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

[JSparksFan]

050. Primetime

Primetime, basking in the lime
Cassius in his prime, colouring out of the line
'Cause they don't want nobody that's coloured out of the lines
So I'm late as a ************, coloured people time
Damn Yeezy, they all gotta be dimes?
Well, Adam gave up a rib so mine better be prime

Jay has some cute wordplay with numbers on his verse, but Ye bodies him here, as I would've expected. 8/10

049. Believe What I Say

People sayin' tweetin' gonna make you die early
How 'bout have my heart hurtin'?
Hold it all inside, that could make you die early
Go on and get your best attorney
Something's there, feel it when I heard it...
How these n*ggas leaving now with one leg like Flo-Jo?
Nail me to the cross with long nails, like Coko

I love the Lauryn Hill sample and as a massive fan of athletics, I love the Flo-Jo reference, too. This is just a really good mellow jam from Ye. I hate the spoken outro, though. It's an annoying add-on with a condescending tone. 8/10

048. Gorgeous

Got caught with 30 rocks, the cop look like Alec Baldwin
Inter-century anthems based off inner-city tantrums
Based off the way we was branded
Face it, Jerome get more time than Brandon
And at the airport they check all through my bag
And tell me that it's random
But we stay winnin', this week has been a bad massage
I need a happy endin' and a new beginnin'
And a new fitted, and some job opportunities that's lucrative
This the real world, homie, school finished
They done stole your dreams, you dunno who did it
I treat the cash the way the government treats AIDS
I won't be satisfied 'til all my niggas get it, get it?
But this pimp is, at the top of Mount Olympus
Ready for the World's Game, this is my Olympics
We make 'em say hoe 'cause the game is so pimpish
Choke a South Park writer with a fishstick
I insisted to get up off this dick
And these drugs, niggas can't resist it
Remind me of when they tried to have Ali enlisted
If I ever wasn't the greatest n*gga, I must have missed it...
And what's a black Beatle anyway, a ****in' roach?
I guess that's why they got me sittin' in ****in' coach

This is one of his best-written songs. The bars stand tall and strong, but it's let down by the production, which is too mellow and contrasts too sharply with the lyrics. Also, because the song's three seconds shy of six minutes long, the first-gear melody drags. 8/10

047. Bring Me Down (feat. Brandy)

Besides what the pastor say, I have to say
Since Pac passed away
Most you rappers don't even deserve a track from me...
There'll always be haters, that's the way it is
Hater n*ggas marry hater bitches and have hater kids
But they gon' have to take my life 'fore they take my drive
'Cause when I was barely livin', that's what kept me alive
Just the thought that maybe it could be better than what we at at this time
Make it out of this grind, 'fore I'm out of my mind...
Spanish girls say, "Yo, no hablo inglés."
And everybody want to run to me for their sing-le
It's funny how these wack niggas need my help
Wasn't around when I couldn't feed myself...
Now I'll speak from the heart, y'all all frontin'
Everybody feel a way about K but at least y'all feel something!

Brandy sounds divine on the refrain and Kanye has some smart, funny bars here. And, as is generally the case, the passion is turned all the way up to 100. 8/10

046. Slow Jamz (feat. Twista & Jamie Foxx)

She got a light skinned friend look like Michael Jackson
Got a dark skinned friend look like Michael Jackson...
Now I gotta go up in it fast, but I'mma finish last
No matter how much of a thug you see

I actually think Ye was outrapped here by Twista. I love high-speed rapping. 8.1/10

[Plym]

love those last three alot!

[JSparksFan]

love those last three alot!

From three of his most beloved albums.

[JSparksFan]

045. Last Call

The all around the world Digital Underground Pac
The Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer of the Roc...
They expected that College Dropout to drop and then flop
Then maybe he stop savin' all the good beats for himself...
Now was Kanye the most overlooked? Yes sir
Now is Kanye the most overbooked? Yes sir
Though the fans want the feeling of A Tribe Called Quest
But all they got left is this guy called West...
Some say he arrogant. Can y'all blame him?
It was straight embarrassing how y'all played him
Last year shoppin my demo, I was tryin' to shine
Every motherf*cker told me that I couldn't rhyme
Now I could let these dream killers kill my self-esteem
Or use my arrogance as the steam to power my dreams
I use it as my gas, so they say that I'm gassed
But without it I'd be last, so I ought to laugh
So I don't listen to the suits behind the desk no more...
I ain't play the hand I was dealt, I changed my cards
I prayed to the skies and I changed my stars

"Last Call" is essentially a nearly 13-minute victory lap on a young emcee's debut album where he's forecasting him 'making it' before receipt of evidence that he's actually 'made it' (at least on a large-scale mainstream level). You've gotta admire the audacity - the audacity of hope, as a certain US president might call it. Admittedly, the extended story Ye tells for nine minutes on this makes this track far more bloated than it needs to be. It's somewhat self-indulgent. But given everything, I get it. 8.1/10

044. Murder to Excellence

And I'm from the murder capital where they murder for capital
Heard about at least three killings this afternoon
Looking at the news like, "Damn! I was just with him after school"
No shop class, but half the school got a tool
And a "I could die any day"-type attitude
Plus his little brother got shot reppin' his avenue
It's time for us to stop and redefine Black power
Forty-one souls murdered in fifty hours…
Is it genocide?
'Cause I can still hear his mama cries
Know the family traumatized
Shots left holes in his face about piranha-sized
The old pastor closed the cold casket
And said the church ain't got enough room for all the tombs
It's a war going on outside we ain't safe from
I feel the pain in my city wherever I go
314 soldiers died in Iraq, 509 died in Chicago…
I arrived on the day Fred Hampton died
Uh, real niggas just multiply
And they say by 21, I was supposed to die
So I'm out here celebrating my post-demise
In the past if you picture events like a black tie
What's the last thing you expect to see? Black guys
What's the life expectancy for Black guys?
The system's working effectively, that's why

A song split into two parts – murder and excellence – this one I love for its deeply engaging beat, which rolls from one interesting series of melodies to another. Lyrically, there are some stark statistics presented in Ye’s verses and some clever, deep references in Jay’s. 8.1/10

043. Family Business

Who knew that life would move this fast?
Who knew I'd have to look at you through a glass?
And look, you tell me you ain't did it, then you ain't did it
And if you did, then that's family business…
Grandma, get 'em shook up
Aw naw, don't open the photo book up
I got an Aunt Ruth that can't remember your name
But I bet them Polaroids'll send her down memory lane…
Act like you ain't took a bath with your cousins
Fit three in the bed while six of y'all
I'm talkin' 'bout three by the head and three by the leg
But you ain't have to tell my girl I used to pee in the bed

A warm ode to familial bonds and connections, this one is soulful both lyrically and sonically. 8.1/10

042. Use This Gospel (feat. Kenny G)

Honestly, I don’t care for a single word on this track. The magic’s all in Kenny G’s sax solo, which are some of the most divine 35 seconds I’ve ever heard in my life. 8.1/10

041. Slave Name (feat. Ant Clemons)

Saint, you don't really need a last name
North, you don't really need a last name
And Chicago, yo, they lost, but we not bought

There’s a lot of emotion in this one, a good bit on the surface and even more beyond the veil. There’s a tonne of erasure of identity for many folks with African roots and that shout-out to his kids about not needing a last name is really powerful. 8.2/10

[JSparksFan]

