Ultralight Beam

"Ultralight Beam" is a profound exploration of Kanye West's Christian faith, his struggles, and his ultimate reliance on a higher power. The "ultralight beam" itself is a metaphor for a direct and powerful connection to God, a conduit for divine guidance and inspiration. The song can be seen as a modern-day hymn, blending the genres of hip-hop and gospel to create a unique spiritual experience. It's a testament to the power of faith in overcoming personal demons and finding hope in times of despair. The overarching message is one of redemption, forgiveness, and the unwavering belief that with God, everything will be alright. The song also touches on themes of family, legacy, and the artist's role in a larger spiritual narrative.

The lyrical journey of the song mirrors a spiritual progression. It begins with a child's pure and simple declaration of faith, moves through Kanye and Kelly Price's expressions of struggle and seeking, and culminates in Chance the Rapper's confident testimony and Kirk Franklin's communal prayer of deliverance. This structure suggests a journey from individual doubt to collective salvation. Kelly Price's verse, in particular, speaks to the pain and injustice in the world, questioning God's presence in suffering but ultimately finding solace in turning towards "the light." Chance the Rapper's verse is a dense tapestry of personal anecdotes, biblical allusions, and declarations of his God-given talent, solidifying his path as divinely ordained. Kirk Franklin's closing prayer extends the song's message of hope to all listeners, especially those who feel lost or unworthy. Ultimately, "Ultralight Beam" is a powerful and moving expression of faith in the 21st century, a "street parable" that speaks of hurt and hope, shame and redemption.

The song begins with the innocent yet powerful proclamation of a four-year-old girl, Natalie Green, declaring a desire for God's presence and the rejection of evil. This sets a deeply spiritual and earnest tone for the entire piece. Following this, Kanye West and The-Dream enter with a vocal performance that feels both vulnerable and resolute. They express a struggle to maintain faith amidst life's challenges, repeatedly affirming that they are on an "ultralight beam," which they describe as a "God dream" and "everything." This recurring phrase acts as a mantra, a declaration of their connection to a higher power and a source of divine inspiration.

The lyrics then shift to a more direct address of this struggle, questioning why there is depression instead of blessings and why wrongs have been committed against the weak. This section, voiced with raw emotion by Kelly Price, captures a sense of pain and confusion, yet it resolves in a turn towards "the light" as a source of strength and a means to make things right. It's a testament to finding hope and resilience in faith, even when faced with persecution and personal weakness. The act of looking towards the light is portrayed as an act of defiance and a source of ultimate protection and care from a divine parent figure.

Chance the Rapper's verse provides a more narrative and personal exploration of faith. He touches on his personal growth, his family, and his career, weaving in cultural and biblical references. He speaks of overcoming demonic influences, moving his family to a better place, and his journey as an artist. His verse is a complex tapestry of gratitude, ambition, and a firm belief in his divine purpose. He cleverly references his own work and his relationship with Kanye West as affirmations of his destined success, framing his artistic path as a spiritual journey. His declaration that he will never fail after meeting West is a powerful statement of belief and destiny. The verse is a whirlwind of personal testimony, cultural commentary, and unwavering faith.

The song culminates in a powerful prayer led by the gospel artist Kirk Franklin, accompanied by a full choir. This final section transforms the song into a communal worship experience. Franklin's prayer is inclusive, offered for everyone who feels inadequate, messed up, or has repeatedly sought forgiveness. It's a message of unconditional grace and the possibility of returning home, no matter how far one has strayed. The choir's powerful vocals, repeating key phrases and offering exclamations of praise, amplify the sense of spiritual ecstasy and communal connection. The song concludes with this feeling of overwhelming spiritual presence, leaving the listener with a sense of hope, redemption, and the profound power of faith.

The creation of "Ultralight Beam" was a collaborative and evolving process that took place during the recording sessions for Kanye West's seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo, in 2015 and 2016. The song was born out of a series of jam sessions involving West and his regular collaborators, including Mike Dean and Swizz Beatz. According to producer Fonzworth Bentley (Derek Watkins), the initial musical idea came from Mike Dean playing the chords that form the basis of the track. The phrase "ultralight beam" itself emerged from a freestyle session with Kanye West and Chance the Rapper. Watkins described the "ultralight beam" as "the connection that goes straight to heaven."

The song's distinct gospel feel was intentional, with West describing The Life of Pablo as a "gospel album with a whole lot of cursing on it". Key collaborators were brought in to enhance this sound. Kelly Price was contacted by Fonzworth Bentley, who felt the track needed her "anointing". She recorded her powerful verse in Atlanta after being given the direction of what the "ultralight beam" represented. Kirk Franklin's involvement was also facilitated by Bentley, reconnecting the gospel legend with West. Franklin arranged the choir parts in a remarkably short amount of time, adding his signature prayer at the end of the track.

One of the most notable elements of the song is the opening sample of a four-year-old girl named Natalie Green praying. The clip was taken from an Instagram video and was brought to the studio's attention by a young woman present during the recording sessions. The inclusion of this sample, along with contributions from The-Dream and Chance the Rapper, came together in the final weeks leading up to the album's release. Interestingly, Justin Bieber was also present during some of the sessions and contributed vocals, but his part was ultimately omitted from the final version. The song was initially intended to be the closing track of the album but was moved to the opening spot due to its powerful impact.

"Ultralight Beam" deviates from traditional hip-hop rhythmic structures. Its 12/8 time signature provides a soulful, gospel-like swing, a departure from the more common 4/4 time. This creates a more flowing and less rigid rhythmic feel, allowing the vocal performances to be more expressive and improvisational. The tempo is slow and deliberate, creating a meditative and reverent atmosphere. The drum track is notably sparse, often consisting of just a simple, recurring beat, which places the emphasis on the vocals and the underlying organ chords.

