Akini's Tribute to Kanye West: [5-1!]

[JSparksFan]

The most influential act in hip/hop history, Kanye West redefined what it meant to be a mainstream rapper. Through his intelligent lyricism, ingenious and era-/genre-melding production, and bold and daring visuals, he took the rap game from the streets to the same college classrooms from which he infamously dropped out, and templated much of what we would hear and see in hip/hop for the 2010s.

Brilliant. Innovative. Passionate. Arrogant. Impulsive. Kanye West is so many things and has evolved into one of the most polarising acts in music. However, the talent has always been, and I suspect will always be, there. As such, I'm looking forward to celebrating, over the next two and a half months, if I can be disciplined with the pace, the discography of a living legend and one of the greatest acts in music history.

[JSparksFan]

So over the last few months, I endeavoured to engage in a comprehensive exploration of Kanye's discography. This took me through his 10 solo studio albums, his two collaborative LPs, and a handful of unreleased cuts. There are some songs from his vault that just weren't considered, due to some extent to time constraints, but impacted moreso by my vision for 2022 not including going down that rabbit hole.

I counted 170 songs from this mostly-360 exercise and much like I generally do, I'll present the tracks up to 101 write-up-free and expound on his best 100 songs, as opposed to spending the next two weeks calling tracks "lame" and "half-baked". I'm aiming for 10 a day, but I might speed that up depending on how much work comes for my life. So let's begin!

170. Can U Be - 6/10



169. Fire - 6/10



168. Water - 6/10



167. God Is - 6/10



166. Hands On - 6.5/10



165. Alien - 6.5/10



164. Never See Me Again - 6.5/10



163. Good Night - 6.5/10



162. Violent Crimes - 6.5/10



161. Ghost Town - 6.5/10

[JSparksFan]

Here's another 10!

160. Tell the Vision - 6.5/10



159. G.O.O.D. Friday - 7/10



158. Feel the Love - 7/10



157. Remote Control - 7/10



156. Junya - 7/10



155. Every Hour - 7/10



154. I Thought About Killing You - 7/10



153. 30 Hours - 7/10



152. Waves - 7/10



151. Highlights - 7/10

[JSparksFan]

And another!

150. Moon - 7/10



149. Feedback - 7/10



148. Follow God - 7/10



147. Barry Bonds - 7/10



146. Freeee - 7/10



145. Heard 'Em Say - 7/10



144. Blood on the Leaves - 7/10



143. Kids See Ghosts - 7.1/10



142. Everything We Need - 7.1/10



141. No Mistakes - 7.1/10

[JSparksFan]

140. Cudi Montage - 7.1/10



139. On God - 7.1/10



138. Real Friends - 7.2/10



137. Closed on Sunday - 7.2/10



136. Fade - 7.2/10



135. Champion - 7.2/10



134. Wolves - 7.2/10



133. Famous - 7.2/10



132. Wouldn't Leave - 7.2/10



131. Yikes - 7.2/10

[JSparksFan]

130. Drunk and Hot Girls - 7.2/10



129. The Glory - 7.2/10



128. Two Words - 7.2/10



127. Gotta Have It - 7.3/10



126. Hell of a Life - 7.3/10



125. Bound 2 - 7.3/10



124. Facts - 7.3/10



123. Can't Tell Me Nothing - 7.4/10



122. Breathe in Breathe Out - 7.4/10



121. Celebration - 7.4/10

[JSparksFan]

120. God Breathed - 7.4/10



119. Say You Will - 7.5/10



118. Ok Ok - 7.5/10



117. Hold My Liquor - 7.5/10



116. Street Lights - 7.5/10



115. On Sight - 7.5/10



114. RoboCop - 7.5/10



113. My Way Home - 7.5/10



112. Devil in a New Dress - 7.5/10



111. So Appalled - 7.5/10

[JSparksFan]

110. Keep My Spirit Alive - 7.5/10



109. Future Sounds - 7.5/10



108. Heavy Hitters - 7.5/10



107. New Day - 7.5/10



106. FML - 7.5/10



105. Send It Up - 7.5/10



104. Good Morning - 7.5/10



103. We Can Make It Better - 7.5/10



102. Guilt Trip - 7.6/10



101. Hurricane - 7.6/10

[JSparksFan]

It's time for the main event, but just before I drop the first batch, let's see from where my top 100 Kanye songs are sourced.

