Okay here's a challenge, name your three favorite 'Ye songs. Couldn’t name them without feeling doubtful? Don’t worry I couldn't either. With a combined total of eight studio albums including a trilogy of undeniable classics in College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation, it is nearly impossible to select just three songs, or even 5 for that matter. Just before Kanye kicked off his Saint Pablo Tour, his wife, Kim Kardashian West released her favorite tracks via Spotify. The 28-track playlist compiled of many recent, lackluster tracks. To give her some sort of respect, the playlist does manage to note a few solid features and classics from the pink polo days. But first of all, if the extremely underrated College Dropout track "Spaceship" doesn't make your list, then it's most likely garbage. So with that being said, I recently ranked my favorite Kanye West tracks, giving 'Ye his proper justice. From guest appearances to album singles, here are my 25 favorite songs by Kanye West:
25. Estelle f/ Kanye West "American Boy" (2008)
24. "Two Words" f/ Mos Def & Freeway (2005)
23. Jay Z & Kanye "Gotta Have it" (2011)
22. "Get 'Em High" f/ Talib Kweli & Common (2005)
21. Common f/ Kanye West & John Legend "They Say" (2005)
20. Slum Village f/ Kanye West & John Legend "Selfish" (2005)
19. "Homecoming" f/ Chris Martin (2007)
18. "Slow Jamz" f/ Jamie Foxx & Twista (2003)
17. "We Don't Care" (2004)
16. "Paranoid" f/ Kid Cudi (2007)
15. "Champion" (2007)
14. "Heard 'Em Say" f/ Adam Levine (2005)
13. "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (2007)
12. "Runaway" f/ Pusha T (2010)
11. "Flashing Lights" f/ Dwele (2007)
10. "Gorgeous" f/ Kid Cudi & Raekwon (2010)
LIke most songs that feature Cudi, the hook is nothing short of excellent, but it's Kanye's clever rhymes that make the song work.
Memorable Line: "cause the same people that tried to black ball me
forgot about 2 things, my black balls"
9. "All Falls Down" (2004)
Chi-Town stand up! This one alone gets into the top 10 just for the rhyming of "securr" with "three yurrs" and "carurr".
Memorable Line: "We buy a lot of clothes when we don't really need 'em/ Things we buy to cover up what's inside"
8. "Devil In A New Dress" f/ Rick Ross (2010)
Besides being one of Ross's best verses and one of the best guest appearances on any Kanye song, the chopped-up soul sample is what stands out. Easily one of the best songs from 'Ye's production, sample wise.
Memorable Line: "hood phenomenon, the Lebron of rhyme/ hard to be humble when you stuntin on a jumbotron"
7. "Hey Mama" (2005)
The song dedicated to his late mother, Donda, easily became the most heartfelt song he has ever made.
Memorable Line: "Can't you see, you're like a book of poetry/ Maya Angelou, Nicky Giovanni, turn one page and there's my mommy"
6. "Through The Wire" (2004)
Need I say more? With his jaw wired shut, he was literally rapped “through the wire.” One word, iconic.
Memorable Line: "If you could feel how my face felt, you would know how Mase felt/ Thank God I ain't too cool for the safe belt"
5. "The Glory" (2007)
Memorable Line: "Yeah that tuxedo might have been a little gweedo/
But with my ego, I can stand there with a speedo and still be looked at like a fucking hero"
4. "Late" (2005)
In a chipmunked soul beat that implements 'Ye's traditional style, Kanye raps about being late and taking his time to get places like school. If I could pick one Kanye song to desribe me, it would be this one.
Memorable Line: "Will I make it from the student loans to a Benzo?/ Like old folks pissin, I guess it all Depends, oh, oh"
3. "Gone" f/ Cam'Ron & Consequence (2005)
In the closing track off 2005’s Late Registration, Cam'ron, Consequence, and Kanye West himself deliver some of their best verses ever over a perfect sample of Otis Redding’s “It’s Too Late”.
Memorable Line: "My dawg worked at Taco Bell, hooked us up plural/ Fired a week later the manager count the churros"
2. "Spaceship" f/ GLC & Consequence (2004)
This was my favorite song off College Dropout when I was eight years old. It's still hard for me to pick my favorite verse on this song, because GLC, Consequence, and Kanye all deliver steller verses
Memorable Line: "If my manager insults me again I will be assaulting him/ After I fuck the manager up then I'm gonna shorten the register up"
1. "Last Call" (2004)
The reason why this is my favorite track is because it is essentially a nine-minute outro of Kanye telling his story of how he went through many stages and opportunities before he ultimately got signed by Roc-A-Fella, and of course because he just stunts on everybody. I lost my mind the first time I heard "Killin ya'll n****s on that lyrical shit/ Mayonnaise- colored Benz, I push Miracle Whips."
Memorable line: 'Oh my god, is that a Black Card?' I turned around and replied, why yes but I prefer the term, African American Express.
