Ultralight Beam is one of the most iconic opening tracks in modern hip-hop, known for its gospel influence, emotional depth, and innovative production. Released as the first track on Kanye West’s 2016 album,The Life of Pablo, the song immediately sets the tone for the album with its spiritual and experimental sound. Beyond Kanye’s own performance, the track is notable for featuring a collection of collaborators whose contributions elevate the song and contribute to its unique atmosphere. Understanding who features on Ultralight Beam helps listeners appreciate the complex layering of vocals, rap verses, and gospel elements that make it a standout in contemporary music.
Main Artist and Primary Contributors
Kanye West, as the lead artist, drives the song’s vision and overall sound. He is known for blending genres and pushing boundaries, and Ultralight Beam demonstrates this approach with a mix of gospel, hip-hop, and soul influences. His opening vocals and ad-libs establish the song’s theme of faith, struggle, and redemption, framing the collaborative performances that follow.
Kanye West
Kanye West is not only the primary performer but also one of the producers of Ultralight Beam. His role in crafting the song’s sonic landscape is crucial, as he merges choir arrangements, synthesizers, and drums with rap verses to create a track that feels both sacred and contemporary. Kanye’s presence anchors the song and provides a thematic backbone for the featured artists to build upon.
Featured Artists
Ultralight Beam includes several notable featured artists whose performances enhance the track’s emotional and musical complexity. Each contributes a distinct style, from rap verses to gospel vocals.
Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper delivers one of the most memorable parts of Ultralight Beam with his verse, which mixes introspection, personal storytelling, and spiritual themes. His performance has been widely praised for its lyrical depth, flow, and authenticity. Chance’s contribution introduces a youthful energy and modern gospel-rap fusion that resonates with listeners across genres.
Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi provides backing vocals and harmonies that add a dreamy, emotive layer to the track. Known for his distinctive voice and ability to convey emotion, Cudi’s presence complements the gospel elements and enhances the song’s introspective tone. While his vocals are less prominent than Chance’s verse, they contribute significantly to the song’s overall atmosphere.
Kelly Price
Kelly Price, a celebrated R&B and gospel singer, performs the soaring vocal lines that frame the chorus of Ultralight Beam. Her powerful and emotive singing adds a sense of grandeur and spiritual depth to the song. Kelly’s contribution exemplifies the gospel influence, providing listeners with a sense of hope and divine presence throughout the track.
The-Dream
The-Dream also contributes additional vocals, enriching the harmonic structure and supporting the main melody. His experience as a songwriter and vocalist in R&B and pop music brings a polished, melodic layer that complements both the rap verses and gospel components of the track.
Choir and Additional Voices
Beyond the featured solo artists, a full choir contributes to the lush, multi-layered sound of Ultralight Beam. The choir provides choral arrangements that reinforce the spiritual theme and give the song its gospel-inspired power. The combined effect of multiple voices, harmonies, and ad-libs creates an immersive listening experience that emphasizes faith, struggle, and transcendence.
Production Team
The production of Ultralight Beam is as important as the featured performers. The song was co-produced by a team including Kanye West, Mike Dean, Rick Rubin, and others, whose work shapes the complex arrangement, blending traditional gospel elements with modern hip-hop beats and synth textures.
Mike Dean
Mike Dean is a longtime collaborator of Kanye West and contributed to production, instrumentation, and mixing. His expertise in creating layered sounds, combining electronic and organic instruments, helps give Ultralight Beam its dynamic and ethereal quality.
Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin, known for his minimalist production style and ability to highlight the essence of a song, helped refine Ultralight Beam, ensuring that each vocal and instrumental element shines without overwhelming the listener.
Impact of the Featured Artists
The combination of Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Kid Cudi, Kelly Price, The-Dream, and the choir creates a synergy that elevates Ultralight Beam beyond a typical hip-hop track. Each artist brings a unique style and emotional resonance, contributing to a song that is both musically innovative and spiritually uplifting.
Chance the Rapper’s verse has been cited as a breakthrough moment in his career, helping solidify his reputation in mainstream music while maintaining a strong connection to gospel and hip-hop roots. Kelly Price’s and the choir’s contributions highlight the importance of gospel music in contemporary hip-hop production, influencing other artists to incorporate similar elements into their work.
Why the Collaborations Matter
The featured artists on Ultralight Beam demonstrate the power of collaboration in modern music. Combining rap, R&B, gospel, and choral elements allows the song to appeal to a wide audience while exploring themes of faith, struggle, and redemption. Each performer adds a personal touch that makes the track resonate on multiple levels, from lyrical storytelling to emotional impact and sonic richness.
So, who features on Ultralight Beam? The song showcases a remarkable lineup of artists including Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Kid Cudi, Kelly Price, The-Dream, and a full gospel choir. Each performer contributes a unique element, from rap verses and harmonies to soaring gospel vocals, creating a layered and spiritually resonant track. Combined with expert production from Kanye, Mike Dean, and Rick Rubin, the featured artists help make Ultralight Beam one of the most memorable and influential songs in recent hip-hop history.
Understanding the contributions of each featured artist allows listeners to fully appreciate the artistry and innovation behind Ultralight Beam. The collaboration of diverse talents, blending rap, gospel, and R&B, sets a high standard for musical creativity and emotional expression in contemporary music. It is this unique combination of voices, styles, and production that makes the track both culturally significant and musically iconic.