Donda: 18
Watch the Throne: 14
The College Dropout: 12
Late Registration: 12
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: 9
808s & Heartbreak: 9
Graduation: 8
Unreleased: 6
Yeezus: 4
The Life of Pablo: 3
Jesus is King: 2
Kids See Ghosts: 2
Ye: 1

[JSparksFan]

100. Looking for Trouble (feat. Pusha T, CyHi the Prince, Big Sean, & J. Cole)

Take off that Givenchy and let’s get raunchy
I'll have your face looking all Captain Crunch-y...
Didn’t play the cards I was dealt, I made the dealer re-shuffle...
Does he sound like 'Ye, Jay or Drizzy Drake? (Drizzy Drake)
Meanwhile I’m chillin’ with all these n*ggas, counting all this money you ain’t
Consider yourself lucky to see a legend before the prime
A killer before the crime, a B.I.G. before the dying
Greet me with a middle finger when you see me
It’s cool 'cause I can’t see yo ass from this side of the TV, motherf*cker!...
Your shoes too big too fill? I can barely squeeze my toes in ‘em...
Yo’ bitch invited me inside her, ain’t I supposed to c*m?

With five emcees on this track, "Looking for Trouble" should feel crowded, but each of the five men do a decent job and there's a good mix of energies here - measured earnestness from Pusha, raw sexuality from Ye, persevering pride from CyHi, rapid-fire speed and playfulness from Sean, and no-holds-barred passion from Cole. Most hip/hop heads seem to think J. Cole washed everyone on this, but I don't think anyone got bodied; it's moreso whatever your preferred flavour is is what you'll gravitate to on this track. 7.6/10

099. All Mine (feat. Ant Clemons & Ty Dolla $ign)

If I pull up with a Kerry Washington
That's gon' be an enormous scandal...
I love your titties 'cause they prove
I can focus on two things at once

The singular 'Ye' representative, which means that LP was almost not represented in the top 100, "All Mine" opens with this fake-out piano instrumental and segues sharply into an edgier, more raunchy beat. Because I can appreciate low-hanging pop culture references, I'm 100% here for that Scandal line and because I have an immature side, the titties line makes me scream. There's a playfulness on this that I really like. It's the best song from his worst album. 7.6/10

098. School Spirit

I'mma make sure these light-skinned n*ggas
Never ever never come back in style

Interpolating Aretha Franklin's "Spirit in the Dark", this is a cut from Ye's debut album that showcased early his penchant for fusing soul with hip/hop. The "light-skinned n*ggas" lyric is my favourite and makes me laugh because if only Ye knew that Aubrey would be helming hip/hop a decade later. 7.6/10

097. Made in America (feat. Frank Ocean)

Sweet King Martin, sweet Queen Coretta
Sweet Brother Malcolm, sweet Queen Betty
Sweet Mother Mary, sweet Father Joseph, sweet Jesus
We made it in America, sweet baby Jesus, ooh
Oh sweet baby Jesus, we made it in America...
N*ggas hustle every day for a beat from Ye
What I do? Turn around gave them beats to Jay
And I'm rapping on the beats they was supposed to buy
I guess I'm getting high off my own supply

Jay-Z's rap here is clunky, so for me he's the odd man out as Ye delivers a half-decent verse and Frank Ocean steals the show on the bridge. 7.6/10

096. I Wonder

You can still be who you wish you is
It ain't happen yet
And that's what the intuition is...
And I'm back on my grind
A psychic read my lifeline
Told me in my lifetime
My name would help light up the Chicago skyline...
How many ladies in the house without a spouse
Something in your blouse got me feeling so aroused

The Killers had several tracks on their 'Pressure Machine' album that spoke to reconciling the life that might've been with the life that actually is, and "I Wonder" is Ye's contribution to that theme. Of course, given his unparalleled self-confidence, his has a more optimistic slant. "I Wonder" is one of Ye's top three 'Graduation' tracks, but it isn't one of mine (though one of his three is). 7.6/10

[JSparksFan]

095. Praise God (feat. Travis Scott)

Even if you are not ready for the day, it cannot always be night...
Kept it real tight like yo' son

The best line in "Praise God" isn't from Kanye or Travis; it's an excerpt from a speech Kanye's mother gave, which was sourced by renowned poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African-American to win a Pulitzer Prize. It's interesting to have an entire song be made by a singular line by a poet, but that's the case with this song. Technically, Baby Keem is on this, but I haven't credited him because I'd really he rather not be. 7.6/10

094. Junya, Pt. 2 (feat. Playboi Carti & Ty Dolla $ign)

Born in Atlanta, mmh, mmh
Not Montana, mmh, mmh
'Scuse my manners, mmh, mmh
I got standards

I prefer this version of "Junya" because I appreciate the addition of Ty Dolla $ign. Lyrically, this isn't Kanye's finest moment as the top lyric is really just a shout-out to A-town, but the beat is good and even the title of the track makes it a standout. 7.7/10

093. Touch the Sky (feat. Lupe Fiasco)

I gotta testify
Come up in the spot looking extra fly
'Fore the day I die, I'mma touch the sky...
Any pessimists, I ain't talk to them
Plus I ain't have no phone in my apart-a-ment...
Jay favorite line, "Dawg, in due time"
Now he look at me, like, "Damn, dawg, you where I am"
A hip-hop legend
I think I died in that accident, 'cause this must be Heaven!...
Before anybody wanted K. West beats
Me and my girl split the buffet at KFC
Dog, I was havin' nervous breakdowns
Like, "Man, these niggas that much better than me?"

