=%22Blame+Game%22 |date=2014 |isbn=978-1137395818 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=New York City |via=Internet Archive |access-date=February 6, 2024}} and contains a profane skit by comedian Chris Rock.{{cite news|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|date=March 3, 2011|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/theater/06rock.html?pagewanted=all|title=Chris Rock in Stephen Adly Guirgis's Play on Broadway|newspaper=The New York Times|url-access=registration|access-date=April 27, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124172851/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/theater/06rock.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=January 24, 2012}}

"Lost in the World" features tribal drums and prominent samples from the indie folk band Bon Iver's "Woods" (2009), with West applying the sample "as the centerpiece of a catchy, communal reverie". West enthusiastically told Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon when listening to the song, "Fuck, this is going to be the festival closer." It features several musical changes, beginning with Vernon's faint vocals, followed by 4/4 drums, a gospel chorus,{{cite magazine|last=Hermes|first=Will|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/lost-in-the-world-20101025|title=Lost in the World by Kanye West feat. Bon Iver and Gil Scott-Heron|date=October 25, 2010|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619183156/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/lost-in-the-world-20101025|archive-date=June 19, 2017|access-date=May 2, 2011}} and increased tempo, and a final measured tempo.{{cite news|last=Rodriguez|first=Jayson|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648951/new-kanye-west-track-lost-world-leaks-online.jhtml|title=New Kanye West Track, 'Lost In The World,' Leaks Online|publisher=MTV News|date=September 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925170920/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648951/new-kanye-west-track-lost-world-leaks-online.jhtml |archive-date=September 25, 2011|access-date=May 2, 2011}} "Lost in the World" transitions into the closing track "Who Will Survive in America". It serves as the album's coda and samples jazz poet Gil Scott-Heron's "Comment No. 1" (1970), a surrealist piece delivered by him in spoken word about the African American experience and the fated idealism of the American dream.{{cite magazine|last=Frere-Jones|first=Sasha|url=http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2010/12/06/101206crmu_music_frerejones|title=Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|magazine=The New Yorker|url-status=dead|date=December 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016184435/http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2010/12/06/101206crmu_music_frerejones |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |access-date=October 26, 2022}} Scott-Heron's original speech is edited to an excerpt that, according to Kot, "retains its essence, that of an African-American male" feeling isolated from the US and his culture. By contrast, Fennessey wrote that the seriousness of the denouement does not suit "an album that is more about the self's little nightmares than some aching societal rejection".

File:George Condo.jpeg designed the artwork.|alt=Portrait showing George Condo in a chair|240x240px]]

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was once titled Good Ass Job and then Dark Twisted Fantasy.Phillips, Rashad (October 4, 2010). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12385 Kanye West Set To Release New Album On Monday, November 22]. HipHopDX. Retrieved on November 27, 2010. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201202359/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.12385/title.kanye-west-set-to-release-new-album-on-monday-november-22#signup|date=December 1, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/kanye-adds-mia-to-the-mix-on-latest-album-2087429.html|title=Kanye adds M.I.A. to the mix on latest album|date=September 23, 2010|work=The Independent|access-date=September 19, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110021607/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/kanye-adds-mia-to-the-mix-on-latest-album-2087429.html|archive-date=November 10, 2012}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/956194/mia-to-collaborate-with-kanye|title=M.I.A. To Collaborate With Kanye?|date=September 21, 2010|first=Mariel|last=Concepcion|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 19, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831140149/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/956194/mia-to-collaborate-with-kanye|archive-date=August 31, 2014}} On July 28, 2010, West announced on his newly registered Twitter account that the former title was scrapped and he had been considering "a couple of titles".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-722-1296025|title=Kanye West scraps 'Good Ass Job' album title for forthcoming LP|date=July 29, 2010|work=NME|access-date=October 28, 2022|archive-date=October 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028111553/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-722-1296025|url-status=live}} He expressed uncertainty about the title in September, tweeting: "I can't decide on my album title [...] uuuugh!!!!" The official title, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, was announced by West on October 5, 2010; Good Ass Job was eventually planned as the title of a collaborative album with Chance the Rapper, which never materialized.{{cite web|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=July 28, 2021|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/kanye-west-best-unreleased-albums-1235028997/|title=Kanye West's Best Unreleased Albums|website=Variety|access-date=October 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728125909/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/kanye-west-best-unreleased-albums-1235028997/|archive-date=July 28, 2021|url-status=live}}

The album's artwork, designed by George Condo, shows West being straddled on a couch by an armless winged female, who has fearsome features and a long, spotted tail. Both are nude, with West shown holding a beer.{{cite news|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.13630/title.kanye-wanted-his-cover-art-to-be-banned|title=Kanye wanted his cover art to be banned|last=Gary|first=Kevin|date=January 10, 2011|access-date=January 15, 2011|website=HipHopDX|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114150930/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.13630/title.kanye-wanted-his-cover-art-to-be-banned|archive-date=January 14, 2011}} Bailey sees Condo's style for the cover as pop surrealist and Cubist and portraying "various aspects of West's album themes".{{cite book |last=Bailey |first=Julius |title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – The Cultural Impact of Kanye West |url=https://archive.org/details/culturalimpactof0000unse/page/n19/mode/2up?q=%22My+Beautiful+Dark+Twisted+Fantasy%22 |date=2014 |isbn=978-1137395818 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=New York City |via=Internet Archive |access-date=February 6, 2024}} He also asserts that its royal red colour is "symbolic of passion, love, anger, and, of course, blood", marked by the starkness. According to Vulture writer Dan Kois, the mythological figure straddling West is "a kind of fragment, between a sphinx, a phoenix, a haunting ghost, a harpy".{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/11/kanye_george_condo.html|title=Artist George Condo Explains His Five Covers for Kanye West's Twisted Fantasy|website=Vulture|url-access=limited|last=Kois|first=Dan|date=November 21, 2010|access-date=June 22, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204202/https://www.vulture.com/2010/11/kanye_george_condo.html|url-status=live}} The artwork was done at Condo's studio, after West visited for several hours and they listened to tapes of his music. Over the next few days, the painter designed eight or nine paintings for the album. Two of them were portraits of West: an extreme closeup, with mismatched eyes and four sets of teeth; a portrait showing his head, crowned and decapitated, placed sideways on a white slab, pierced by a sword. Condo also did a painting of a dyspeptic ballerina in a black tutu and one of the crown alongside the sword in a grassy landscape. He made five covers in total, which were all included with the purchase of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650328/20101019/west_kanye.jhtml|title=Kanye West Says Twisted Fantasy Will Have Five Different Covers|date=October 19, 2010|first1=James|last1=Montgomery|first2=Kara|last2=Warner|publisher=MTV News|access-date=October 19, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022024438/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650328/20101019/west_kanye.jhtml|archive-date=October 22, 2010}} A second cover that contains a painting of a ballerina was posted on the Amazon.com pre-order page.{{cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/51942/224950|title=Kanye West's Latest 'Dark Twisted Fantasy' Cover Revealed|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 22, 2010|access-date=October 24, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024215134/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/51942/224950|archive-date=October 24, 2010}} The image was originally intended to be the cover art for "Runaway", but West used a photograph of a ballerina instead. Another painting, The Priest, was completed for the album by Condo, who described it as an attempt to bring depictions of religious figures into the modern world.{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Lane|url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/11/kanye_3.html|title=See New Artwork for Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|work=Vulture|url-access=limited|date=November 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021084222/https://www.vulture.com/2010/11/kanye_3.html |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=November 23, 2010}}

