Kanye West bypassed the traditional 2013 album rollout. There were no radio singles, no pre-orders, and no polished album artwork. Instead, the physical CD was distributed in a clear jewel case with nothing but a piece of red tape. West chose unconventional methods to preview the music:

As with any high-profile release, the music community's enthusiasm was matched by the torrenting and file-sharing world. Fans and enthusiasts clamored to get their hands on the album, and "Kanye West Yeezus 2013 torrent full" became a popular search term.

: "On Sight" opens with a "fist" of distorted synths, while "Black Skinhead" uses a blunt glam-rock drumbeat to create an atmosphere of pure tension. A Lyrical Molotov Cocktail