One of the most upbeat songs in Ye's catalogue, "Touch the Sky" is high-spirited optimism that's about as dancefloor-ready as anything else he's done. The bars are fire here, as much as they're delivered with a confident ease, and I think it's ageing remarkably. Fun fact - Evel Knievel sued Kanye for the use of his image in the "Touch the Sky" video, but decided to drop the charges after meeting Kanye saying, “he was a wonderful guy and quite a gentleman." So that's that for anyone who claims Ye lacks charm. 7.8/10

092. Big Brother

J-a-y and Ye so shy
Now he won't even step to his idol to say hi
Standing there like a mime and let the chance pass by
Back of my mind he could change your life
With all these beats I did at least let him hear it
At least you could brag to your friends back at the gig
But he got me out my mama crib
Then he help me get my mama a crib...
But to be number one, I'mma beat my brother
On that Diamonds remix I swore I'd spaz
Then my big brother came through and kicked my ass
Sibling rivalry, only I could see
It was the pride in me that was driving me
At the Grammys I said I inspired me
But my big brother who I always tried to be...
My big brother was Big's brother
So here's a few words from your kid brother
If you admire somebody you should go ahead and tell um
People never get the flowers while they could still smell um
A idol in my eyes, God of the game
Heart of the city, Rockafella chain
Never be the same, never be another
Number one young Hov also my big brother

"Big Brother" is one of many reasons Kanye is my favourite male rapper. It's essentially a heartfelt letter of appreciation to Jay-Z and for him to put this on an album at the height of his fame is just so antithetical to the hyper-machisimo prevalent in hip/hop culture. It's one of many 'rules' Kanye broke throughout his career that I respect him for. 7.8/10

091. Everything I Am

Damn
Here we go again
Common passed on this beat, I made it to a jam
But everything I'm not made me everything I am...
I'll never be picture-perfect Beyoncé...
You see how I played a big role in Chicago like Queen Latifah
I never rock a mink coat in the winter time like Killa Cam
Or rock some mink boots in the summer time like will.i.am...
And I'm back to tear it up
Haters start your engines, I hear 'em gearing up
People talk so much shit about me in barbershops
They forget to get they haircut
Okay, fair enough the streets is flaring up
'Cause they want gun talk or I don't wear enough
Baggy clothes, Reebok's or Adidas
Can I add that he do spazz out at his shows
So say goodbye to the NAACP awards
Goodbye to the India Arie awards
They rather give me the n-n*gga please award
But I'll just take the I got a lot of cheese award...
I know people wouldn't usually rap this
But I got the facts to back this
Just last year, Chicago had over 600 caskets
Man killing's some wack shit

"Everything I Am" is essentially Ye's declaration that despite the essence of who he is being so different from the public personas represented and celebrated in celebria, it's precisely because of those rough edges that he broke the mould and became the massive success he ended up becoming. Honestly, the barbershop lyric is my favourite because it's so true! Many a time I've been to a barbershop and hip/hop debates can be so intense, the guys stop cutting my hair for a bit to fully engage! 7.8/10

[JSparksFan]

090. Gone (feat. Cam'ron & Consequence)

You a big L, and I ain't talkin 'bout Cool J...
Says she want diamonds, I took her to Ruby Tuesdays...
Even your superficial raps is super official...
I'm ahead of my time, sometimes years out
So the powers that be won't let me get my ideas out
And that make me want to get my advance out
And move to Oklahoma and just live at my aunt's house...
They got a new bitch, now you Jennifer Aniston

Built around an Otis Redding sample, there are several clever lines on "Gone". By Kanye's standards, it's a rather light song and I love its moderate pace as it's perfect for easy listening. 7.8/10

089. We Major (feat. Really Doe, Tony Williams, & Nas)

I survived the livest n*ggas around
Lasted longer than more than half of you clowns
Look, I used to cook before I had the game took
Either way my change came like Sam Cooke

The best lines on "We Major" actually belong to Nas. Interestingly enough, despite their feud, Jay-Z has actually referred to this as his favourite 'Late Registration' track. 7.8/10