West told Condo that he wanted a phoenix painting. After Condo produced with the artwork, West expressed his admiration for how they both "express ourselves with our truest vision". According to Condo, West requested the original cover image to be provocative enough to be banned by retailers, as a publicity stunt. In October 2010, a month before the album's release, West tweeted: "Yoooo they banned my album cover!!!!! Banned in the USA!!! They don't want me chilling on the couch with my Phoenix!" He also suggested Walmart had rejected the cover and cited the case of rock band Nirvana's 1991 album Nevermind, which featured a photo of a naked baby. West questioned why the band are allowed to have someone nude on their cover, but he "can't have a PAINTING of a monster with no arms and a polka dot tail and wings". In response, Walmart denied the suggestion in a statement declaring the company's excitement about My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and its arrival in stores.{{cite news|last=Michaels|first=Sean|date=January 11, 2011|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/11/kanye-west-album-cover|title=Kanye West wanted album cover to be banned, says artist|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=January 25, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125140548/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/11/kanye-west-album-cover|url-status=live}} Certain retailers did not carry the original cover, with West substituting it with Condo's ballerina artwork, while some shipped copies used a pixelated version of the original.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/banned-in-the-u-s-a-20-wildest-censored-album-covers-154101/master-p-ghetto-d-1997-43556/|title=Banned in the U.S.A.: 20 Wildest Censored Album Covers|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=August 28, 2019|last=Edwards|first=Gavin|access-date=January 25, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125141847/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/banned-in-the-u-s-a-20-wildest-censored-album-covers-154101/master-p-ghetto-d-1997-43556/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/rq4322/5-shocking-album-covers-banned-in-the-u-s-a/bybe16|title=5 Shocking Album Covers Banned In The USA|publisher=BET|access-date=November 5, 2022|archive-date=November 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105103739/https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/rq4322/5-shocking-album-covers-banned-in-the-u-s-a/bybe16|url-status=live}}

In 2015, Billboard named the album's artwork as the 30th best of all time. The magazine wrote that West "matched the widescreen brilliance of the album's music with boundary-cracking art", including a demonic image of him "being straddled by a nude angel".{{cite magazine|title=The 50 Greatest Album Covers of All Time|url=https://www.billboard.com/photos/6715351/best-album-covers-of-all-time|access-date=November 12, 2015|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113182253/http://www.billboard.com/photos/6715351/best-album-covers-of-all-time|archive-date=November 13, 2015|url-status=live}} In 2017, NME listed the cover as the seventh best album artwork of the 21st century so far.{{cite web|last1=Milton|first1=Jamie|title=The best album artwork of the 21st Century so far|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/best-album-artwork-21st-century-2155715|website=NME|date=November 20, 2017|access-date=November 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319062628/http://www.nme.com/photos/best-album-artwork-21st-century-2155715|archive-date=March 19, 2018|url-status=live}}

File:Kanye West Coachella 2011 6 (cropped).jpg.|West performing his headlining set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2011]]

Before the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, West initiated the music program GOOD Fridays through his website beginning August 20, 2010, offering a free download of a new song for each Friday.Concepcion, Mariel (November 30, 2010). [https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/950085/kanye-wests-good-music-fridays-inspires-other-artists Kanye West's 'G.O.O.D. Music Fridays' Inspires Other Artists] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222112249/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/950085/kanye-wests-good-music-fridays-inspires-other-artists |date=December 22, 2016 }}. Billboard. Retrieved on November 30, 2010.{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646259/20100823/west_kanye.jhtml|title=Kanye West Promises New Song Every Week Through Christmas|date=August 23, 2010|publisher=MTV News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221215410/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646259/20100823/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-date=December 21, 2010|access-date=November 30, 2010}} West tweeted that he was aware his fans needed new music, "so I'm dropping 1 new song every weekend until Xmas" and he explained a release could be a song by him, Jay-Z, or another artist. Titled after his imprint label GOOD Music, the program generated considerable publicity ahead of the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Young Money Entertainment online marketing coordinator Karen Civil retrospectively called the program genius, detailing that West undertook a program not previously attempted and "at a point when he was the most hated person in music, he brought excitement back with his Friday releases". GOOD Fridays was intended to run until December 2010, but West extended it through to January 2011.Young, Alex (November 5, 2010). [http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/11/05/kanye-extends-g-o-o-d-friday-until-end-of-january/ Kanye extends G.O.O.D. Friday until end of January] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110064212/http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/11/05/kanye-extends-g-o-o-d-friday-until-end-of-january/ |date=November 10, 2010 }}. Consequence. Retrieved on November 30, 2010.

On September 12, 2010, West premiered "Runaway" with a live performance at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/isqg47/kanye-west-new-song-runaway|title=Kanye West's New Song Gives A Toast To The A--holes: Wake-Up Video|publisher=MTV News|date=September 13, 2010|access-date=October 30, 2022|archive-date=October 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030103336/https://www.mtv.com/news/isqg47/kanye-west-new-song-runaway|url-status=dead}} Three weeks later, on October 2, he performed the song a second time on Saturday Night Live, along with "Power".{{cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2010/10/watch-kanye-west-powers-through-saturday-night-live/|title=Watch: Kanye West powers through Saturday Night Live|work=Consequence|last=Young|first=Alex|date=October 3, 2010|access-date=September 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926160515/http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/10/watch-kanye-west-powers-through-saturday-night-live/|archive-date=September 26, 2015|url-status=live}} On October 4, 2010, West announced the album's release date of November 22,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/955285/kanye-west-announces-dark-twisted-fantasy-title-and-details|title=Kanye West Announces 'Dark Twisted Fantasy' Title and Details|date=October 5, 2010|first=Jason|last=Lipshutz|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 5, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014111623/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/955285/kanye-west-announces-dark-twisted-fantasy-title-and-details|archive-date=October 14, 2013}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649320/20101005/west_kanye.jhtml|title=Kanye West's Album To Be My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|date=October 5, 2010|first=Jayson|last=Rodriguez|publisher=MTV News|access-date=October 5, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007001313/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649320/20101005/west_kanye.jhtml|archive-date=October 7, 2010}} after he had previously tweeted that he was "contemplating my album date". He also announced that certain songs from GOOD Fridays would be included on it. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was released by Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella on November 22, 2010, being made available for digital download on Amazon at a list price of $3.99.Baron, Zach (November 22, 2010). [http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/11/the_reason_why_1.php The Reason Why Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Is $3.99 on Amazon Right Now] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125043709/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/11/the_reason_why_1.php |date=November 25, 2010 }}. The Village Voice. Retrieved on November 24, 2010. The deal was only offered by Amazon, while the album was simultaneously made available on iTunes and West's website linked to this release.{{cite news|last=Peoples|first=Glenn|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/analysis-heres-why-kanye-wests-new-album-was-399-at-amazon-1196687/|title=Analysis: Here's Why Kanye West's New Album Was $3.99 at Amazon|magazine=Billboard|date=December 3, 2010|access-date=March 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318132006/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/analysis-heres-why-kanye-wests-new-album-was-399-at-amazon-1196687/|archive-date=March 18, 2024|url-status=live}} Four singles were released from it and all reached the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100, with the lead single "Power" released on July 1, 2010, charting at number 22.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2010-07-01/kanye-west-unveils-artwork-for-power|title=Kanye West unveils artwork for 'Power'|work=Los Angeles Times|last=Weiss|first=Jake|date=July 1, 2010|access-date=October 30, 2022|archive-date=October 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030103333/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2010-07-01/kanye-west-unveils-artwork-for-power|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.11617/title.kanye-wests-power-released-as-single-cover-art-revealed|title=Kanye West's 'Power' Released As Single, Cover Art Revealed|work=HipHopDX|last=Paine|first=Jake|date=July 1, 2010|access-date=September 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524065025/http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.11617/title.kanye-wests-power-released-as-single-cover-art-revealed|archive-date=May 24, 2017|url-status=live}}[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kanye west|chart=all}} Kanye West Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100]. Billboard. Retrieved on November 30, 2010. "Runaway" was released on October 4, and reached number 12, while "Monster" and "All of the Lights" were released on October 23, 2010, and January 18, 2011, respectively;{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/monster-single/id399733768|title=Monster – Single by Kanye West, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=September 16, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20101026200547/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/monster-single/id399733768|archive-date=October 26, 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|title=Top 40/M Future Releases|publisher=All Access Music Group|access-date=September 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110010512/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|archive-date=January 10, 2011|url-status=dead}} they both charted at number 18.