040. Illest Motherf**ker Alive

Damn, baby, p*ssy can't be your only hustle
Unless you bad as Naomi Russell...
Bulletproof condom when I'm in these hoes...
King Hov, I'm exactly what the f*ck you think
Eleven in a row, Bill Russell rings, Michael Jordan swag
Y'all think Michael Jordan bad
Nigga I got a 5 more rings than Michael Jordan had
Elvis has left the building now I'm on the Beatles ass...
Bey' Bey' my Yoko Ono,
Rih' Rih' complete the family
Imagine how that's gon' look front row at the Grammys

I'll never understand the three-minute-long silence at the beginning of this track - wholly unnecessary, in my view. However, once the song does get going, it's pretty good. Solid beat, great lyrics, it's a reliable banger from a solid album. 8.2/10

039. Jesus Lord, Pt. 2

Sittin' by myself, I'm just thinkin'
About all I've been through, I wish I was dreamin'
Man, it's hard to be an angel when you surrounded by demons (Jesus, Lord)
I watched so many people leave
I see 'em change by the season, that's mama's seasonin'
God got you, the devil's watchin', he just peekin' in
I know I made a promise that I'd never let the reaper in (Jesus)
But lately, I've been losin' all my deepest friends (Lord)
And lately, I've been swimmin' on the deepest end
It's just drugs, it ain't no hugs, it ain't no love there
You been down so much you don't even know what's upstairs
Suicidal thoughts got you wonderin' what's up there (Jesus, Lord)
And while I introduce the party, they say it's up there
Too many pills, so much potions, so much pain, too many emotions
And everything that you do good, it just go unnoticed (Jesus)
Then they tell you that you good and just stay focused (Lord)
Mama, you was the life of the party
I swear you brought life to the party
When you lost your life, it took the life out the party (Jesus)
That woman rode with me like a Harley (Lord)
Visions of my cousins in a cell really scarred me
Movin' to the hood was like signin' up for the army
'Cause they been killin' n- since n- was watchin' Barney (Jesus)
You want dreams to come true? But I have nightmares (Lord)
'Cause if that come to life, then I might not be right here
Been in the dark so long, don't know if the light here
But I'm just reachin' for the stars like Buzz Lightyear (Jesus)
And now I'm light years ahead of those nightmares (Lord)
I deaded those night terrors when the night clears
And if I talk to Christ, can I bring my mother back to life?
And if I die tonight, will I see her in the afterlife? (Jesus)
But back to reality where everything's a tragedy (Lord)
And better have a strategy or you could be a statistic
Little boy dies, he's just one of the mystic
And mama steady cryin' 'cause she really the victim (Jesus)
Now she's gettin' high and she's gettin' addicted (Lord)
And her older boy just stuck with the picture, painted vivid
That's a family portrait and her daughter just absorbed it
16, pregnant, baby daddy say she should abort it (Jesus)
But we can't afford it, so she decides to move forward (Lord)
Baby shower time, father didn't show up
Now she just feelin' nauseous like she finna throw up
The water flows down her legs, yeah, it's finna go up (Jesus)
A year done went by, her daughter just turned one (Lord)
And she's still dependent on her mom
Big brother in the streets, he went and bought him a gun
He want revenge 'cause the pain, feelin' numb (Jesus)
And her mom still doin' drugs 'cause that's the only time she feel loved (Lord)
But is it real love? Do the scars really heal up?
From all the pain that been built up, but they don't feel us (Jesus)
A week done flew by, big bro ridin' then he see the guys (Lord)
Left his little brother on the side, bleedin' from the side
He seein' red, it's like he's bleedin' through his eyes
To see him dead, the only thing that'll help the grievin' up inside (Jesus)
He even let him get they last meal (Lord)
He done with the streets after this, this his last kill
He gotta show him that it's that real
He ran up on him with the pipe like, "N-, stand still" (Jesus)
"You took my brother life, you made my mother cry" (Lord)
"Tell me one reason I shouldn't send you up to Christ"
He said, "Go 'head, take my life, I've seen everything but Christ"
The big bro just blacked out and all you seein' was the light (Jesus, Lord)
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)
The beneficent, the merciful (Hallelujah)
Thank you for bringin' me up the rough side of the mountain like Ertuğrul (Jesus)
Every knee bowed and every tongue confessed and paid homage (Lord)
To the monk who visited Rothschilds like Thelonious did Pannonica (sheesh)
It's Jay Elec-entendre-nica comin' through your monitor
Back from the great beyond, the Son of Man and the son of Donda (Jesus)
I never rolled the GXSR or the R6 or the Honda (Lord)
But I flew my Ducati through North America like Wakanda
Earthquakes will strike this nation for what Bush did to Rwanda (facts)
What the Clintons did to Haiti and Downing Street did to Ghana
In Tenochtitlan they call me Terremoto, El Negro Loco (Jesus)
I shake the tectonic plates of the game if I lay one vocal (Lord)
The God is interstellar while you fellas remain local
My bars is like the pyramid temples of Pacal Votan (Jesus)
As sure as the DOJ confirmed Ezekiel's Wheel (Lord)
I could change the world like Yacub with two pieces of steel
My sword and my microphone, I swore to the Christ's throne
But when you great, they wanna say you took an L, José Castillo (Jesus)
I'm in the fight here, fight here, for what seemed like light years (Lord)
My rugged cross and thorny crowns squeeze out Christ tears
30 pieces of silver clout, my Pierre price tier
It's a war outside, it's a war outside (Jesus)
It's like the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah outside (Lord)
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)
We've been through a lot of things
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)
He lives in a lot of things
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)
Been through a lot of things
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)...
What up, Ye? This Larry Hoover Jr.
First and foremost, I wanna thank you
For taking the fight for my father to the Oval Office
You might not have been the only one that could've did that
But you were the one that did do that
And with your assistance
We can continue to let the world take part in this fight
You know to me it kinda feels like, me, my mother, my brothers
And my kids have all been incarcerated through this journey
And we haven't even been to jail
We've been looked at and treated as criminals, for being a part of this family
My father's truth and the reality that he raised me in
Is that he wanted to make a change in this community
'Cause the conditions in this capitalist society
Is what made him, and it's what made the children of today
After 25 years of bein' locked down, 23 and 1
My father has not called any shots
From one of the most secure and segregated prisons in the world
And will not, once released
Call any of the shots for the Gangster Disciples
If my father's intentions were to lead us to death, destruction
Into the hell that he has had to live in for the past 26 years
Man, he would be dead to me
I didn't sign up for that
I didn't stay on this journey this long for that
All my life, man, I've been waitin' for my father to come home
They told me when I graduate eighth grade, he would be home
Then they told me when I graduate from high school, he would be home
I went away to Morris Brown, I graduated and he still ain't home
Now I'm a adult, and my daughter went away to college and graduated
He still not home
Now even more than that, my son
He graduated eighth grade and we still waitin'
Matter of fact, he hasn't hugged
Kissed, or touched any of his grandchildren
And they haven't been able to touch they grandfather
Even though it is not seen that way for some of us
But for many of us, Larry Hoover is a beacon of hope for his community
Who deserves to breathe free air
Free my father (Jesus), Mr. Larry Hoover Sr. (Lord)

This version of "Jesus Lord" has all the essential parts of my preferred version...plus three verses that I'm glad were axed in the non-part-two version. 8.2/10

038. Otis

Now I'm 'bout to make them tuck they whole summer in
They say I'm crazy, well, I'm 'bout to go dumb again...
Throw your diamonds up 'cause we in this bitch another 'gain...
Photoshoot fresh, looking like wealth
I'm 'bout to call the paparazzi on myself...
I made "Jesus Walks", I'm never going to hell...
Luxury rap, the Hermčs of verses
Sophisticated ignorance, write my curses in cursive
I get it custom, you a customer
You ain't 'customed to going through Customs, you ain't been nowhere, huh?
And all the ladies in the house, got 'em showing off
I'm done, I'll hit you up mańa-, nah