088. Spaceship (feat. GLC & Consequence)

I've been workin' this grave shift and I ain't made shit
I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly past the sky...
But let some Black people walk in
I bet they show off their token blackie
Oh now they love Kanye, let's put him all in the front of the store
Saw him on break next to the "No Smoking" sign with a blunt in the mall...
Lock yourself in a room doin' five beats a day for three summers

"Spaceship" showcases pre-fame Ye rapping about the hustle it took to get him to the long-awaited 'College Dropout' debut. That 5-4-3 wordplay on verse one is brilliant. 7.8/10

087. No More Parties in LA (feat. Johnny Watson, Junie Morrison, Ghostface Killah, Larry Graham, & Kendrick Lamar)

Um, well cutie, I like your bougie booty
Come Erykah Badu me, well, let's make a movie...
I'm too Black, I'm too vocal, I'm too flagrant...
She brace herself and hold my stomach, good dick'll do that
She keep pushin' me back, good dick'll do that
She push me back when the dick go too deep
This good dick'll put your ass to sleep

Ye and K-Lamar apparently have 40+ songs together, but "No More Parties in LA" is the only one that's been publicly released. In my view, it's at least two minutes lengthier than it needs to be, but it's a grower and features some pretty sexy claims from Ye. 7.8/10

086. Jonah (feat. Vory & Lil Durk)

Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need the demons to be gone...
I hope you're here when I need the demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own

Outbarred by Lil Durk and outhighlighted by Vory, "Jonah" sees Ye playing very much a supporting role to the featured acts on the track. This song serves as a tribute to Jonah Ware, a 19-year-old rapper who was shot and killed in 2020. 7.8/10

[JSparksFan]

085. Why I Love You (feat. Mr. Hudson)

Ooooh, I love you so
But why I love you, I'll never know...
P-p-p-paranoia, 'cause the nigga that said he'll
Blast for ya is now blastin' for ya
That's an assassin for ya
These n*ggas got a shot, they'll shoot
Please Lord, forgive him
For these n*ggas not know what they do, ooh

I love the start-and-finish arrangement of the verses with Jay and Ye. 7.8/10

084. 24

Twenty-four hours
Twenty-four candles
Twenty-four hours

A tribute to legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant, this is one of a good many gospel-influenced songs in Ye's catalogue. 7.8/10

083. Saint Pablo

My wife said, I can't say no to nobody
And at this rate we gon' both die broke
Got friends that ask me for money knowin' I'm in debt
And like my wife said, I still didn't say no...
The media said it was outlandish spendin'
The media said he's way out of control
I just feel like I'm the only one not pretendin'
I'm not out of control, I'm just not in they control
I know I'm the most influential
That TIME cover was just confirmation
This generation's closest thing to Einstein
So don't worry about me, I'm fine...
Never listen to Hollywood producers
Don't stare at money too long, it's Medusa
The ultimate Gemini has survived
I wasn't supposed to make it past 25

A unique mix of unfiltered confidence and insecurity, "Saint Pablo" is one of several songs that do well to represent the walking juxtaposition that is Ye. This has one of the strongest 'Life of Pablo' melodies and flows. 7.8/10

082. Off the Grid (feat. Playboi Carti & Fivio Foreign)

When you from the bottom and you work your hardest
To get the top, then they gotta respect it
If you got a voice, then you gotta project it
If you got a wrong, then you gotta correct it
If you got a name, you gotta protect it
If you give me shock, then you gotta electric

One of the catchier 'Donda' moments, "Off the Grid" stands out on a most crowded LP. 7.9/10

081. Addiction

What's your addiction? Is it money? Is it girls? Is it weed?
I've been afflicted by not one, not two, but all three

Featuring a clever interpolation of Etta James's "My Funny Valentine", "Addiction" sees Kanye lamenting on his vices. 7.9/10

[JSparksFan]

080. The Joy

I never understood planned parenthood
Cause I never met nobody plan to be a parent in the hood...
Nah, you aint listen, they Black, they sisters
They momma, named them after white bitches

There are some lines here that showcase Kanye's humour, which I sometimes like, but the pace of the song is overly glacial. 7.9/10

079. 4th Dimension

She said I'm going too fast, I'm exhausted
Now drop to your knees for the offerin'

The way that innocent and cheerful Christmas tune "What Will Santa Claus Say" is distorted to give way to this dark and edgy hip/hop bop is brilliant. It's such a sudden shift, it's jarring, and the way the sample is kept in the background throughout is a fantastic touch. There are no missteps on the arrangement of this track. 7.9/10

078. That's My Bitch

Put some coloured girls in the MoMA
Half these broads ain't got nothing on Willona
Don't make me bring Thelma in it
Bring Halle, bring Penélope and Salma in it, uh
Back to my Beyoncés, you deserve three stacks word to Andre

It doesn't happen often, but Jay outshines Ye here. The refrain is rather catchy, too. 7.9/10