A 35-minute film entitled Runaway, featuring the titular song's official music video, was directed by West and released on October 23, 2010.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/d0qh68/kane-west-runaway-debut-mtv-mtv-2-mtvcom|title=Kane West's Movie 'Runaway' To Debut on MTV, MTV 2 And MTV.com Saturday Night|date=October 23, 2010|first=Tom|last=DiChiara|publisher=MTV News|access-date=October 23, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030092457/https://www.mtv.com/news/d0qh68/kane-west-runaway-debut-mtv-mtv-2-mtvcom|archive-date=October 30, 2022}} Filmed in Prague over a period of four days in the summer of 2010,{{cite magazine|last=Concepcion|first=Mariel|title=Kanye West Premieres 35-Minute-Long 'Runaway' Video in London|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/954875/kanye-west-premieres-35-minute-long-runaway-video-in-london|date=October 7, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 8, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713200936/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/954875/kanye-west-premieres-35-minute-long-runaway-video-in-london|archive-date=July 13, 2014}} the film stars West and model Selita Ebanks, with the script penned by Hype Williams and the story written by West.{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|title=Kanye West Screens 'Runaway' In London|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649493/20101007/west_kanye.jhtml|date=October 7, 2010|publisher=MTV News|access-date=October 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105151819/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649493/kanye-west-screens-runaway-london.jhtml|archive-date=November 5, 2012|url-status=dead}} West described the video as an overall representation of his dreams and a reflection of feelings throughout his life, including a parallel of the situation from 2009 to 2010.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650696/20101023/west_kanye.jhtml|title=Kanye West Calls 'Runaway' A Reflection of His Entire Life|date=October 23, 2010|first1=Mawuse|last1=Ziegbe|first2=Sway|last2=Calloway|publisher=MTV News|access-date=October 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025010449/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650696/20101023/west_kanye.jhtml|archive-date=October 25, 2010|url-status=dead}} He explained that it is "the story of a phoenix fallen to Earth", whom he makes his girlfriend, though she faces discrimination and eventually "has to burn herself alive and go back to her world". West elaborated how he had been deeply considering the idea of a phoenix for a while and this could be parallel to his career that he "threw a Molotov cocktail" at in 2009, then felt the need to make a comeback "as a better person".{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/09/fug_girls_kanye_west_puts_his.html|title=Kanye West Puts His Ego in Check at Rodarte|work=New York|date=September 14, 2010|access-date=October 17, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918002113/http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/09/fug_girls_kanye_west_puts_his.html|archive-date=September 18, 2010}} At a Runaway screening in Paris, he broke down into tears. After another screening in Los Angeles, West said that the affect his music and art has on people people inspires him to continue in his career.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-gets-ready-to-unveil-his-fantasy-61038/|last1=Scaggs|first1=Austin|title=Kanye West Gets Ready to Unveil His 'Fantasy'|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=November 25, 2010|access-date=October 30, 2022|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223111514/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-gets-ready-to-unveil-his-fantasy-61038/|url-status=live}} The film was included on a bonus DVD for the deluxe edition of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.{{cite web|url=https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=523894|title=Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy UK 2-disc CD/DVD set (523894)|location=United Kingdom|publisher=Mercury|via=eil.com|access-date=March 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318132659/https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=523894|archive-date=March 18, 2024}}

For initial promotion of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, West performed at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in late November 2010.{{cite web |last=Bahron |first=Zach |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2010/12/15/after-only-three-weeks-kanye-wests-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-is-out-of-the-top-10-what-happened/ |title=After Only Three Weeks, Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Is Out of the Top 10-What Happened? |work=The Village Voice |date=December 15, 2010 |access-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030103333/https://www.villagevoice.com/2010/12/15/after-only-three-weeks-kanye-wests-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-is-out-of-the-top-10-what-happened/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/950282/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-stars-kanye-west-kung-fu-panda|title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Stars Kanye West, Kung Fu Panda|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 25, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922034628/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/950282/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-stars-kanye-west-kung-fu-panda|archive-date=September 22, 2014}} Following the release of the album, West performed headlining sets at several large festivals in 2011, including SXSW,{{cite news|author=Jesse|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-set-to-rock-sxsw-who-will-join-him/|title=Kanye West Set to Rock SXSW, Who Will Join Him?|work=XXL|date=March 14, 2011|access-date=October 30, 2022|archive-date=October 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030103333/https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-set-to-rock-sxsw-who-will-join-him/|url-status=live}} Lollapalooza,{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/x6wheh/lollapalooza-chile-lineup|title=Kanye West, Killers, Jane's Addiction To Headline Lollapalooza Chile|publisher=MTV News|date=January 28, 2011|access-date=October 30, 2022|archive-date=October 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030103335/https://www.mtv.com/news/x6wheh/lollapalooza-chile-lineup|url-status=dead}} Austin City Limits,{{cite magazine|author=Perpetua, Matthew|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/stevie-wonder-coldplay-kanye-west-to-headline-austin-city-limits-2011-20110517#ixzz40ePRFWcz|title=Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, Kanye Headline Austin City Limits|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=May 17, 2011|access-date=August 15, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417022358/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/stevie-wonder-coldplay-kanye-west-to-headline-austin-city-limits-2011-20110517|archive-date=April 17, 2017 }} and Coachella; the latter was viewed by The Hollywood Reporter as "one of the great hip-hop sets of all time".{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Jeff|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-delivers-one-greatest-179408|title=Kanye West Delivers One of Greatest Hip-Hop Sets of All Time at Coachella|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 18, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227030143/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-delivers-one-greatest-179408|archive-date=February 27, 2013}}