Featuring an interesting interpolation of Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness", "Otis" features some clever verses and grade A pride from both gentlemen. 8.2/10

037. Jail (feat. Jay-Z)

Priors, priors, do you have any priors?
Well, that one time, I'll be honest
I'll be honest, we all liars
Let it go

I like the beat on this more than any of the actual verses. Jay gives a shockingly pedestrian verse here. Much like the other 'Donda' song in this set, there's another version of this song that I prefer. 8.2/10

036. I'm in It

Damn, your lips very soft
As I turn my Blackberry off
And I turn your bathwater on
And you turn off your iPhone
Careless whispers, eye ****in', bitin' ass
Neck, ears, hair, legs, eating ass
Your p*ssy's too good, I need to crash
Your titties, let 'em out, free at last
Thank God almighty, they free at last
We was up at the party but we was leavin' fast
Had to stop at 7-Eleven like I needed gas
I'm lyin', I needed condoms, don't look through the glass
Chasin' love, all the bittersweet hours lost...
Tell your boss you need an extra hour off
Get you super wet after we turn the shower off...
Uh, picked up where we left off
Uh, I need you home when I get off
Uh, you know I need that wet mouth
Uh, I know you need that reptile
Uh, she cut from a different textile
Uh, she love different kinds of sex now
Uh, black girl sippin' white wine
Put my fist in her like a civil rights sign
And grabbed it with a slight grind
And held it 'til the right time
Then she came like ah!

The vulgarity on this, the top 'Yeezus' track, is high and the arrangement is...a choice. Lyrically, Ye has some fantastic bars, but the bridge and the final verse are so oddly placed. I think this could've been a much better song with some elementary editing and maybe the sexual energy he was going for could've existed in an undiluted form. 8.2/10

[JSparksFan]

035. No Child Left Behind

This song is one with such a rich instrumental that I don't need to care at all for the sparse lyrics. 8.2/10

034. Drive Slow

He nicknamed me K-Rock so they'd leave me alone...
How'd he get the cash? The day his father passed away
Left him with a lil' somethin, 16 he was stuntin'
Al B. Sure n*gga with the hair all wavy
Hit Lake Shore, girls go all crazy
Hit the freeway, go at least 'bout eighty
Boned so much that summer, even had him a baby
With the girls a lotta flirtin' involved, but dawg
F**k all that flirtin', I'm tryna get in some drawers, so
Put me on with these hoes homie
He told me don't rush to get grown, drive slow homie

One of the most immediate 'Late Registration' gems for me, "Drive Slow" traverses well-worn territory with its advice to youth regarding not being in a rush to grow up. 8.2/10

033. Paranoid

Tell me right now
You really wanna spend your whole life alone?
A little time out might do you good, might do us good
Before we be done for good...
You wanna check in to the heartbreak hotel
But sorry we're closed

This one is catchy, with its videogame-esque melody. It's one of his most poppy tracks. 8.3/10

032. Christian Dior Denim Flow

I wonder how it feel in Lara Stone’s walls
Jessica Gomes, y'all, I would damage her
And see if Jessica Stam got the stamina...
Christian Dior denim flow
I told her I’m tryna eat out so what we going for dinner for

There are four other rappers on this track, but Ye outraps them all. Granted, his lines are basically a verbalisation of some wet dream fantasies, but it's well-written and delivered still. 8.3/10

031. See You in My Nightmares (feat. Lil Wayne)

I got the right, to put up a fight
But not quite, 'cause you cut off my light
But my sight, is better tonight
And I might, see you in my nightmare
Ooh, how did you get there?
'Cause we were once a fairytale
But this is farewell, yeah...
Baby girl I'm finished
I thought we were committed
I thought we were cemented
I really thought we meant it
But now we just repenting
And now we just resenting
The clouds is in my vision
Look how high that I be getting

I love the darkness of this track and Wayne actually 'out-passions' Ye here. I remember when '808s & Heartbreak' dropped, this was one of the songs I kept going back to because it had such an alluring melody and I was wholly impressed and shocked by how Wayne commanded it. It's held up well over the years. 8.3/10

[JSparksFan]

030. Ok Ok, Pt. 2 (feat. Shenseea)

Nuh trust any and any man (Any man)
Pree dem man, mi play along (Play along)
Watch how dem ah sing mi song
Suddenly dem tun ah fan
Aim with precision
Fi number one position
Write the plan, right my wrong
And look, now I'm the boss in charge
Used to talk down 'pon me, now me on top
Left mi inna struggle suh nuh badda come back
Tek mi fi granted, tek mi fi soft
And if yuh play hard
If yuh let me down, mi nah have nuh food fi give yuh, right? Yuh know mi lock di shop down
Mi did like when you show luv to mi face, then chat behind mi back
Nuh trust people, cyaan trust people
From dem eat the fruit, mankind tun evil
Get cut off, you will get cut off
Mi nuh cyar how much memories we have in the past
Yuh bruk up wid yuh ex, still in love, suh yuh single
Mi bruk up wid mi ex, him dead to me, I'm a widow

This part two version with Shenseea for me is so much better than the part one equivalent, which I relegated to bubbling under irrelevance. Shenseea adds a level of spice and excitement that the version with Lil Yachty lacked. I would've loved to have seen how this could've worked as a promoted single. 8.3/10

029. We Don't Care

Drug dealin' just to get by
Stackin' money 'till it get sky high
(Kids, sing, kids, sing)
We wasn't supposed to make it past 25
Joke's on you, we still alive
Throw your hands up in the sky and say
We don't care what people say
This is for my n*ggas outside all winter
Cause this summer they ain't finna'
Say next summer I'm finna'
Sittin' in the hood like community colleges
This dope money here is little Tre's scholarship
Cause ain't no tuition for having no ambition
And ain't no loans for sittin' your ass at home
So we forced to sell crack, rap, and get a job
You gotta do somethin' man, your ass is grown...
We put shit on layaway, then come back
We claim other people kids on our income tax...
You know the kids goin' act a fool
When you stop the programs for after school
And they DCFS, some of 'em dyslexic
They favourite 50 Cent song 12 questions
We scream, rock, blows, weed, park
See now we smart
We ain't r*tards, the way teachers thought
Hold up, hold fast, we make more cash
Now tell my momma I belong in that slow class
Bad enough we on welfare
They trying to put me on the school bus with the space for the wheelchair
I'm trying to get the car with the chromie wheels here
They trying to cut our lights out like we don't live here
Look what was handed us
Fathers abandoned us

The first track from Ye's first album - the title alone is a fantastic prelude to the energy the legend would give for the rest of his career - "We Don't Care" pairs a light and frivolous melody with some pretty hard-hitting subject matter. Ye's writing here is strong and the song wholly engages the listener. I love the inclusion of a children's choir on the refrain. The female vocal on this sounds suspiciously like Mariah Carey, but apparently it's Riccarda Watkins in supreme soprano flight. 8.3/10