077. Come to Life

Night is always darkest 'fore the dawn
Gotta make my mark 'fore I'm gone
I don't wanna die alone, I don't wanna die alone

Ye yet again in his gospel bag, "Come to Life" features some heartfelt and vulnerable moments from the hip/hop king. The relationship woes reflected are easily accessible. 7.9/10

076. Welcome to the Jungle

I asked her where she wanna be when she twenty-five
She turned around and looked at me and said, "Alive"

The electro-pop beat on this is very 2011. 7.9/10

[JSparksFan]

075. Get 'Em High (feat. Talib Kweli & Common)

I'm so Chi that you thought I was bashful...
They say hip-hop is dead, I'm here to resurrect me

Armed with a groovy-bounce melody, "Get 'Em High" features some grade A cadence from Ye and some cute wordplay, but none of the emcees really drop tier one lyrics here. 7.9/10

074. Pure Souls (feat. Roddy Ricch)

Life change when you famous
I remember back before the chains, we was nameless
Went through stages just to hop on new stages

Another song with gospel influence, this one features some decent bars, but the outro is wholly unnecessary and repetitive - it could've been chorusised instead of being clumsily inserted at the end. 7.9/10

073. Crack Music (feat. The Game & Malik Yusef)

How we stop the Black Panthers?
Ronald Reagan cooked up an answer
You hear that? What Gil Scott was hearin'
When our heroes or heroines got hooked on heroin
Crack raised the murder rate in D.C. and Maryland
We invested in that, it's like we got Merrill lynched
And we been hangin' from the same tree ever since
Sometimes I feel the music is the only medicine
So we, cook it, cut it, measure it, bag it
Sell it, the fiends cop it, nowadays they can't tell if
That's that good shit, we ain't sure man
Put the CD on your tongue, yeah that's pure man...
Our Father, give us this day, our daily bread
Before the feds give us these days and take our daily bread
See I done did all this old bullshit
And to atone, I throw a little somethin' somethin' on the pulpit
We took that shit, measured it and then cooked that shit
And what we gave back was crack music
And now we ooze it through they nooks and crannies
So our mommas ain't got to be they cooks and nannies
And we gon' repo everything they ever took from granny
Now the former slaves trade hooks for Grammys
This dark diction has become America's addiction
Those who ain't even black use it
We gon' keep baggin' up this here crack music

Though it doesn't feature the most palatable melody, "Crack Music" is bookended by some incredible verses. This was during an era where Ye's political awareness was a lot better guided than it's been in years past and I love how Malik Yusef ends the song speaking to the cyclical nature of "crack music" and its influence in the community. The dollars made glorifying the same dangerous drugs prevalent in hip/hop culture are then filtered into community service organizations, like the church, though the 'good' is merely a fraction of the harm caused. 7.9/10

072. Reborn

Very rarely do you catch me out
Y'all done "specially invited guest"'d me out
Y'all been tellin' jokes that's gon' stress me out
Soon as I walk in, I'm like "Let's be out"
I was off the chain, I was often drained
I was off the meds, I was called insane
What a awesome thing, engulfed in shame
I want all the rain, I want all the pain
I want all the smoke, I want all the blame
Cardio audio, let me jog your brain
Caught in the Audy Home, we was all detained
All of you Mario, it's all a game...
I had my issues, ain't that much I could do
But, peace is something that starts with me, with me
At times, wonder my purpose
Easy then to feel worthless

The top track from 'Kids See Ghosts', which becomes the second LP after 'Ye' to have all its tracks fall, is a well-written and -delivered song from Ye. Both he and Kid Cudi had certain 'priors' from which they wished to grow and learn, and this song serves as a raw and subdued pledge to "moving forward". The outro does belabour the point, though. 7.9/10

071. See Me Now (feat. Beyoncé, Charlie Wilson, & Big Sean)

Yeah, uh, now I'mma need you to kill the hypocrisy
This is an aristocracy
I'm Socrates, but my skin more chocolatey...
And if you fall on the concrete, that's your ass fault
If you pass on a Kan' beat, that's your last fault...
Lyrically, can't none of y'all murder 'Ye
Cause y'all raps ain't got no vertebrae

"See Me Now" has such a spright melody. It's a solid song on which to deluxe-end its fantastic parent album. 7.9/10

[Plym]

hm, ive never heard of see me now, lemme seek it and subscribe to this thread

[JSparksFan]

hm, ive never heard of see me now, lemme seek it and subscribe to this thread

It's not in the same league as some of its sister tracks, but it's pretty decent.