In its first week of release, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 496,000 copies. The entry blocked Nicki Minaj's debut album Pink Friday from the top spot with 375,000 sales; the week marked the first time in two years that the chart had two albums bow with over 300,000 units. It also gave West his fourth consecutive US number-one album and surpassed the 450,000 first-week sales of 808s & Heartbreak, with the debut becoming the fourth-best sales week of 2010.{{Cite magazine|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/950035/kanye-west-nicki-minaj-score-big-debuts-on-billboard-200|title=Kanye West, Nicki Minaj Score Big Debuts on Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|date=December 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528173058/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/950035/kanye-west-nicki-minaj-score-big-debuts-on-billboard-200|archive-date=May 28, 2013|access-date=December 1, 2010}} The album's first-week digital sales of 224,000 units accounted for 45% of the total and stood as the fourth-highest digital copies for an album in a week.{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/70273/week-ending-nov-28-2010-the-king-and-queen-of-hip-hop/|title=Week Ending Nov. 28, 2010: The King And Queen Of Hip-Hop – Chart Watch|publisher=Yahoo! Music|last=Grein|first=Paul|date=December 1, 2010|access-date=November 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013084216/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/70273/week-ending-nov-28-2010-the-king-and-queen-of-hip-hop/|archive-date=October 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}

In its second week on the Billboard 200, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy descended six places to number seven with 108,000 copies sold, marking a 78% sales decline, while remaining above Pink Friday by one place.{{cite magazine|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|title=Susan Boyle's Back at No. 1 |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/charts/chart_alert/e3ie20540bfc5c51d615f36037160bef2c4|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|date=December 8, 2010|access-date=November 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213005956/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/charts/chart_alert/e3ie20540bfc5c51d615f36037160bef2c4|archive-date=December 13, 2010}} As of July 2013, it had sold 1,300,000 copies in the United States, as reported by Nielsen SoundScan.{{cite magazine|author=Cibola, Marco|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/1566931/kanye-west-how-the-rapper-grew-from-dropout-to-yeezus|title=Kanye West: How the Rapper Grew From 'Dropout' to 'Yeezus'|magazine=Billboard|date=June 14, 2013|access-date=June 14, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617214425/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/1566931/kanye-west-how-the-rapper-grew-from-dropout-to-yeezus?page=0,2|archive-date=June 17, 2013}} By June 2011, the album had sold 483,000 digital copies, ranking as the second best-selling digital rap album ever.{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-eminem-makes-digital-history.html|title=Chart Watch Extra: Eminem Makes Digital History|publisher=Yahoo! Music|last=Grein|first=Paul|date=July 6, 2011|access-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007234146/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-eminem-makes-digital-history.html|archive-date=October 7, 2012|url-status=dead}} On November 23, 2020, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for pushing 3,000,000 certified units in the US. According to Billboard, as of 2022, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of the 15 best-performing 21st-century albums without any of its singles being chart-toppers on the Hot 100.{{cite magazine|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew|date=June 23, 2022|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/biggest-albums-21st-century-number-ones/britney-spears-oops-i-did-it-again-2000/|title=15 of the Biggest 21st Century Albums That Never Scored a Hot 100 No. 1 Hit|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 27, 2022|archive-date=June 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627163020/https://www.billboard.com/lists/biggest-albums-21st-century-number-ones/britney-spears-oops-i-did-it-again-2000/|url-status=live}}

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy became West's fourth number one album on the Canadian Albums Chart. It reached number four on the Danish Albums chart, and in March 2021, was certified double platinum by IFPI Danmark for shipments of 40,000. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy opened at number six on the ARIA Albums chart and on September 10, 2021, it was awarded a double platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association for over 140,000 copies shipped in Australia.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/x-factor-winner-makes-aria-chart-debut/news-story/5bae4d7f308320af86feb30a325c57c7|title=X-Factor winner makes ARIA chart debut|website=The Daily Telegraph|url-access=subscription|url-status=dead|date=November 30, 2010|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191124065428/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/x-factor-winner-makes-aria-chart-debut/news-story/5bae4d7f308320af86feb30a325c57c7|archive-date=November 24, 2019}} The album charted within the top 10 in Norway, South Korea, New Zealand, and Switzerland. On January 22, 2021, it received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry for selling 300,000 units in the United Kingdom. By 2018, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy had registered a billion streams on Spotify.

{{Music ratings

| title = My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy ratings

| ADM = 8.8/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/2316/Kanye-West-My-Beautiful-Dark-Twisted-Fantasy.aspx|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=October 31, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114184947/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/2316/Kanye-West-My-Beautiful-Dark-Twisted-Fantasy.aspx|archive-date=November 14, 2016}}

| MC = 94/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2score = A

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}

| rev4 = The Independent

| rev4score = {{rating|5|5}}

| rev5 = MSN Music (Expert Witness)

| rev5score = A

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 9/10

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 10/10

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{rating|5|5}}

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9score = 9/10

| rev10 = USA Today

| rev10score = {{rating|4|4}}{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Steve|date=November 23, 2010|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-11-22-kanyereview22_ST_N.htm|title=Kanye West's 'Twisted Fantasy' contains a beautiful reality|work=USA Today|access-date=September 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301150534/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-11-22-kanyereview22_ST_N.htm|archive-date=March 1, 2016|url-status=live}}

}}

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was met with widespread critical acclaim.{{cite web|last=Mahjouri|first=Shakiel|date=November 19, 2019|url=https://etcanada.com/news/543611/kanye-west-tops-billboards-list-of-100-greatest-albums-of-the-2010s/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119224521/https://etcanada.com/news/543611/kanye-west-tops-billboards-list-of-100-greatest-albums-of-the-2010s/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 19, 2019|title=Kanye West Tops Billboard{{'}}s List Of 100 Greatest Albums Of The 2010s|work=Entertainment Tonight Canada|access-date=October 31, 2022}} At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 94, based on 45 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/kanye-west|title=Reviews for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=November 20, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717035939/http://www.metacritic.com/music/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/kanye-west|archive-date=July 17, 2012}} The aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.8 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

Numerous reviewers highlighted West's move towards maximalism. Andy Gill of The Independent praised the album as "one of pop's gaudiest, most grandiose efforts of recent years, a no holds-barred musical extravaganza" that forgoes the concept of good taste from the beginning.{{cite web|last=Gill |first=Andy |date=November 19, 2010 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-def-jam-2137791.html |title=Album: Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Def Jam) |work=The Independent |access-date=November 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122045624/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-def-jam-2137791.html |archive-date=November 22, 2010 |url-status=dead}} Powers, writing for the Los Angeles Times, found West's artistry comparable to Pablo Picasso, reaching "the Cubist mandate of rearranging form, texture, color and space" for suggesting newer viewpoints.Powers, Ann (November 23, 2010). [https://web.archive.org/web/20101124130935/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-kanye-nicki-20101123,0,441598.story Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]. Los Angeles Times. Archived from [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-kanye-nicki-20101123,0,441598.story the original] on November 23, 2010. Retrieved on July 23, 2019. The album was called a work of art and West's most lavish record in a review by Time magazine's David Browne, who said it proved again that few other artists shared his ability to adeptly mix diverse elements.Browne, David (November 17, 2010). [http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2031708,00.html Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120053820/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,2031708,00.html |date=November 20, 2010 }}. Time. Retrieved on November 18, 2010. Steve Jones of USA Today was impressed by West's display "of sonic flavors — old school hip-hop, progressive rock, R&B, classical music" for how he combines and matches these genres, concluding his only predictability is a consistent drive to make every project his best.