028. Pinocchio Story

It's so crazy, crazy-crazy
I got everything figured out
But for some reason I can never find what real love is about...
There is no Gucci I can buy
There is no Louis Vuitton to put on
There is no Y.S.L. that they could sell
To get my heart, out of this hell
And my mind, out of this jail
There is no clothes that I could buy
That could turn, back in time
There is no vacation spot I could fly
That could bring back, a piece of real life
Real life, what does it feel like?
And there is no Gepetto, to guide me
No one, right beside me
The only one, was behind me
I can't find her no more, I can't follow no more
I can't
The only one that come out on the tour and stays
Back when I was livin' at home and this was all a big dream
And the fame will be get got
And the day I moved to L.A., maybe that was all my fault
All my fault to be a real boy, chasin' the American dream
Chasin' everything we seen, up on the TV screen
And when uh, the Benz was left, and the clothes was left
And the hoes was left, you talk the hoes to death
Thinkin' the money to death
You spend the dough to death
And tell me what be left, for a real boy!
They say "Kanye, you keep it too real boy"
Perspective, and wise man say
One day, you'll find your way

Whew, the feels here are deep! The fact that it's essentially a freestyle in a live concert setting makes the pain that much more palpable. 8.3/10

027. Ultralight Beam

Tryna snap photos of familia
My daughter look just like Sia, you can't see her...
Cause I bet that my ex looking back like a pillar of salt

The top 'Life of Pablo' track, "Ultralight Beam" features a truly divine gospel outro. 8.4/10

026. Jail, Pt. 2 (feat. DaBaby)

I'll be honest, we all liars
I'll be honest, we all liars
I'm pulled over and I got priors
Guess we goin' down, guess who's goin' to jail?
Man, tell them haters open up the jail (Open up the jail)
And you can tell my baby mamas get the bail money (Bail me)
I said one thing they ain't like, threw me out like they ain't care for me
Threw me out like I'm garbage, huh?
And that food that y'all took off my table
You know that feed my daughters, huh? (Mmm)
But I ain't really mad, 'cause when I look at it
I'm getting them snakes up out my grass and, ****, that's a good habit
I'm ready for war, let's get at 'em
And teaming up ain't gon' help 'em
'Cause beating the odds too deep
Just me and God, ****, ****, I'm good at it
Matter of fact, I'm great at it, my cell phone back at it
I know these people gon' try to tell me how to talk
Don't know what I seen or what I was taught
My mama worked two or three jobs to take care of three of her kids, my uncles watched
Yeah, we was raised by the crack addicts
Mmm, raised by the drug dealers, killers, and the junkies (Junkies)
Mama couldn't save us 'cause she had to get the—
Mama couldn't save us 'cause she had to get the money
Feel like your world falling, getting too hard to catch it, ain't it?
You and your girl arguin', you don't like how she actin' lately
Giving it everything that you can give and you don't get half the patience
You was busy hustlin', the things come with your hustle
They got in her head, corrupted her
Yeah, that's probably what happened, ain't it?
Large amount of capital, invested in myself
Underground, I ain't even have a basement, I read the affidavit
Let's see what it is with you
Only thing I did to you
Was always keep it real and true
Guilty, guess they gon' have to take me

If you'd told me that on a track with Ye, Jay, and DaBaby, that latter name would have the best verse, I would not have believed you, but the best lyrical moments from either version of "Jail" comes via the extremely problematic Charlotte emcee. 8.5/10

[SholasBoy]

Slow Jamz such a great track. I felt like Otis was underrated and a fun use of the sample Paranoid is an absolute banger and the highlight of 808s for me.

[JSparksFan]

Slow Jamz such a great track. I felt like Otis was underrated and a fun use of the sample Paranoid is an absolute banger and the highlight of 808s for me.

My '808s' highlight is coming tomorrow!

[JSparksFan]

025. H•A•M

And if life a bitch suck my dick huh?
And a n*gga still young, wanna have no kids
But I've been practicing with some actresses as bad as shit
Had a few white girls, asses flat as shit
But the head so good, damn a n*gga glad he hit...
I play chicken with a Mack truck
Y'all muthaf**kers woulda been moved
I swam waters with great whites
Y'all muthaf**kers woulda been chewed
I hustle with vultures late nights
Y'all muthaf**kers woulda been food

I love the intensity of the beat on this. It gets chaotic during the verses, but smooths out by the time the refrain comes 'round and even builds to this celestial-esque Latin climax in the middle, with these angelic harmonies, before reverting to that hard-hitting, in-your-face beat to take you home. I remember when this dropped, as the forerunner 'Watch the Throne' single, on the same day as Brit Brit's "Hold It Against Me" and all of Team Britney watching closely to see if it'd be a threat. It wasn't. 8.5/10

024. Bad News

Didn't you know
I was waiting on you
My face turned to stone
When I heard the news
When you decide to break the rules...
I played it off and act like I already knew
Let me ask you
How long have you known too
You played it off and act like he's brand new

Like its sister '808s & Heartbreak' tracks, "Bad News" is more about the gut-wrenching emotion and pain of heartbreak and betrayal than the scholarly wordplay for which Ye's usually lauded. Ye's autotuned vocals sound strained here, which marry the lyrics perfectly, and the persistent drumbeats are procession-like, marking the unexpected end of something once so beautiful. Then when the strings come in - whew! Melodically, this is one of the most impressive things he's done - so simple but so damn effective and impactful. 8.5/10

023. Good Life (feat. T-Pain)

I'mma get on this TV mama, I'mma
I'mma put shit down...
The good life, it feel like Atlanta
It feel like L.A., it feel like Miami
It feel like N.Y., summertime Chi, ahh...
Y'all pop the trunk, I pop the hood, Ferrari
And she got the goods
And she got that ass, I got to look, sorry
Yo, it's got to be 'cause I'm seasoned
Haters give me them salty looks, Lawry's
50 told me, "Go 'head, switch the style up
And if they hate then let 'em hate
And watch the money pile up" the good life...
Welcome to the good life
Where we like the girls who ain't on TV
'Cause they got more (ass than the models)...
The good life, it feel like Houston
It feel like Philly, it feel like D.C.
It feel like VA, or the Bay, or Yay
Ayy, this is the good life
Welcome to the good life
Uh, homie, tell me what's good
Why I only got a problem when you in the hood?
Welcome to the good life
Like I'm new in the hood, the only thing I wish

A fun, club-ready, feel-good anthem, "Good Life" features shout-outs to many of the main US cities (the prime party places) and is really a toast to vacation life and general merriment. Also interesting how Ye name-drops 50 here, considering those two had that much-publicised chart battle for supremacy when 'Graduation' and 'Curtis' dropped the same week. 8.5/10

022. All Falls Down (feat. Syleena Johnson)

Now, tell me that ain't insecurr
The concept of school seems so securr
Sophomore, three yurrs, ain't picked a carurr
She like **** it, I'll just stay down here and do hair
Cause that's enough money to buy her a few pairs of new Airs
Cause her baby daddy don't really care
She's so precious with the peer pressure
Couldn't afford a car so she named her daughter Alexus
She had hair so long that it looked like weave
Then she cut it all off now she look like Eve
And she be dealing with some issues that you can't believe
Single black female addicted to retail and well...
I can't even pronounce nothing, pass that versace!
We'll buy a lot of clothes when we don't really need em
Things we buy to cover up what's inside
Cause they make us hate ourself and love they wealth
That's why shortys hollering "where the ballas' at?"
Drug dealer buy Jordans, crackhead buy crack
And a white man get paid off of all of that
But I ain't even goin' act holier than thou
Cause **** it, I went to Jacob with 25 thou
Before I had a house and I'd do it again
Cause I wanna be on 106 and Park pushing a Benz
I wanna act ballerific like it's all terrific
I got a couple past due bills, I won't get specific
I got a problem with spending before I get it
We all self conscious I'm just the first to admit it

There's so much to appreciate about this song - Syleena's soulful vocals, the acknowledgement of the cultural ill of living beyond one's means and engaging in retail therapy to placate a sense of inadequacy and inferiority complexes, Ye's candid admission that he's battling it just like the track's protagonists. It's one of his beloved songs for good reason. It's a classic and is ageing well because instead of moving away from materialism, it seems we've dug even deeper into that hole since this song dropped. 8.5/10