[JSparksFan]

070. LA Monster

It's the ugliest nightmare born from the prettiest dreams
Millions of people tryin' to get on the scene
And everyone sellin' their souls, everyone sellin' their...
Everyone sayin' they woke
But they sleepwalkin', dead, eyes closed
L.A. monster
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Lord, save these people, they asleep
They lettin' Satan run they streets
Lord, save us from
L.A. monster...
It gives false hope and eats them whole
Zip up your nest full, all still broke

Lyrically, this song is a solid B+, but you can tell it's an unpolished demo as it's essentially those quoted lines repeated several times. Sonically, this sounds like it was intended for '808s & Heartbreak'. If this were fully fleshed out, it would've been dangerous. 7.9/10

069. Lord I Need You

Too many complaints made it hard for me to think
Would you shut up? I can't hear myself drink...
You had a Benz at sixteen, I could barely afford a Audi
How you gon' try to say sometimes it's not about me?
The devil run the playground, but God own the buildin'
Time and silence, a luxury
Cussin' at your baby mama, guess that's why they call it custody

One of a good number of gospel-influenced songs in Ye's catalogue, I love "Lord I Need You" for not overstaying its welcome. It has a basic but solid melody, clever and emotional bars, then it's over. No frills. No unnecessary extensions. Just does its job and ends. 8/10

068. Who Gon Stop Me

This is something like the Holocaust
Millions of our people lost...
No brakes, I need, State Farm
So many watches I need eight arms
One neck but got eight charms...
Heard Yeezy was racist, well, I guess it's on one basis
I only like green faces...
Y'all weed purple, my money purple
Y'all Steve Urkel, I'm Oprah's circle

It's not often that I like a rap song for its beat as much as I do its lyrics, but that's the case with "Who Gon Stop Me". As a pop lover, the synth-heavy beat is easily digestible and both Jay and Ye drop some smart bars here. 8/10

067. New Again

If I hit you with a "W-Y-D?"
You better not hit me with a "H-E-Y"
It better be like "Hiiii" with a bunch of I's
Or "Heyyyy" with a bunch of Y's

More gospel hip/hop from Ye, this one actually opens with a rather arrogant line, so much more in the rap vein than the church vein. There's also a lyric about repenting for the things that he'll "do again", which speaks to the hypocrisy of zealots that oftentimes raises my blood pressure. The gospel choir sounds great on this, though. 8/10

066. Life of the Party (feat. André 3000)

Hey, Miss Donda
You run into my mama, please tell her I said "Say something"
I'm startin' to believe ain't no such thing as Heaven's trumpets
No after-over, this is it, done
If there's a Heaven, you would think they'd let ya speak to your son
Maybe she has in the form of a baby's laugh
I heard passing by in a stroller reminding me, "Hey, keep rolling"
I don't know, maybe she has with a prick of a blade of grass
I've been laying on way too long, got me itchy
Got up and roamed a lil' more
Miss Donda, you see my mama, tell her I'm lost
You see, she'd always light a cigarette, we talk, I would cough
Exaggerating a lil' bit so she get the point
Tryna get her to stop smoking, I would leave and fire up a joint...
Man, that was a good choice, faith driving us like a Rolls Royce

With full respect to Ye, he's absolutely overshadowed on "Life of the Party" by André, though I did think it was clumsy of André to have such a sexually explicit verse as part of this tribute-to-mothers track. Still, as a mama's boy, this song was always gonna be up my alley. I wondered why Ye opted to include that outro with DMX and his daughter. Maybe it's to show how being a parent humanises everyone. 8/10

[JSparksFan]

065. Amazing

No matter what, you'll never take that from me
My reign is as far as your eyes can see, it's amazing

Well within the sombre space of its parent album, "Amazing" laments on both the monumental achievements Ye racked up at this point of his career as well as touches on the deep familial and romantic losses he coped with at the height of his success. To the latter end, the overuse of the term "amazing" moves to a point of sarcasm. 8/10

064. Dark Fantasy

Stupid, but what the hell do I know?
I'm just a Chi-town nigga with a Nas flow
Too many Urkels on your team, that's why your wins low...
At the mall, there was a séance
Just kids, no parents
Then the sky filled with herons
(I saw the devil) in a Chrysler LeBaron
And the hell, it wouldn't spare us
And the fires did declare us
But after that, took pills, kissed an heiress
And woke up back in Paris

On the latter pair of heartbreak/sombre LPs, "Dark Fantasy" delves into the toxic side of fame. According to record producer No I.D., this song actually went through several acts, include Jay-Z and Drake, before it inevitably ended up in Ye's hands. 8/10

063. Mama's Boyfriend

He walked in our lives
I was only five
Superman pajamas I was super duper fly
Sitting here like why, he at least supersize
You know I scrutinise like who this newer guy
I'm my mama boyfriend I'm her little husband
I was the man of the house when there wasn't...
You old Old Spice wearing
Short chain wearing
Dress shoes and jogging pants wearing
Church sock wearing
When you first stop caring about your appearance