Critics often looked at the album as being among West's best work. Rolling Stone{{'}}s Sheffield said My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy marked West's best and most wildly inspired album, asserting that no other act was recording music as dark or maximalist; he added that he transgresses the conventions he had established himself for rap and pop music in the past five years.{{cite magazine|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|date=November 9, 2010|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-120679/|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|access-date=November 9, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218061924/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-20101109|archive-date=December 18, 2010}} James Reed of The Boston Globe said that the album is "seamlessly his personal best" as West becomes self-involved in the varied styles and universal themes, standing as the most original hip-hop record of 2010, through his efforts to push the genre's boundaries.{{Cite news|last=Reed|first=James|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2010/11/21/kanyes_beautiful_dark_twisted_fantasy_may_be_his_clearest_vision_yet/|title=Kanye's 'Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' may be his clearest vision yet|date=November 21, 2010|newspaper=The Boston Globe|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123211917/https://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2010/11/21/kanyes_beautiful_dark_twisted_fantasy_may_be_his_clearest_vision_yet/ |archive-date=November 23, 2010|access-date=July 6, 2024}} Christgau, in MSN Music, hailed it as a "world-beating return to form" for West. Michael Denslow of Consequence wrote that My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy features "nine-minute rap epics" which break the traditional verse–chorus form and West manages to convey an attempt at the greatest album of all time, executing this well using "all the swagger and hype with an album that may actually be that good".{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2010/11/album-review-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|title=Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy {{!}} Album Review|work=Consequence|last=Denslow|first=Michael|date=November 15, 2010|access-date=July 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406041923/https://consequence.net/2010/11/album-review-kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/|archive-date=April 6, 2022|url-status=live}} The Village Voice{{'}}s Sean Fennessey observed that while the album cannot be perfect as listeners "will reach to call [it]", West's point from the album is imperfection. He also noted the skillful engineering and sequencing, through the way each song transitions over like "some long night out into the hazy morning after".Fennessey, Sean (November 17, 2010). [http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-17/music/kanye-west-finally-unraveled/2/ Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Page 2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021144459/http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-17/music/kanye-west-finally-unraveled/2/ |date=October 21, 2012 }}. The Village Voice. Retrieved on November 17, 2010. Pitchfork awarded the album a 10/10, the first perfect score the publication had given to a new release since Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in 2002. Dombal from the publication highlighted West's "blast of surreal pop excess" that the majority of artists would not even try to create.{{cite web|last=Harvilla|first=Rob|date=May 11, 2020|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2020/5/11/21251822/pitchfork-perfect-review-history-10-fiona-apple-kanye-west-trail-of-dead|title=Pitch Perfect: The History and Influence of the Pitchfork 10.0|website=The Ringer|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223111541/https://www.theringer.com/music/2020/5/11/21251822/pitchfork-perfect-review-history-10-fiona-apple-kanye-west-trail-of-dead|url-status=live}}

A few reviewers were more qualified in their praise, mostly focusing on West's rapping. For The Guardian, Kitty Empire was critical of his lyrics calling women "ruthless money-grabbers" on an otherwise "herculean [...] flawed near-masterpiece".{{cite news|last=Empire|first=Kitty|author-link=Kitty Empire|date=November 19, 2010|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/19/kanye-west-review|title=Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) – review|work=The Guardian|access-date=November 19, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001005158/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/19/kanye-west-review|archive-date=October 1, 2013}} AllMusic writer Andy Kellman found West's rapping inconsistent on "a deeply fascinating accomplishment" in his catalogue and one of complicated merit that is "as fatiguing as it is invigorating, as cold-blooded as it is heart-rending, as haphazardly splattered as it is meticulously sculpted", and maintains complexity across 70 minutes.{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-mw0002022752|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621201352/http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-mw0002022752|archive-date=June 21, 2012|url-status=live}} David Amidon from PopMatters desired for West to utilize his rap skills from The College Dropout and that the songs may be good yet he misses "the opportunity to provide us with answers", in spite of the lush production on one of hip-hop's "most bloated, egotistical, fantastical, flat-out amazing release[s]" for a while.

Numerous critics and publications included My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy on their year-end top albums lists. Many named it the best album of 2010,{{cite news |last=Moody |first=Nekesa Mumbi |title=Kanye gets seven Grammy nominations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/98818441/?match=1&terms=My%20Beautiful%20Dark%20Twisted%20Fantasy%20Kanye |date=December 1, 2011 |newspaper=The Southern Illinoisan |via=Newspapers.com |page=2 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716153924/https://www.newspapers.com/image/98818441/?match=1&terms=My%20Beautiful%20Dark%20Twisted%20Fantasy%20Kanye |url-status=live }} including Billboard,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/949458/critics-picks-billboards-top-10-albums-of-2010?page=0%2C9|title=Critics' Picks: Billboard{{'}}s Top 10 Albums of 2010|date=December 14, 2010|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420083727/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/949458/critics-picks-billboards-top-10-albums-of-2010?page=0%2C9|archive-date=April 20, 2015|access-date=December 16, 2010}} Time,[http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2034644,00.html Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - The Top 10 Everything of 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211233323/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2034644,00.html |date=December 11, 2010 }}. Time. December 9, 2010. Retrieved on December 9, 2010. Slant Magazine,[https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/feature/best-of-2010-albums/245/page_3 Best of 2010: Albums] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218033408/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/feature/best-of-2010-albums/245/page_3 |date=December 18, 2010 }}. Slant Magazine. December 14, 2010. Retrieved on December 16, 2010. Pitchfork,Fennessey, Sean (December 16, 2010). [https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7893-the-top-50-albums-of-2010/5/ Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613041819/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7893-the-top-50-albums-of-2010/5/ |date=June 13, 2011 }}. Pitchfork. Retrieved on December 18, 2010. Rolling Stone,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/68404/239077?RS_show_page=0|title=Rolling Stone{{'}}s Best Albums of 2010|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=December 7, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210112030/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/68404/239077?RS_show_page=0 |archive-date=December 10, 2010|access-date=December 7, 2010}} and Spin.Aaron, Charles (December 6, 2010). [http://www.spin.com/gallery/40-best-albums-2010?page=41#main The 40 Best Albums of 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211044401/http://www.spin.com/gallery/40-best-albums-2010?page=41 |date=December 11, 2010 }}. Spin. Retrieved on December 6, 2010. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was voted best album in The Village Voice{{'}}s Pazz & Jop critics' poll for 2010, winning by the largest margin in the poll's history with 3,250 points.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110220064949/http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/albums/2010/ Pazz & Jop 2010: Albums – All Votes]. The Village Voice. Archived from [http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/albums/2010/ the original] on February 20, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2019.Baron, Zach (January 19, 2011). [http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-01-19/music/kanye-west-wins-one-for-the-douchebags/ Kanye West Wins One for the Douchebags] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123161542/http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-01-19/music/kanye-west-wins-one-for-the-douchebags/ |date=January 23, 2011 }}. The Village Voice. Retrieved on February 18, 2011. "Power", "Runaway", and "Monster" were voted in the top-10 of the Pazz & Jop singles list.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110206081835/http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2010/ Pazz & Jop 2010: Singles – All Votes]. The Village Voice. Archived from [http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2010/ the original] on February 6, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2022. Metacritic, which collates reviews of music albums, identified it as the best-reviewed album of 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-music-of-2010|title=Kanye West has the best-reviewed album of 2010|last=Rusty|first=Clem|date=January 2, 2012|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=March 11, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314231615/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-music-of-2010|archive-date=March 14, 2012}} The album stood as the first rap release to achieve this since Outkast's 2000 album Stankonia and the sixth-highest ranking of albums released in the 2010s to have at least 15 professional reviews.{{cite web|last=Dietz|first=Jason|date=November 5, 2019|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-albums-of-the-decade-2010s|title=The Best Albums of the Decade (2010–19), According to Music Critics|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=April 26, 2020|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406225640/https://www.metacritic.com/browse/albums/score/metascore/all/filtered|url-status=dead}}

