Top Ten Kanye West Songs

Before he became the most hated celebrity in the world (not counting heads of state), Mr. West was widely revered as one of the most gifted and creative artists of his generation. His track record speaks for itself. Only a handful of artists have won more Grammy awards than him in history. From 2000 to date, he’s had a hand in crafting some of the biggest songs in popular music. He’s worked with a wide spectrum of musicians including Adam Levine, Rick Ross, Elton John, Alicia Keys and Daft Punk. His rise from soulful Roc-A-Fella producer to everyman rapper to larger-than-life personality to national pariah has been as captivating as some of his dopest records. For better or worse, he’s currently one of the most famous people in the world and it’s not just because he married Kim Kardashian. He might be quixotic, strange and relatively unhinged, but his work will always stand the test of time. This list is a tribute to the incomparable brilliance of Kanye West.

Ten

Gone (feat. Cam’ron and Consequence)

Late Registration (2005)

When Kanye put together plans for Late Registration, he did so knowing fully well that following up a classic debut album can be tricky – after all, several rappers have suffered sophomore slumps. But with invaluable help from composer Jon Brion, he was able to accentuate the magic from College Dropout and make his second album a more musically complex and rewarding experience. Take “Gone” for instance. On one hand, it’s a dope rap song featuring four stellar verses from Mr. West and his label mate, Cam’ron and protégé, Consequence. On the other hand, it’s the most beautifully arranged song since Dr. Dre’s heyday. The Otis Redding sample and the funk beat gives the song a rap structure, but the piano stabs and string accompaniment elevates the song into something more glorious.

Nine

So Appalled (feat. Jay Z, Swizz Beatz, Cyhi da Prince, RZA and Pusha T)

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

Depending on who you ask, the golden age of hip-hop was either in the 80s or the 90s. While the 80s had more originality, creativity and versatility, the 90s had better production, a higher level of lyricism and more posse cuts. Before DJ Khaled made it a staple for selling singles in the digital era, posse cuts were a regular feature of 90s hip-hop music. It was an opportunity for rappers to feature 4-5 of their peers on a song and test their mettle against themselves. With “So Appalled”, Kanye revived the spirit of classic posse cuts by featuring an all-star team of hip-hop icons (and Cyhi). The song’s concept is simple enough – it’s about addressing the absurdity of living as a superstar as well as dismissing haters who could clearly no relate. While the dismissing of haters was hardly new ground for Kanye, it inspired fantastic performances from each MC and was one of the standout tracks from Mr. West’s magnum opus.

Eight

All Falls Down (feat. Syleena Johnson)

College Dropout (2004)

When people talk of missing the “old” Kanye, there’s no doubt they’re referencing the guy who made tracks like this. At the time of this song’s release, the public was still coming to understand who Kanye was as an artist and songs like “All Falls Down”, “We Don’t Care” and “Spaceship” painted the picture of a regular Joe who just happened to rap and be musically gifted. He wasn’t the tough guy (ala 50 cent or DMX), wasn’t the smooth player (Snoop Dogg, Too Short), baller (Jay Z, Puff Daddy) or cerebral wordsmith (Mos Def, Pharaoh Monsch). His appeal was based on his relatability. With “All Falls Down”, he bemoans the extent insecurity and self-consciousness play a part in shaping people’s lives. He raps about a typical girl from the hood in the first verse before turning the focus on himself in the second. In his third verse he turns his ire on institutional racism and police brutality as he recognizes their impact on the collective insecurity faced by black people in America. His antics over the last few years may have driven a wedge between him and a number of his fans, but it helps to remember that once upon a time there was a famous artist that understood the issues of the regular folks.

Seven

Paranoid (feat. Mr. Hudson)

808’s and Heartbreak (2008)

If 808’s and Heartbreak saw Kanye in a mostly moody and contemplative state, “Paranoid” represented a high emotional point. Maybe not in terms of subject matter – much like the rest of the album, the song dealt with mistrust and hurt in relationships. But in opting for an upbeat, electronic beat, Kanye gave listeners a song they could groove to in spite of the contrasting lyrics. Although it didn’t chart as high as earlier singles from the album (“Heartless”, “Love Lockdown”), it’s certainly a high point in Kanye’s career and shows the wide range of his musical tastes and influences.

Six

Gold Digger (feat. Jamie Foxx)

Late Registration (2005)

When College Dropout went to multiplatinum status it was off the strength of great reviews, clever marketing and strong singles. Despite the success of “Jesus Walks”, “All Falls Down” and “Through the Wire”, Kanye’s biggest single was clearly the collaboration with Jamie Foxx and Twista, “Slow Jamz” which topped Billboard charts. Perhaps it only makes sense that for his sophomore album, Mr. West featured Jamie again for one of his singles. While “Slow Jamz” was Kanye’s ode to old school R&B music, “Gold Digger’ was a playful dig at women who scheme their way to financial gain through exploiting men. The single not only became the most successful of Kanye’s career, it won him numerous awards and was included in most critics’ end of year lists. It’s still a staple of his live shows till date.