Is there an element of relatability here? Somewhat. The energy Ye expresses here is usually the energy I have for men who enter the lives of either of the pair of women close to me, though it's interesting how Ye's POV is 180'd 20 years later. The rock sample is a perfect match for the youthful possessiveness and annoyance expressed on the track. 8/10

062. Homecoming

She never messed with entertainers 'cause they always leave
She said it felt like they walked and drove on me
Knew I was gang affiliated, got on TV and told on me
I guess that's why last winter she got so cold on me
She said "'Ye, keep making that keep making that platinum and gold for me!"

A clever metaphorical ode to Chi-town, "Homecoming" seems to be a much-beloved song in Ye's catalogue that I do appreciate, but that I'm not overly fussed about. 8/10

061. Coldest Winter

Memories made in the coldest winter

One of several tribute songs to his mother, who, by this time, had passed away, "Coldest Winter" is a plain and raw track enveloped by instrumentation that rises and falls with the emotional peaks of the song. The drum use is great on this. 8/10

[JSparksFan]

060. Lift Off (feat. Beyoncé)

We gon' take it to the moon, take it to the stars
How many people you know can take it this far?
I'm supercharged
I'm 'bout to take this whole thing to Mars

I must say that Beyoncé’s refrain makes this song for me. Lyrically, this song isn’t anything special, but it’s so melodically warm. 8/10

059. Heaven and Hell

No more promos, no more photos
No more logos, no more chokeholds
We on Bezos, we get payrolls
Trips to Lagos, connect like LEGOs

I love the video for this song. I remember I watched it right after seeing Adele’s “Oh My God” video clip and thought what a superior visual artist Ye was to Adele. The outro here is kinda weird, though. 8/10

058. Welcome to Heartbreak

My friend showed me pictures of his kids
And all I could show him was pictures of my cribs
He said his daughter got a brand new report card
And all I got was a brand new sports car…
My god-sister getting married by the lake
But I couldn’t figure out who I wanna take
Bad enough that I showed up late
I had to leave before they even cut the cake

I love the emotion expressed in this song. So very often in life, you aggressively pursue one particular dream as it’s one that requires commitment and discipline, but when you climb that mountain, sometimes you find you’re there by yourself and you consider that perhaps in being so one-track-minded you pushed to the rear other personal goals you wished to achieve. That’s certainly where Ye was at during the penning of this track and I think it’s a wholly relatable position. It certainly is for me. 8/10

057. Flashing Lights (feat. Dwele)

She don't believe in shooting stars
But she believe in shoes and cars…
Damn, these n*ggas got me
I hate these n*ggas more than a Nazi…
Feeling like Katrina with no Fema
Like Martin with no Gina
Like a flight with no visa

“Flashing Lights” seems to have one of Ye’s most beloved beats. I like that it’s a pretty smooth track, with some decent lines, but it’s nothing particularly outstanding, just perfectly fine and solid, and without any missteps. 8/10

056. Love Lockdown

I'm not loving you, way I wanted to
What I had to do, had to run from you
I'm in love with you, but the vibe is wrong
And that haunted me, all the way home…
I can't keep my cool, so I keep it true
I got something to lose, so I gotta move
I can't keep myself, and still keep you too

One of his most successful singles, I remember “Love Lockdown” well. For me, the video is iconic as is that entire era, where Ye seemed to be the biggest emcee on the planet. In my view, this song’s major selling point is not its lyricism, melody, or autotuned vocals – it’s its emotion (though I do love the random animal sounds). It’s very heart-on-one’s-sleeve and though that doesn’t always work for me, it works for me here. It was such a cool moment when it came out, and it remains one of his more successful tracks to this day. 8/10

[Plym]

flashing lights would be my number 1

[JSparksFan]

flashing lights would be my number 1

It's a truly solid song, but it doesn't scream Ye to me.

[JSparksFan]

055. Late

Stop all your bloodclat cryin', I was flyin'...
Yeah, I hear the alarm, yeah, I hear you, Mom
Yeah, yeah, I don't wan' be broke when I'm thirty-one
They said the best classes go to the fastest, sorry, Mr. West
There's no good classes, and that's what yo' ass get
Not even electives? Not even prerequisites?
You mean I missed my major by a couple of seconds?
Now I'm in the shop class or the basket weavin'
With all the rest of the motherf*ckers underachievin'
Man, this is an insult
I went to junior high with all of them and they been slow...
Like them Eskimos, what would you do for a Klondike?
Or two d*kes that look Christina Milian-like?
Hmm, I'll be on time for that
I ain't thought of no line that could rhyme with that