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy appeared on decade-end best albums lists. In 2012, Complex included it on their list of "25 Rap Albums From the Past Decade That Deserve Classic Status".{{cite magazine|last=Martin|first=Andrew|date=December 6, 2012|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/12/25-rap-albums-from-the-past-decade-that-deserve-classic-status/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy|title=Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) – 25 Rap Albums From the Past Decade That Deserve Classic Status|magazine=Complex|access-date=December 10, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209013607/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/12/25-rap-albums-from-the-past-decade-that-deserve-classic-status/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy|archive-date=December 9, 2012}} In October 2013, the magazine ranked the album as the best hip-hop album of the last five years.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/10/best-recent-rap-albums/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy|title=Kanye West,My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) – The 10 Best Rap Albums of The Last 5 Years|date=October 7, 2013|access-date=August 15, 2019|work=Complex|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010060506/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/10/best-recent-rap-albums/kanye-west-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy|archive-date=October 10, 2013}} In 2014, Pitchfork named it the best album of the 2010s so far, with Ian Cohen writing, "West broke the ground upon which the new decade's most brilliant architects built their masterworks; Bon Iver, Take Care, Channel Orange, and Good Kid, M.A.A.D City don't exist without the blueprint of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy."Cohen, Ian (August 19, 2014). [https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9465-the-top-100-albums-of-2010-2014/5/ The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far (2010–14)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003085154/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9465-the-top-100-albums-of-2010-2014/5/ |date=October 3, 2014 }}. Pitchfork. Retrieved on August 19, 2014. It was later ranked as the top album of the 2010s by The A.V. Club, Billboard, and Rolling Stone. Christgau named My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as the decade's eighth-best album, saying it remains "perversely superb".{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|date=December 20, 2019|url=https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/deans-list-the-2010s|title=Dean's List: The 2010s|work=And It Don't Stop|access-date=December 21, 2019|archive-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221203156/https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/deans-list-the-2010s|url-status=live}}

In 2014, Spin named My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as the eighth best album of the past 30 years, with Dan Weiss noting it is a world combining samples, interpolations, and vocalists; he expressed that West does not believe "one man should have all that power" of God, yet he "lives one hell of a life". Six years later, Marc Hogan from Pitchfork considered it among the great art pop albums of the last 20 years to "have filled the void of full-length statements with both artistic seriousness and mass appeal that was formerly largely occupied by [rock] guitar bands".{{cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=Marc |title=Exit Music: How Radiohead's OK Computer Destroyed the Art-Pop Album in Order to Save It |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/ok-computer-at-20/10038-exit-music-how-radioheads-ok-computer-destroyed-the-art-pop-album-in-order-to-save-it/ |website=Pitchfork |date=March 20, 2017 |access-date=April 19, 2020 |archive-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223111434/https://pitchfork.com/features/ok-computer-at-20/10038-exit-music-how-radioheads-ok-computer-destroyed-the-art-pop-album-in-order-to-save-it/ |url-status=live }} In 2017, the staff of HipHopDX wrote the album is "widely considered [West's] magnum opus" and the release that made the public's perception of him positive again.{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.3937/title.sin-sations-the-7-best-songs-on-kanye-wests-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy|title=The 7 Best Songs On Kanye West's #MBDTF|website=HipHopDX|date=November 22, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2022|archive-date=November 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102105050/https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.3937/title.sin-sations-the-7-best-songs-on-kanye-wests-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy|url-status=live}} EW picked My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as the eighth greatest album of all time in 2016, while it was ranked 21st and 17th on the lists by NME and Rolling Stone in 2013 and 2020, respectively. The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite book|last1=Dimery|first1=Robert|last2=Lydon|first2=Michael|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=2014 |publisher=Universe|isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}}

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy won awards for both Album of the Year and Reader's Choice: Best Album at the 2010 HipHopDX Awards, receiving over 50 percent of the vote for the latter.{{cite web |title=The 2010 HipHopDX Year End Awards |url=https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.1633/title.the-2010-hiphopdx- |website=HipHopDX |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801003051/https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.1633/title.the-2010-hiphopdx-year-end-awards |archive-date=August 1, 2017 |date=December 13, 2010}} The album was awarded CD of the Year at the next year's BET Hip Hop Awards, while it was nominated for Outstanding Album at the 2011 NAACP Image Awards.{{cite magazine|last=Semigran|first=Aly|title=BET Hip Hop Awards winners|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/10/12/chris-brown-leads-bet-hip-hop-awards-winners/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=November 2, 2022|date=October 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125022952/https://ew.com/article/2011/10/12/chris-brown-leads-bet-hip-hop-awards-winners/|archive-date=November 25, 2016}}{{cite news|title=Nominees are announced for NAACP Image Awards|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/nominees-are-announced-for-naacp-image-awards/2011/01/12/ABqG7JJ_story.html|access-date=February 7, 2024|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-access=limited|date=January 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207210318/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/nominees-are-announced-for-naacp-image-awards/2011/01/12/ABqG7JJ_story.html|archive-date=February 7, 2024}} The album received a nomination for Top Rap Album at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards, though ultimately lost to fellow rapper Eminem's Recovery.{{cite magazine|title=2011 Billboard Music Awards Winners List|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471886/2011-billboard-music-awards-winners-list|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 24, 2019|date=April 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528002418/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471886/2011-billboard-music-awards-winners-list|archive-date=May 28, 2017}}

