the reason it's unquestionably a "misstep" at this juncture primarily is because he had nobody else adopt it's "sound".

the popularity of drake's "so far gone" imo was sort of a life-preserver for "808s and earthquakes".

that album WAS a massive misstep coming off the success of "graduation", but drake "adopting" it's sound (and ensuing succession to kanye's mid-00's success) helped kanye weather the storm.

with no real hit singles, lackluster sales and worst of all... no cultural impact... yeezus was undeniably a massive misstep backed by nothing else but unrestrained critical bluster.