One of the most mellow songs in Ye's discography, "Late" is the closing track on 'Late Registration' where Ye discusses his aversion to punctuality. I love the switch in the lyric, where he raps "I'll be on time for that" and then still turns up tardy for that one thing. 8/10

054. I am a God

Hurry up with my damn massage
Hurry up with my damn ménage
Get the Porsche out the damn garage...
Soon as they like you make 'em unlike you
'Cause kissing people ass is so unlike you
The only rapper who compared to Michael
So here's a few hating-ass n*ggas who'll fight you
And here's a few snake-ass n*ggas to bite you
I don't wanna hear what some n*ggas might do
Old niggas mentally still in high school
Since the tight jeans they never liked you
Pink-ass Polos with a f*cking backpack
But everybody know you brought real rap back

The beat on this is so dark and dramatic, exciting, intense, and interesting. Production-wise, it's among my favourite moments from him. 8/10

053. The New Workout Plan

And ladies if you follow these instructions exactly
You might be able to pull you a rapper, a NBA player
Man, at least a dude with a car
So, first of all, we gon' work on the stomach
Nobody wants a little tight ass...
Give head, stop, breathe, get up, check your weave...
It's a party tonight and ooh she's so excited
Tell me who's invited: you, your friends and my dick
(Ah!) What's scary to me is
Henny makes girls look like Halle Berry to me
So excuse me miss, I forgot your name
Thank you, God bless you, good night I came, I came, I came
It's been a week without me
And she feel weak without me
She wanna talk it out but
Ain't nothing to talk about
Unless she talk about freaking out
Then maybe we can work it out
Work it out, work it out...
Hi, my name is Jill, I just want to say thanks to Kanye's workout plan. I
Was able to pull a NBA player. And like now I shop every day on Rodeo
Drive. I just want to say, thank you Kanye! Woooo! Woooo! Woooo!
My name is Lasandra, and I just want to say that ever since listening to
Kanye's workout tape, I was able to get my phone bill paid, I got sounds
And 13's put up in my Cavalier and I was able to get a free trip to
Cancun. And what's most importantly is that I ain't gotta f*ck with
Ray-Ray's broke ass no more
My name is Ella-May from Mobile, Alabama, and I just want to say since
Listening to Kanye's workout tape, I been able to date outside the family,
I got a double wide, and I rode a plane, rode a plane, rode a plane
Thanks to Kanye's workout plan
I'm the envy of all my friends
See I pulled me a baller man
And I ain't gotta work at the mall again

Once upon a time, I held this song in much higher esteem, but it's grown off of me a bit over the years. The ladies' testimonials will always be this track's highlight for me, though. They are ridiculously hilarious! Apparently, Ye wanted this to be his debut single, but was advised against it. 8/10

052. New Slaves

My mama was raised in the era when
Clean water was only served to the fairer skin
Doin' clothes, you woulda thought I had help
But they wasn't satisfied unless I picked the cotton myself
You see it's broke n*gga racism
That's that "Don't touch anything in the store"
And it's rich n*gga racism
That's that "Come in, please buy more"...
Meanwhile the DEA
Teamed up with the CCA
They tryna lock niggas up
They tryna make new slaves
See that's that privately owned prison
Get your piece today
They prolly all in the Hamptons
Braggin' 'bout what they made
F*ck you and your Hampton house
I'll f*ck your Hampton spouse
Came on her Hampton blouse
And in her Hampton mouth
Y'all 'bout to turn shit up
I'm 'bout to tear shit down
I'm 'bout to air shit out
Now what the f*ck they gon' say now?

Not sure how Ye came across the Hungarian rock band Omega, but he must have felt "New Slaves" needed a rock edge to amplify the song's frustration, and it worked! 8/10

051. Black Skinhead

Four in the morning, and I'm zoning
They say I'm possessed, it's an omen
I keep it 300, like the Romans
300 bitches, where's the Trojans?

Much like "I am a God", "Black Skinhead" is high-intensity, frenetic expression from Ye. I love the arrangement as it's all those background moments and vocal distortions that really add to the value and excitement of this track. 8/10

[SholasBoy]

Homecoming is one that has grown on me in recent years. Flashing Lights has always been a favourite, it somehow feels dark and dramatic. Love Lockdown I like but the mash up with Pjanoo I love! New Workout Plan is fun, I still listen to it from time to time.

[JSparksFan]

Homecoming is one that has grown on me in recent years. Flashing Lights has always been a favourite, it somehow feels dark and dramatic. Love Lockdown I like but the mash up with Pjanoo I love! New Workout Plan is fun, I still listen to it from time to time.

I just played this and at first, it was a bit too busy for me, but I really ended up liking it!