For the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was awarded Best Rap Album, while "All of the Lights" was nominated for Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, winning in the latter two categories.{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees |title=Nominees and Winners |publisher=Grammy |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207100926/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/ |archive-date=December 7, 2011 |url-status=dead}} However, The Recording Academy's decision not to nominate My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy for Album of the Year was viewed by many media outlets as a snub,{{cite web|last=Abebe|first=Nitsuh|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/12/grammy-nominations-breakdown.html|title=Explaining the Kanye Snub, and Other Thoughts on the Grammy Nominations|work=Vulture|url-access=limited|date=December 1, 2011|access-date=January 31, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118204951/https://www.vulture.com/2011/12/grammy-nominations-breakdown.html|archive-date=November 18, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Hyden|first=Steven|url=https://www.avclub.com/grammy-nominations-kanye-west-honored-and-snubbed-bon-1798228687|title=Grammy nominations: Kanye West honored and snubbed; Bon Iver primed to become Arcade Fire 2.0|work=The A.V. Club|date=November 30, 2011|access-date=January 31, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203175742/http://www.avclub.com/articles/grammy-nominations-kanye-west-honored-and-snubbed%2C65892/|archive-date=February 3, 2012}} along with the rejection of West and Jay-Z's 2011 effort Watch the Throne in the category.{{cite web|last=Morris|first=Christopher|url=https://variety.com/2011/music/awards/rappers-rockers-drive-grammy-nominations-1118046848/|title=Rappers, rockers drive Grammy nominations|work=Variety|date=November 30, 2011|access-date=January 31, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205163848/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118046848?refcatid=16|archive-date=February 5, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Markman|first=Rob|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675292/kanye-west-grammy-album-of-the-year.jhtml|title=Kanye West Blames Himself For Album of the Year Snub|publisher=MTV News|date=December 2, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=January 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201030710/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675292/kanye-west-grammy-album-of-the-year.jhtml|archive-date=February 1, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Powers|first=Ann|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2011/12/01/143011839/kanye-and-the-grammys-why-no-album-of-the-year-nomination|title=Kanye And The Grammys: Why No Album Of The Year Nomination? : The Record|publisher=NPR|date=December 1, 2011|access-date=November 3, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001133310/https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2011/12/01/143011839/kanye-and-the-grammys-why-no-album-of-the-year-nomination|archive-date=October 1, 2015}} For the Los Angeles Times, Randall Roberts pinpointed the exclusion of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – "the most critically acclaimed album of the year, a career-defining record" – as a snub in favor of nominating less substantial albums.{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Randall|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/11/critics-notebook-your-grannys-awards.html|title=Critic's Notebook: Grammy Awards? Your granny's awards|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 30, 2011|access-date=December 1, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201104930/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/11/critics-notebook-your-grannys-awards.html|archive-date=December 1, 2011}} Time journalist Touré deemed West's nominations in minor Grammy categories as booby prizes and stated that the album was easily "the best reviewed album in many years", being lauded by critics "like nothing since Radiohead's zenith", while achieving success with over 1,200,000 sales. Touré explored possible reasons for the academy to snub West, including split votes between My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Watch the Throne and concerns over his past controversies, but ultimately perceived "a lack of respect for hip hop and its complexity" from those who are into music, yet lack knowledge of this genre.{{cite magazine|author=Touré|author-link=Touré (journalist)|url=https://ideas.time.com/2011/12/02/grammys-fallout-the-subtle-snubbing-of-kanye/|title=Why The Grammys Snubbed Kanye West's Twisted Fantasy|magazine=Time|date=December 2, 2011|access-date=January 31, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207085952/http://ideas.time.com/2011/12/02/grammys-fallout-the-subtle-snubbing-of-kanye/|archive-date=February 7, 2012}}

Having expressed that he thought he was snubbed for major awards in the past, West responded to the Grammy nominees onstage during a concert on the Watch the Throne Tour in December 2011. West believed the snub was due to releasing Watch the Throne and My Beautiful Dark Fantasy within a year of each other, feeling he "should've just spaced it out, just a little bit more". On the 10th anniversary of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Will Lavin of NME recalled that despite winning Best Rap Album, "it was snubbed for Best Album without so much as a nomination". Two years later, Vibe listed the record as one of 10 rap albums snubbed of Album of the Year, with Preezy Brown mentioning this was "a Grammy snub that's one of the more egregious in recent memory".{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Preezy|title=10 Rap Albums Snubbed Of The Grammys' Album Of The Year Award|url=https://www.vibe.com/lists/rap-album-snubs-grammys-awards/|website=Vibe|date=April 3, 2022|access-date=November 3, 2022|archive-date=November 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103101622/https://www.vibe.com/lists/rap-album-snubs-grammys-awards/|url-status=live}}

{{clear}}

{{Track listing

| headline = My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy standard edition

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 1:08:34

| title1 = Dark Fantasy

| writer1 = {{hlist|Kanye West|Robert Diggs|Ernest Wilson|Jeff Bhasker|Mike Dean|Malik Jones|Justin Vernon|Onika Maraj|Jon Anderson|Mike Oldfield}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|RZA|West|No I.D.|Bhasker{{ref|b|[b]}}|M. Dean{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length1 = 4:40

| title2 = Gorgeous

| note2 = featuring Kid Cudi and Raekwon

| writer2 = {{hlist|West|Wilson|M. Dean|Jones|Che Smith|Corey Woods|Scott Mescudi|Gene Clark|Roger McGuinn}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|West|No I.D.|M. Dean}}

| length2 = 5:57

| title3 = Power

| writer3 = {{hlist|West|Larry Griffin, Jr.|M. Dean|Bhasker|Andwele Gardner|Ken Lewis|Francois Bernheim|Jean-Pierre Lang|Boris Bergman|Robert Fripp|Michael Giles|Greg Lake|Ian McDonald|Peter Sinfield}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|S1|West|Bhasker{{ref|b|[b]}}|M. Dean{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length3 = 4:52

| title4 = All of the Lights (Interlude)

| writer4 = {{hlist|West|M. Dean}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|West|M. Dean}}

| length4 = 1:02

| title5 = All of the Lights

| writer5 = {{hlist|West|Bhasker|Mescudi|Jones|Warren Trotter|Stacy Ferguson}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|West|Bhasker{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length5 = 4:59

| title6 = Monster

| note6 = featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver

| writer6 = {{hlist|West|Shawn Carter|Patrick Reynolds|M. Dean|William Roberts II| Maraj|Vernon|Jones|Ben Bronfman|Daniel Lynas|Harley Wertheimer}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|West|M. Dean{{ref|b|[b]}}|Plain Pat{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length6 = 6:18

| title7 = So Appalled

| note7 = featuring Swizz Beatz, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Cyhi the Prynce and RZA

| writer7 = {{hlist|West|Wilson|M. Dean|Carter|Terrence Thornton|Cydel Young|Kasseem Dean|Diggs|Manfred Mann}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|West|No I.D.|M. Dean{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length7 = 6:37

| title8 = Devil in a New Dress

| note8 = featuring Rick Ross

| writer8 = {{hlist|West|Roosevelt Harrell|M. Dean|Roberts II|Jones|Carole King|Gerry Goffin}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Bink|M. Dean{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length8 = 5:52

| title9 = Runaway

| note9 = featuring Pusha T

| writer9 = {{hlist|West|Emile Haynie|Thornton|Bhasker|M. Dean|Jones|Peter Phillips|John Branch}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|West|Emile{{ref|a|[a]}}|Bhasker{{ref|a|[a]}}|M. Dean{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length9 = 9:07

| title10 = Hell of a Life

| writer10 = {{hlist|West|Mike Caren|Wilson|M. Dean|Sylvester Stewart|Tony Joe White|Terence Butler|Anthony Iommi|John Osbourne|William Ward}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|West|Caren{{ref|a|[a]}}|No I.D.{{ref|a|[a]}}|M. Dean{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length10 = 5:27

| title11 = Blame Game

| note11 = featuring John Legend

| writer11 = {{hlist|West|Justin Franks|Chloe Mitchell|M. Dean|John Stephens|Richard James}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|West|DJ Frank E|M. Dean{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length11 = 7:49

| title12 = Lost in the World

| note12 = featuring Bon Iver

| writer12 = {{hlist|West|Bhasker|Manu Dibango|James Brown|Vernon|Gil Scott-Heron|Edwin Bocage|Alfred Scramuzza}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|West|Bhasker{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length12 = 4:16

| title13 = Who Will Survive in America

| writer13 = {{hlist|West|Bhasker|Scott-Heron|Bocage|Scramuzza}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|West|Bhasker{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length13 = 1:38