021. No Church in the Wild (feat. Frank Ocean)

Human beings in a mob
What's a mob to a king?
What's a king to a God?
What's a God to a non-believer
Who don't believe in anything?
Will he make it out alive?
Alright, alright
No church in the wild
Tears on the mausoleum floor
Blood stains the Colosseum doors
Lies on the lips of a priest
Thanksgiving disguised as a feast
Rollin' in the Rolls-Royce Corniche
Only the doctors got this, I'm hidin' from police
Cocaine seats
All white like I got the whole thing bleached
Drug dealer chic
I'm wonderin' if a thug's prayers reach
Is Pious pious 'cause God loves pious?
Socrates asks, "Whose bias do y'all seek?"
All for Plato, screech
I'm out chere' ballin', I know y'all hear my sneaks
Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy, laid beats
Hova flow the Holy Ghost, get the hell up out your seats, preach
I live by you, desire
I stand by you, walk through the fire
Your love is my scripture
And let me in through your encryption, yeah, yeah
Coke on her black skin made it stripe like a zebra
I call that jungle fever
You will not control the threesome
Just roll the weed up until I get me some
We formed a new religion
No sins as long as there's permission
And deception is the only felony
So never **** nobody without tellin' me
Sunglasses and Advil
Last night was mad real
Sun comin' up five AM
I wonder if they got cabs still
Thinkin' 'bout the girl in all-leopard
Who was rubbin' the wood like Kiki Shepard
Two tattoos, one read "No apologies"
The other said "Love is cursed by monogamy"
That's somethin' that the pastor don't preach
That's somethin' that a teacher can't teach
When we die, the money we can't keep
But we prolly spend it all 'cause the pain ain't cheap, preach

This is another song without fault. Grade A lyricism, soulful refrain, intriguing melody - it definitely brings together my favourite elements from both emcees. 8.5/10

[SholasBoy]

Good Life is a real uplifting track, again I wasn’t so into it at the time it was a hit but I love it now. All Falls Down is still one of his best, either the exquisitely produced Syleena Johnson version or the rawer demo with Lauryn Hill.

[JSparksFan]

Good Life is a real uplifting track, again I wasn’t so into it at the time it was a hit but I love it now. All Falls Down is still one of his best, either the exquisitely produced Syleena Johnson version or the rawer demo with Lauryn Hill.

Glad you like those two!

[JSparksFan]

020. Bittersweet Poetry

Never did this before, that's what the virgin says
We've been generally warned, that's what the surgeon says
God talk to me now, this is an emergency
And she claim she only with me for the currency...
But we don't love no more, I guess we f**king then...
But I can't even vibe with you sexually
'Cause every time I would try, you would question me
Saying "You f**king them girls, disrespecting me?
You don't see how ya lies is affecting me
You don't see how our life was supposed to be
And I never let a n*gga get that close to me
And you ain't cracked up to what you was supposed to be
You always gone, you'll always be where them hoes'll be"
And this the first time she ever spilled her soul to me

Released as the deluxe edition Japanese track on 'Graduation', "Bittersweet Poetry" features the uncomfortable topic of domestic violence, but the song's melody is, in contrast, light and sing-songy. I do love the passion expressed in that final verse from the woman's POV. 8.7/10

019. Runaway

Let's have a toast for the douche bags
Let's have a toast for the assholes
Let's have a toast for the scumbags
Every one of them that I know
Let's have a toast for the jerk offs
That'll never take work off
Baby, I got a plan
Run away fast as you can...
Never was much of a romantic
I could never take the intimacy
And I know it did damage
'Cause the look in your eyes is killin' me
I guessin' you're at an advantage
'Cause you could blame me for everything
And I don't know where I'ma manage
If one day you just up and leave

This is such a beautiful song. The keyboard-led instrumentation is magical and the track never feels nine minutes long. My singular gripe is Pusha T's inclusion; for me, he sours the mood and disrupts the pace and flow of the track. Otherwise, melodically, this is one of Ye's top five finest masterpieces. Admittedly, this one took some time to grow on me and largely did because my sister loves it so much. 9/10

018. Jesus Lord

Sittin' by myself, I'm just thinkin'
About all I've been through, I wish I was dreamin'
Man, it's hard to be an angel when you surrounded by demons (Jesus, Lord)
I watched so many people leave
I see 'em change by the season, that's mama's seasonin'
God got you, the devil's watchin', he just peekin' in
I know I made a promise that I'd never let the reaper in (Jesus)
But lately, I've been losin' all my deepest friends (Lord)
And lately, I've been swimmin' on the deepest end
It's just drugs, it ain't no hugs, it ain't no love there
You been down so much you don't even know what's upstairs
Suicidal thoughts got you wonderin' what's up there (Jesus, Lord)
And while I introduce the party, they say it's up there
Too many pills, so much potions, so much pain, too many emotions
And everything that you do good, it just go unnoticed (Jesus)
Then they tell you that you good and just stay focused (Lord)
Mama, you was the life of the party
I swear you brought life to the party
When you lost your life, it took the life out the party (Jesus)
That woman rode with me like a Harley (Lord)
Visions of my cousins in a cell really scarred me
Movin' to the hood was like signin' up for the army
'Cause they been killin' n- since n- was watchin' Barney (Jesus)
You want dreams to come true? But I have nightmares (Lord)
'Cause if that come to life, then I might not be right here
Been in the dark so long, don't know if the light here
But I'm just reachin' for the stars like Buzz Lightyear (Jesus)
And now I'm light years ahead of those nightmares (Lord)
I deaded those night terrors when the night clears
And if I talk to Christ, can I bring my mother back to life?
And if I die tonight, will I see her in the afterlife? (Jesus)
But back to reality where everything's a tragedy (Lord)
And better have a strategy or you could be a statistic
Little boy dies, he's just one of the mystic
And mama steady cryin' 'cause she really the victim (Jesus)
Now she's gettin' high and she's gettin' addicted (Lord)
And her older boy just stuck with the picture, painted vivid
That's a family portrait and her daughter just absorbed it
16, pregnant, baby daddy say she should abort it (Jesus)
But we can't afford it, so she decides to move forward (Lord)
Baby shower time, father didn't show up
Now she just feelin' nauseous like she finna throw up
The water flows down her legs, yeah, it's finna go up (Jesus)
A year done went by, her daughter just turned one (Lord)
And she's still dependent on her mom
Big brother in the streets, he went and bought him a gun
He want revenge 'cause the pain, feelin' numb (Jesus)
And her mom still doin' drugs 'cause that's the only time she feel loved (Lord)
But is it real love? Do the scars really heal up?
From all the pain that been built up, but they don't feel us (Jesus)
A week done flew by, big bro ridin' then he see the guys (Lord)
Left his little brother on the side, bleedin' from the side
He seein' red, it's like he's bleedin' through his eyes
To see him dead, the only thing that'll help the grievin' up inside (Jesus)
He even let him get they last meal (Lord)
He done with the streets after this, this his last kill
He gotta show him that it's that real
He ran up on him with the pipe like, "N-, stand still" (Jesus)
"You took my brother life, you made my mother cry" (Lord)
"Tell me one reason I shouldn't send you up to Christ"
He said, "Go 'head, take my life, I've seen everything but Christ"
The big bro just blacked out and all you seein' was the light (Jesus, Lord)
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)
Uh-huh, in the name of the true and living God
The beneficent, the merciful (Hallelujah)
Thank you for bringin' me up the rough side of the mountain like Ertuğrul (Jesus)
Every knee bowed and every tongue confessed and paid homage (Lord)
To the monk who visited Rothschilds like Thelonious did Pannonica (sheesh)
It's Jay Elec-entendre-nica comin' through your monitor
Back from the great beyond, the Son of Man and the son of Donda (Jesus)
I never rolled the GXSR or the R6 or the Honda (Lord)
But I flew my Ducati through North America like Wakanda
Earthquakes will strike this nation for what Bush did to Rwanda (facts)
What the Clintons did to Haiti and Downing Street did to Ghana
In Tenochtitlan they call me Terremoto, El Negro Loco (Jesus)
I shake the tectonic plates of the game if I lay one vocal (Lord)
The God is interstellar while you fellas remain local
My bars is like the pyramid temples of Pacal Votan (Jesus)
As sure as the DOJ confirmed Ezekiel's Wheel (Lord)
I could change the world like Yacub with two pieces of steel
My sword and my microphone, I swore to the Christ's throne
But when you great, they wanna say you took an L, José Castillo (Jesus)
I'm in the fight here, fight here, for what seemed like light years (Lord)
My rugged cross and thorny crowns squeeze out Christ tears
30 pieces of silver clout, my Pierre price tier
It's a war outside, it's a war outside (Jesus)
It's like the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah outside (Lord)
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)
We've been through a lot of things
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)
He lives in a lot of things
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)
Been through a lot of things
Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)
What up, Ye? This Larry Hoover Jr.
First and foremost, I wanna thank you
For taking the fight for my father to the Oval Office
You might not have been the only one that could've did that
But you were the one that did do that
And with your assistance
We can continue to let the world take part in this fight
You know to me it kinda feels like, me, my mother, my brothers
And my kids have all been incarcerated through this journey
And we haven't even been to jail
We've been looked at and treated as criminals, for being a part of this family
My father's truth and the reality that he raised me in
Is that he wanted to make a change in this community
'Cause the conditions in this capitalist society
Is what made him, and it's what made the children of today
After 25 years of bein' locked down, 23 and 1
My father has not called any shots
From one of the most secure and segregated prisons in the world
And will not, once released
Call any of the shots for the Gangster Disciples
If my father's intentions were to lead us to death, destruction
Into the hell that he has had to live in for the past 26 years
Man, he would be dead to me
I didn't sign up for that
I didn't stay on this journey this long for that
All my life, man, I've been waitin' for my father to come home
They told me when I graduate eighth grade, he would be home
Then they told me when I graduate from high school, he would be home
I went away to Morris Brown, I graduated and he still ain't home
Now I'm a adult, and my daughter went away to college and graduated
He still not home
Now even more than that, my son
He graduated eighth grade and we still waitin'
Matter of fact, he hasn't hugged
Kissed, or touched any of his grandchildren
And they haven't been able to touch they grandfather
Even though it is not seen that way for some of us
But for many of us, Larry Hoover is a beacon of hope for his community
Who deserves to breathe free air
Free my father (Jesus), Mr. Larry Hoover Sr. (Lord)