Five

Power

My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy (2010)

After the death of his mother in 2007, Kanye decided to throw himself into his work. His third album Graduation was quickly followed by his fourth, 808’s and Heartbreaks. Award shows, world tours and studio time (producing for other artists) filled his schedule for much of 2008 and 2009 and unsurprisingly he started to buckle under the pressure. After the Taylor Swift incident in 2009 VMA’s, he decided to exile himself in Hawaii. It was in his extended Hawaiian stay that he decided to work on his fifth album with “Power” as the lead single. Fueled by equal parts hunger and fury, Kanye forcefully delivered a reminder of why he was the most fascinating hip hop artist alive. The eclectic beat featured samples from rock, funk and French disco. The vocal layering gave the song a dark, apocalyptic feel that would be carried over to the rest of the album.

Four

Diamonds (Remix) feat. Jay Z

Late Registration (2005)

When Kanye released the original version, “Diamonds in Sierra Leone”, as the lead single for Late Registration, it left a few people confused. Granted, it was a typically well-crafted Kanye production based around the clever use of a sample (in this case, Shirley Bassey’s “Diamonds are Forever”). But it was difficult to understand what Kanye was trying to accomplish. Was this a conscious hip-hop record lamenting the practice of mining for ‘blood’ diamonds or was this a song reaffirming his alliance with Roc-A-Fella records, the label that made the diamond sign popular in hip-hop? If the original left certain questions unanswered, the remix with mentor and one-time Roc-A-Fella head, Jay Z answered all. Kanye uses his verse to specifically address the moral quagmire around the issue of ‘blood’ diamonds before handing of the reins to Mr. Carter. What followed was one of the most inspired verses of Jay Z’s illustrious career. He used his verse to address questions in a press conference style, allaying any doubts over the future of Roc-A-Fella artists while once again reconfirming his status as hip-hop’s greatest success story.

Three

Lost in the World (feat. Bon Iver)

My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy (2010)

When working on his fifth album, My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy, West made sure to make it as collaborative an effort as possible. As such, he flew in over fifty odd artists, producers and musicians to help put together the project. Most of his collaborators were people he’d worked with earlier in his career but he willingly made Justin Vernon of Bon Iver an exception. Upon hearing “Woods”, a Bon Iver song in 2009, Kanye not only made the musical decision to sample the track, he made the executive decision to feature lead vocalist, Vernon. With the latter’s help, he was able to craft the perfect closer to the perect album. Like most of Twisted Fantasy, “Lost in the World” is a seamless mesh of different musical styles and yet consistently moody and dark. Kanye’s lyrics were heavily inspired by his relationship with Kim Kardashian as well as his place in show business. When he interpolates Michael Jackson’s famous chant, “Mama-say-mama-sah mama coo-sah”, he is not only referencing his idol, he’s accepting that a similar fate might await him in his love for the spotlight.

Two

I Wonder

Graduation (2007)

In Kanye’s progression from hip-hop everyman to full blown enigma by way of epic rock star, he shifted his focus from the soul samples he made his name with to more anthemic rock & roll numbers. After touring with the likes of U2 and Rolling Stones, he started focusing on making stadium music i.e. music that could emotionally connect yet move large crowds in arenas or stadiums. This reflected in his songwriting when putting together his third album, Graduation, as songs like “Champion” and “Stronger” prove. “I Wonder” is perhaps the best example of this as he eschews his usual flow for something more staccato and stilted. His emotionally charged verses were both raw and inspiring. How far are we willing to go to see our dreams come true? Would we cash in on our deepest hopes to live a safe and comfortable existence? This is Kanye at his best, most engaging and most relatable. Maybe his most inspiring. Well, maybe his second most inspiring…

One

Through the Wire

College Dropout (2004)

It seems odd to suggest that Kanye has despite all his success - awards, millions of albums sold, wealth, fame - never bettered his first album. He has certainly never bettered his first single, “Through the Wire”, released in 2003. As most fans know by now, the song was inspired by his 2002 car accident in the early hours of the morning where he almost lost his life. In order for the doctors to do reconstructive surgery on his face, his jaw had to be wired shut for weeks. Overcome by a sense of gratitude and defiance, he recorded his verses in the studio with his jaws still wired shut (hence the title). He used one of Chaka Khan’s biggest songs, “Through the Fire”, as the major sample for the composition and gave his part funny, part tragic view of the life-changing incident. The single announced him to the world in a major way, charting in numerous countries and giving this producer a platform for all his future success. Since then he’s only gone on to bigger and better things, but this will always be his genesis, his origin story and his anthem of triumph.

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