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = iTunes Store bonus track{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/1440742903|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West|date=November 22, 2010 |publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=November 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117015729/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-beautiful-dark-twisted/id403822142|archive-date=November 17, 2016|url-status=live}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 1:14:37

| title14 = See Me Now

| note14 = featuring Beyoncé, Charlie Wilson and Big Sean

| writer14 = {{hlist|West|Sean Anderson|Beyoncé Knowles|Charles Wilson}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|West|No I.D.|Lex Luger}}

| length14 = 6:03

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus DVD

| extra_column = Director(s)

| title1 = Runaway

| note1 = short film

| writer1 = {{hlist|Hype Williams|West}}

| extra1 = West

| length1 = 35:00

}}

Track notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer
• {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} signifies an additional producer
• "Dark Fantasy" features background vocals by Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver member Justin Vernon, and additional vocals by Teyana Taylor and Amber Rose
• "Gorgeous" features background vocals by Tony Williams
• "Power" features additional vocals by Dwele
• "All of the Lights" features additional vocals by Rihanna, Kid Cudi, Tony Williams, The-Dream, Charlie Wilson, John Legend, Elly Jackson of La Roux, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Fergie, Ryan Leslie, Drake, Alvin Fields and Ken Lewis
• "Runaway" features background vocals by Tony Williams and additional vocals by The-Dream
• "Hell of a Life" features additional vocals by Teyana Taylor and The-Dream
• "Blame Game" features additional vocals by Chris Rock and Salma Kenas
• "Lost in the World" and "Who Will Survive in America" feature additional vocals by Charlie Wilson, Kaye Fox, Tony Williams, Alicia Keys and Elly Jackson of La Roux

Sample credits

• "Dark Fantasy" contains samples of "In High Places", written by Mike Oldfield and Jon Anderson, and performed by Anderson.
• "Gorgeous" contains portions and elements of the composition "You Showed Me", written by Gene Clark and Roger McGuinn, and performed by The Turtles.
• "Power" contains elements from "It's Your Thing", performed by Cold Grits; elements of "Afromerica", written by Francois Bernheim, Jean-Pierre Lang, and Boris Bergman, and performed by Continent Number 6; and material sampled from "21st Century Schizoid Man", composed by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald, and Peter Sinfield, and performed by King Crimson.
• "So Appalled" contains samples of "You Are – I Am", written by Manfred Mann, and performed by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
• "Devil in a New Dress" contains samples of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and performed by Smokey Robinson.
• "Runaway" contains a sample of "Expo 83", written by J. Branch, and performed by Backyard Heavies; and excerpts from Rick James Live at Long Beach, CA, 1981.
• "Hell of a Life" contains samples of "She's My Baby", written by Sylvester Stewart, and performed by The Mojo Men; samples of "Stud-Spider" by Tony Joe White; and portions of "Iron Man", written by Terence Butler, Anthony Iommi, John Osbourne, and William Ward, and performed by Black Sabbath.
• "Blame Game" contains elements of "Avril 14th", written and performed by Richard James.
• "Lost in the World" contains portions of "Soul Makossa", written by Manu Dibango; a sample of "Think (About It)", written by James Brown, and performed by Lyn Collins; samples of "Woods", written by Justin Vernon, and performed by Bon Iver; and "Comment No. 1", written and performed by Gil Scott-Heron.
• "Who Will Survive in America" contains samples of "Comment No. 1" performed by Gil Scott-Heron.

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

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• Jeff Bhasker – keyboards (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13), piano (track 6), cello arrangement (track 1)
• Mike Dean – keyboards (tracks 3, 5, 7, 10), piano (tracks 1, 8, 11), bass (tracks 3, 8, 11), guitars (tracks 3, 8), guitar solo (track 2), cello arrangement (tracks 1, 5, 7)
• Ken Lewis – guitars (track 2), bass (track 2), organ (track 2), brass and woodwinds (track 5), tribal drum programming (track 12, 13), horn arrangement (track 5), chant vocals (tracks 3, 12, 13)
• Brent Kolatalo – keyboards (track 2), drum programming (track 2)
• Anthony Kilhoffer – additional drum programming (tracks 10, 12, 13)
• Danny Flam – brass and woodwinds (track 5)
• Tony Gorruso – brass and woodwinds (track 5)
• Rosie Danvers – orchestral arrangement and conducting (track 5), cello (track 5)
• Chris "Hitchcock" Chorney – cello (tracks 1–3, 5, 7, 9, 11), cello arrangement (track 11)
• Mike Lovatt – trumpet (tracks 4, 5)
• Simon Finch – trumpet (tracks 4, 5)
• Alvin Fields – chant vocals (tracks 3, 12, 13)

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• Andrew Dawson – recording (tracks 1–3, 5–13), mixing (tracks 1, 10, 11)
• Anthony Kilhoffer – recording (tracks 1–3, 5–10, 12, 13), mixing (tracks 2, 5, 9–13)
• Mike Dean – recording (tracks 1–3, 5–10, 12, 13), mixing (tracks 1, 4, 6–8, 10, 11)
• Noah Goldstein – recording (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10–13)
• Phil Joly – recording (tracks 2, 4), engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 5, 11)
• Christian Mochizuki – recording (track 2), engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 5–10, 12, 13)
• Pete Bischoff – recording (track 7), engineering assistance (tracks 2, 5–8, 10, 12, 13)
• Ryan Gilligan – recording (track 11)
• Marcos Tovar – recording (Rihanna vocals; track 5)
• Manny Marroquin – mixing (track 3)
• Gaylord Holomalia – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 6–8, 10)
• Alex Graupera – engineering assistance (tracks 12, 13)
• Christian Plata – mix engineering assistance (track 3)
• Erik Madrid – mix engineering assistance (track 3)
• Cary Clark – mix engineering assistance (track 9)
• Ken Lewis – chant vocals engineering (track 3)
• Brent Kolatalo – chant vocals engineering (tracks 3, 12, 13), horn engineering (track 5)
• TommyD – orchestra production (track 5)
• Vlado Meller – mastering

• Kanye West – art direction
• Virgil Abloh – art direction
• George Condo – paintings
• M/M (Paris) – handwritten titles and illustrations, package design
• Fabien Montique – Kanye West photograph

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|artist=Kanye West|award=Platinum|number=2|refname="ARIA"|relyear=2010|certyear=2021|access-date=February 7, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|artist=Kanye West|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2024|access-date=March 15, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|artist=Kanye West|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|refname="IFPI-den"|relyear=2010|certyear=2023|access-date=March 14, 2024|id=13336}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|artist=Kanye West|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2024|access-date=March 15, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=album|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|artist=Kanye West|award=Platinum|relyear=2010|certyear=2025|access-date=March 24, 2025|id=13940|refname="FIMI"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|artist=Kanye West|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2010|certyear=2025|access-date=March 24, 2025|source=radioscope|refname="RMNZ"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|artist=Kanye West|award=Platinum|relyear=2010|certyear=2021|refname="bpi"|id=8698-997-2|access-date=January 30, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|artist=Kanye West|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2010|certyear=2020|salesamount=1,300,000|salesref=|access-date=November 25, 2020|refname="certified"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://kanyewest.com/}}
• {{Discogs master|type=album|288153}}

{{Kanye West}}

{{Pitchfork}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

|titlestyle = background: lightblue

|list1 =

{{BET Hip Hop Award for Album of the Year}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Album}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2010 albums

Category:2010s concept albums

Category:Albums produced by Bink (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by DJ Frank E

Category:Albums produced by Emile Haynie

Category:Albums produced by Jeff Bhasker

Category:Albums produced by Kanye West

Category:Albums produced by Lex Luger

Category:Albums produced by Mike Dean (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by No I.D.

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Category:Albums produced by Symbolyc One

Category:Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios

Category:Def Jam Recordings albums

Category:Grammy Award for Best Rap Album

Category:Kanye West albums

Category:Obscenity controversies in music

Category:Progressive rap albums

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