The rhyme schemes in the song are varied. Kanye West's and Kelly Price's verses employ a more straightforward rhyme scheme, focusing on conveying emotion and meaning directly. Chance the Rapper's verse, however, is a showcase of complex and intricate rhymes. He utilizes multisyllabic rhymes, internal rhymes, and a conversational, free-flowing delivery that plays with the rhythm of the track. For example, in the lines "I've been this way since Arthur was an anteater / Now they wanna hit me with the woo-wap, the bam," the rhymes are not just at the end of the lines but are woven throughout. This intricate rhyming, combined with his dynamic vocal delivery, creates a sense of building excitement and passion. The interplay between the lyrical rhythms of the rappers and the underlying musical rhythm creates a rich and textured sonic experience.

Musically, "Ultralight Beam" employs a unique blend of gospel and hip-hop. The song is notable for its use of a 12/8 time signature, a rarity in modern hip-hop which is typically in 4/4 time. This creates a more fluid, triplet-based feel that complements the song's spiritual and uplifting tone. The instrumentation is relatively sparse, with a prominent organ, subtle synth pads, and minimal percussion, allowing the vocals to be the central focus. The chord progression, while simple, utilizes a G7 chord which is not in the natural minor key of C minor, creating a sense of drama and a strong pull towards resolution. The song's structure is also unconventional, moving away from a standard verse-chorus format to a more through-composed piece with distinct sections for each featured artist, culminating in a powerful choral and spoken-word outro.

Lyrically, the song utilizes several literary techniques. The repetition of phrases like "We on an ultralight beam" and "This is a God dream" functions as a form of mantra or prayer, reinforcing the central themes of the song. Anaphora is used in the chorus with the repetition of "This is." The song is also rich in allusions, both biblical (Lot's wife, Saint Paul) and cultural (Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes). Chance the Rapper's verse, in particular, is characterized by its complex rhyme schemes, internal rhymes, and a dynamic vocal delivery that shifts in intensity, building to a powerful crescendo. The use of a child's voice at the beginning and Kirk Franklin's spoken-word prayer at the end serve as powerful framing devices, grounding the song in a sense of both innocence and spiritual wisdom.

"Ultralight Beam" has had a significant cultural impact since its release, receiving universal acclaim from music critics and fans alike. It has been praised for its innovative blend of hip-hop and gospel, its powerful message of faith, and the stellar performances of its featured artists, particularly Chance the Rapper. The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. It has been consistently ranked as one of the best songs of 2016 and one of the best songs of the 2010s by publications such as Pitchfork and Rolling Stone.

The song's influence extends beyond critical acclaim. It has been covered by a diverse range of artists, including Harry Styles and Stormzy, demonstrating its broad appeal. "Ultralight Beam" has also been a staple of Kanye West's Sunday Service performances, with his gospel choir releasing their own version of the song on the album Jesus Is Born. The track's opening sample of the young girl, Natalie Green, went viral, and she became an internet sensation. The song has also been referenced and discussed in various cultural contexts, from academic analyses of its theological and political themes to its use in popular media. "Ultralight Beam" is widely regarded as a standout track in Kanye West's discography and a landmark song that pushed the boundaries of hip-hop music.

"Ultralight Beam" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its spiritual and emotional impact. The central metaphor, the "ultralight beam," represents a direct and powerful connection to the divine, a beacon of hope and guidance. This can be interpreted as a modern take on the biblical story of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus, where he was blinded by a heavenly light. The song's title itself suggests a light that is both intensely powerful and ethereally weightless, signifying the profound yet intangible nature of faith.

The opening sample of the four-year-old girl praying symbolizes innocence, purity, and an unadulterated connection to God. Her simple yet profound declaration sets the tone for the entire song, reminding the listener of the foundational power of simple faith. The recurring phrase "This is a God dream" reinforces the idea that the events unfolding, both within the song and in the artists' lives, are part of a divine plan.

Chance the Rapper's verse is particularly dense with metaphors and allusions. His line, "I laugh in my head 'cause I bet that my ex looking back like a pillar of salt," is a direct reference to the biblical story of Lot's wife, using it as a metaphor for leaving behind past mistakes and those who doubt. The mention of moving his family "from Chatham to Zambia" symbolizes a desire for a profound and positive transformation, a move from a familiar, perhaps difficult, environment to a place of new beginnings and spiritual grounding. The imagery of having his "foot on the devil's neck 'til it drifted Pangaea" is a powerful metaphor for overcoming evil with such force that it causes a fundamental shift in the world.

The most prominent recurring phrase in "Ultralight Beam" is the titular line, "We on an ultralight beam," which is often followed by "This is a God dream." This repetition serves as the central mantra of the song, reinforcing the theme of a divine connection and a life guided by a higher purpose. The phrase is sung with increasing fervor throughout the song, evolving from a personal declaration to a collective anthem. The repetition of "This is everything" further emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of this spiritual experience.

Another recurring lyrical motif is the concept of "the light." Kelly Price sings about looking "to the light / To make these wrongs turn right," a classic metaphor for seeking guidance and salvation. This ties into the central image of the "ultralight beam," which is a concentrated and powerful form of light. The opening sample of the young girl declaring, "We want the Lord," also establishes a recurring theme of rejecting darkness ("devils") in favor of divine light. Musically, the recurring organ chords provide a constant, foundational element that underpins the entire song, creating a sense of stability and spiritual grounding. The choir's vocal flourishes and refrains also serve as a recurring musical motif, adding to the song's gospel atmosphere and sense of community.