The top 'Donda' track, this version of "Jesus Lord" omits all the unnecessary verses that diluted the greatness of the part two version and we're given a more powerful version of the compelling Larry Hoover case, interwoven with some other deeply emotional stories. 9/10

017. Ni**as in Paris

She said, "Ye, can we get married at the mall?"
I said, "Look, you need to crawl 'fore you ball"
Come and meet me in the bathroom stall
And show me why you deserve to have it all
(Ball so hard) that shit cray, ain't it Jay?
What she order, fish fillet?
(B-Ball so hard) your whip so cold, this old thing?
(Ball so hard) act like you'll never be around ************s like this again
Bougie girl, grab her hand
F**k that bitch, she don't wanna dance
Excuse my French, but I'm in France, ahah, I'm just sayin'
Prince William's ain't do it right if you ask me
Cause I was him, I would have (married Kate and Ashley)
What's Gucci, my nigga? What's Louis, my killer?
What's drugs, my dealer? What's that jacket, Margiela?
Doctors say I'm the illest
'Cause I'm suffering from realness
Got my niggas in Paris and they going gorillas, huh
I don't even know what that means
No one knows what it means, but it's provocative

Jay is a cute opening act to the main highlight, Ye's verse. It's got all the wild, clever, raunchy fun and playfulness that I love from Ye. This is the final of 14 tracks from 'Watch the Throne' that made the top 100, which means 32% of my top 100 Ye songs are on either 'Donda' or "Watch the Throne'. 9/10

016. Jesus Walks

Order, huh
Yo, we at war
We at war with terrorism, racism
But most of all we at war with ourselves
God show me the way because the Devil's tryna break me down
(Jesus walks with me, with me, with me, with me, with me)
You know what the Midwest is? Young and restless
Where restless - might snatch ya necklace
And next these - might jack ya Lexus
Somebody tell these - who Kanye West is
I walk through the valley of Chi where death is
Top floor the view alone will leave you breathless
Try to catch it, it's kinda hard
Getting choked by detectives, yeah, yeah, now check the method
They be asking us questions, harass, and arrest us
Saying, "We eat pieces of sh- like you for breakfast!"
Huh? Y'all eat pieces of sh-? What's the basis?
We ain't going nowhere, but got suits and cases
A trunk full of coke, rental car from Avis
My Mama used to say only Jesus can save us
Well Mama, I know I act a fool
But I'll be gone 'til November, I got packs to move
I ain't here to argue about his facial features
Or here to convert atheists into believers
I'm just tryna say the way school need teachers
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis, that's the way I need Jesus
So here go my single, dawg, radio needs this
They said you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, videotape
But if I talk about God, my record won't get played, huh?
Well if this take away from my spins
Which'll probably take away from my ends
Then I hope this take away from my sins
And bring the day that I'm dreaming about
Next time I'm in the club, everybody screaming out

Me and this song go way back. It was one of the first Ye songs I loved and to this day, there's not a weak line here, in my view. It's got all the right measurements of soul, gospel, rap, clever lyricism, and rare humility from a man who'd made it to that point by being anything but. It was one of several early signs that this was a man who was gonna do things his way and we were all gonna have to be okay with it, or better yet, wowed by his audacity at sending a rap song titled "Jesus Walks" his first era to the top 20 in the US and the UK. 9/10

[Plym]

love no church and jesus walks!
wonder how many late registration tracks are left

[JSparksFan]

love no church and jesus walks!
wonder how many late registration tracks are left

Four! And none of them are in this upcoming set!

[JSparksFan]

015. Heartless

In the night I hear 'em talk
The coldest story ever told
Somewhere far along this road
He lost his soul to a woman so heartless
How could you be so heartless?
Oh, how could you be so heartless?
How could you be so, cold as the winter wind when it breeze, yo
Just remember that you talkin' to me though
You know need to watch the way you talkin' to me, yo
I mean after all the things that we've been through
I mean after all the things we got into
Hey yo, I know of some things that you ain't told me
Hey yo, I did some things but that's the old me
And now you wanna get me back and you goin' show me
So you walk around like you don't know me
You got a new friend, well I got homies
But in the end it's still so lonely
How could be so Dr. Evil
You bringin' out a side of me that I don't know
I decided we weren't goin' speak so
Why we up three A.M. on the phone
Why does she be so mad at me for
Homie I don't know, she's hot and cold
I won't stop, I won't mess my groove up
Cause I already know how this thing go
You run and tell your friends that you're leaving me
They say that they don't see what you see in me
You wait a couple months then you gon' see
You'll never find nobody better than me...
So I got something new to see
And you just goin' keep hatin' me
And we just goin' be enemies

The toast of '808s & Heartbreak', "Heartless" will go down as one of Ye's most influential singles. I remember really enjoying it at the time it came out, but it's been insane to see the broad range of artists that have covered it over the years. It's a song that works well reconstructed into practically every genre interpretation. I recall Kris Allen from S8 of American Idol covering it to enormous praise and moderate commercial success (even hitting #16 in the US). 9/10

014. Lost in the World

I'm up in the woods
I'm down on my mind
I'm building a still
To slow down the time
You're my devil, you're my angel
You're my heaven, you're my hell
You're my now, you're my forever
You're my freedom, you're my jail
You're my lies, you're my truth
You're my war, you're my truce
You're my questions, you're my proof
You're my stress and you're my masseuse
Mama say, mama say, mama Maku-san
Lost in this plastic life
Let's break out of this fake-ass party
Turn this into a classic night
If we die in each other's arms
Still get laid in that afterlife
If we die in each other's arms
Still get laid, yeah

The distorted opening verse and vocals, the punchy pop-esque delivery of the subsequent verses, the overarching intensity and emotion of the songwriting, "Lost in the World" favours a pop-friendly ear, which is likely why I love it so much. 9/10

013. Selah

God is King, we the soldiers
Ultrabeam out the solar
When I get to Heaven's gates, I ain't gotta peek over
Keepin' perfect composure
When I scream at the chauffeur
I ain't mean, I'm just focused
I ain't mean, I'm just focused
Pour the lean out slower
Got us clean out of soda
Before the flood, people judge
They did the same thing to Noah
Everybody wanted Yandhi
Then Jesus Christ did the laundry
They say the week start on Monday
But the strong start on Sunday
Won't be in bondage to any man, John 8:33
We the descendants of Abraham
Ye should be made free, John 8:36
To whom the Son set free is free indeed
He saved a wretch like me
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, He is wonderful
If you woke then wake up
With Judas kiss and make up
Even with the bitter cup
Forgave my brothers and drank up
Did everything but gave up
Stab my back, I can't front
Still we win, we prayed up
Even when we die, we raise up (hallelujah)
Ain't no wantin', no, we need it
The powers that be done been greedy
We need ours by this evening
No white flag or no treaty
We got the product, we got the tools
We got the minds, we got the youth
We goin' wild, we on the loose
People is lying, we are the truth
Everything old shall now become new
The leaves will be green, bearing the fruit
Love God and our neighbor, as written in Luke
The army of God and we are the truth

A lot of 'Jesus is King' is disposable, but this, this is something else. Most folks never really bought into Ye's reformed/saved rebrand of this era, but the gospel choir takes you as close to the edge of purchase as any of his songs did. The verses from Ye are surprisingly strong, too. For me, "Selah" is an unlikely gem. 9.5/10

012. Never Let Me Down (feat. Jay-Z & J. Ivy)

When it comes to being true
At least true to me (that's right, it's what I do, c'mon)
One thing I've found (uh-huh)
One thing I've found
Oh, no, you'll never let me down (no, I ain't never let you down)...
First I snatched the streets
Then I snatch the charts
First I had they ear
Now I have they heart
Rappers came and went
I've been here from the start
I seen them put it together
Watched them take it apart...
When you hot, I'm hot
And when your feet cold, mines are sizzlin'
It's plain to see, niggas can't f**k with me
'Cause I'mma be that nigga for life, this is not an image
This is God-given
This is hard livin' mixed with Cristal sippin'
It's the most consistent, Hov
Give you the most hits
You could fit inside a whole disk and
Nigga, I'm home on these charts, y'all niggas visitin'
It's Hov tradition, Jeff Gordon of rap
I'm back to claim pole position
Holla at ya boy
I get down for my grandfather
Who took my mama, made her sit in that seat
Where white folks ain't want us to eat
At the tender age of six she was arrested for the sit-ins
And with that in my blood, I was born to be different
Now n*ggas can't make it to ballots to choose leadership
But we can make it to Jacob's or to the dealership
Swear, I hear new music and I just don't be feelin' it
Racism's still alive, they just be concealin' it
But I know they don't want me in the damn club
They even made me show ID to get inside of Sam's Club
I done did dirt and when to church to get my hands scrubbed
Swear I been baptised 'least three or four times
But in the land where n*ggas praise you, cons are gettin' paid
It's gon' take a lot more than coupons to get us saved
Like it take a lot more than Do-Rags to get you waves
Nothin' as sad as the day my girl's father passed away
So I promised to Mr. Rainey, I'm gonna marry your daughter
And you know I gotta thank you for the way that she was brought up
And I know that you was smilin' when you seen the car I bought her
And you sent tears from heaven when you seen my car get balled up
But I can't complain what the accident did to my left eye
'Cause look what a accident did to Left-Eye
First Aaliyah, now Romeo must die
I know I got angels watchin' me from the other side
We are all here for a reason on a particular path
You don't need a curriculum to know that you are part of the math
Cats think I'm delirious, but I'm so damn serious
That's why I expose my soul to the globe, the world
I'm tryna make it better for these little boys and girls
I'm not just another individual
My spirit is a part of this, that's why I get spiritual
But I get my hymns from Him
So it's not me, it's He that's lyrical
I'm not a miracle
I'm a heaven-sent instrument
My rythmatic regiment navigates melodic notes for your soul and your mental
That's why I'm instrumental
Vibrations is what I'm into
Yeah, I need my loot by rent day
But that ain't what gives me the heart of Kunta Kinte
I'm tryin' to give us, "us free" like Cinque
I can't stop
That's why I'm hot
Determination, dedication, motivation
I'm talking to you of my many inspirations
When I say I can't let you or self down
If I were on the highest cliff on the highest riff
And you slipped off the side and clenched on to your life in my grip
I would never, ever, let you down
And when these words are found
Let it be known that God's penmanship
Has been signed in the language called love
That's why my breath is felt by the deaf
And why my words are heard and confined to the ears of the blind
I, too, dream in color, and in rhyme
So I guess I'm one of a kind in a full house
'Cause whenever I open my heart, my soul, or my mouth
A touch of God rains out
Take 'em to church

This Ye countdown was several years in the making in that I started exploring his catalogue a good way back and when I came across this track, I knew this was an artist whose discography was worth the time to explore. From Jay to Ye to J. Ivy, the song just gets better and better. The gospel choir insertions are brilliantly placed and had this song ended on J. Ivy's verse, instead of that wholly unnecessary encore verse from Jay, this would be a perfect 10. 9.5/10

011. Monster (feat. Nicki Minaj)

I shoot the lights out
Hide 'til it's bright out
Oh, just another lonely night
Are you willing to sacrifice your life?
Ahh!
Uh, the best livin' or dead hands down, huh
Less talk, more head right now, huh
And my eyes more red than the devil is
And I'm 'bout to take it to another level, bitch
Matter who you go and get, ain't nobody cold as this
Do the rap and the track, triple-double, no assists
And my only focus is stayin' on some bogus shit
Arguin' with my older bitch, actin' like I owe her shit
I heard the beat, the same raps that give the track pain
Bought the chain that always give me back pain
F**kin' up my money so, yeah, I had to act sane
Chi nigga but these hoes love my accent
She came up to me and said, "This the number to dial"
If you wanna make it number one, you're number two now
Mix that Goose and Malibu, I call it "Malibooyauh"
Goddamn, Yeezy always hit 'em with a new style
Know that motherf**ker, well, what you gon' do now?
Whatever ever I wanna do, gosh, it's cool now
Know I'm gonna do, ah, it's the new now
Think you motherf**kers really really need to cool out
'Cause you will never get on top off this
So, mami, best advice is just to get on top of this
Have you ever had sex with a pharaoh?
Ah, put the p*ssy in a sarcophagus
Now she claimin' that I bruised her esophagus
Head of the class and she just won a swallowship
I'm livin' in the future so the present is my past
My presence is a present, kiss my ass...
Pull up in the monster, automobile gangsta
With a bad bitch that came from Sri Lanka
Yeah, I'm in that Tonka, color of Willy Wonka
You could be the king but watch the Queen conquer
Okay, first things first I'll eat your brains
Then I'mma start rockin' gold teeth and fangs
'Cause that's what a motherf**kin' monster do
Hairdresser from Milan, that's the monster 'do
Monster Giuseppe heel, that's the monster shoe
Young money is the roster and the monster crew
And I'm all up, all up, all up in the bank with the funny face
And if I'm fake, I ain't notice 'cause my money ain't
So let me get this straight, wait, I'm the rookie?
But my features and my shows ten times your pay?
Fifty K for a verse, no album out
Yeah, my money's so tall that my Barbies gotta climb it
Hotter than a Middle Eastern climate, violent
Tony Matterhorn, dutty wine it, wine it
Nicki on them titties when I sign it
That's how these niggas so one-track minded
But really, really I don't give a F-U-C-K
"Forget Barbie, f**k Nicki 'cause sh-she's fake"
"She on a diet, " but my pockets eatin' cheesecake
And I'll say bride of Chucky is child's play
Just killed another career it's a mild day
Besides, Ye, they can't stand besides me
I think me, you and Amb' should ménage Friday
Pink wig, thick ass, give 'em whip lash
I think big, get cash, make 'em blink fast
Now look at what you just saw, this is what you live for
Ah, I'm a mother****in' monster!

"Monster" is one of the most loaded hip/hop tracks in this top 100, just given the name value of the featured acts alone. It was also an incredibly difficult track to rate and rank as Ye gives a fine verse and Nicki absolutely obliterates her verse (my favourite verse in hip/hop history, in fact), but Jay and Ross don't do much for me here. Still, this track was certainly a huge moment in 2010 and I remember how excited I was when the video dropped, where Nicki once more stole the show. I certainly didn't mind shirtless Ye there either. 9.5/10

[Plym]

monster worthy of that position

[JSparksFan]

monster worthy of that position

Good you agree!

[JSparksFan]

Albums Intermission

Just before we get into the elite top 10 tracks of Kanye's discography, I wanted to present my ranking of his 12 solo and joint studio albums. There are four studio albums from his catalogue still standing: The College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Will these be the top four albums? Let's see!

12. Ye : 7.01/10



11. Kids See Ghosts : 7.14/10



10. Jesus is King : 7.15/10



09. The Life of Pablo : 7.35/10



08. Yeezus : 7.66/10



07. Graduation : 7.76/10



06. Donda : 7.79/10



05. Watch the Throne : 8.03/10



04. 808s & Heartbreak : 8.08/10



03. The College Dropout : 8.2/10



02. Late Registration : 8.28/10



01. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy : 8.64/10

[Plym]

easily his top 3 best! and fantasy would be my number 1 too

[JSparksFan]

easily his top 3 best! and fantasy would be my number 1 too

Great minds!

[JSparksFan]

010. Roses

I know it's past visiting hours
But can I please give her these flowers?
The doctor don't wanna take procedures
He claim her heart can't take the anaesthesia
It'll send her body into a seizure
That lil' thing by the hospital bed, it'll stop beepin'
Hey, chick, I'm at a loss for words
What do you say at this time? Remember when I was 9?
Tell her everything gon' be fine, but I be lyin'
Her family cryin', they want her to live, and she tryin'
I'm arguin like what kind of doctor can we fly in
You know the best medicine go to people that's paid
If Magic Johnson got a cure for AIDS
And all the broke motherf**kers passed away
You telling me if my grandma's in the NBA
Right now she'd be okay?
But since she was just a secretary, worked for the church for 35 years
Things 'sposed to stop right here
My grandfather tryin' to pull it together, he's strong
That's where I get my confidence from
I asked the nurse, "Did you do the research?"
She asked me, "Can you sign some t-shirts?"
Bitch, is you smokin reefer?
You don't see that we hurt? But still
I smile when Rosie comes to see me
And I, can't wait for a sunny day (seeing it through your eyes)
Can't wait for the clouds to break
They outside of the emergency room, room
You can feel my heartbeat, beat, beat
If she gon' pull through, we gon' find out soon
But right now she asleep, sleep, sleep
My momma say they say she could pass away any day
Hey chick, what these doctors know anyway?
Let me see the X-rays, I ain't no expert, I'm just hurt
Cousin Kim took off of work
Plus my Aunt Shirley, Aunt Beverly, Aunt Clay and Aunt Jean
So many Aunties we could have an Auntie Team
Feel like Amerie, it's just "1 Thing"
When they said that she made it you see they eyes gleam
I think we at a all-time high
To get there, we run, we fly, we drive
'Cause with my family we know we know where home is
And so instead of sendin' flowers, we the roses

I love this song for its heart, emotion, and realism. The family collective gathering around the grandmother, willing her to live, juxtaposed against the nurse asking for signed t-shirts, I think that's one of my favourite dehumanising/insensitive/unconscionably selfish illustrations in music. This song would've been a perfect 10 had that outro been snipped. 9.6/10

009. Hey Mama

I know I act a fool, but
I promise you I'm going back to school, and
I appreciate what you allowed for me, and, uh
I just want you to be proud of me (Hey Mama)
I wanna tell the whole world about a friend of mine
This little light of mine, I'm finna let it shine
I'm finna take y'all back to them better times
I'm finna talk about my mama if y'all don't mind
I was three years old when you and I moved to the Chi
Late December, harsh winter gave me a cold
You fixed me up something that was good for my soul
Famous homemade chicken soup, can I have another bowl?
You work late nights just to keep on the lights
Mommy got me training wheels so I could keep on my bike
And you would give me anything in this world
Michael Jackson leather and a glove, but didn't give me a curl
And you never put no man over me
And I love you for that mommy, can't you see?
Seven years old, caught you with tears in your eyes
'Cause a nigga cheating, telling you lies, then I started to cry
As we knelt on the kitchen floor
I said mommy I'mma love you 'til you don't hurt no more
And when I'm older, you ain't gotta work no more
And I'mma get you that mansion that we couldn't afford
See you're, unbreakable, unmistakable
Highly capable, lady that's making loot
A living legend too, just look at what heaven do
Send us an angel, and I thank you (Hey Mama)
Forrest Gump mama said, "Life is like a box of chocolates"
My mama told me go to school, get your doctorate
Something to fall back on, you could profit with
But still supported me when I did the opposite
Now I feel like it's things I gotta get
Things I gotta do, just to prove to you
You was getting through, can the choir, please
Give me a verse of "You Are So Beautiful To Me"
Can't you see, you're like a book of poetry
Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni
Turn one page and there's my mommy
Come on mommy just dance with me
Let the whole world see your dancing feet
Second, they get up you gon get that Benzo
Tint the windows
Ride around the city and let ya friends know (Hey Mama)
Tell your job you gotta fake 'em out
Since you brought me in this world, let me take you out
To a restaurant, upper echelon
I'mma get you a Jag, whatever else you want
Just tell me what kind of S-Type Donda West like?
Tell me the perfect color so I make it just right
It don't gotta be Mother's Day, or your birthday
For me to just call and say (Hey Mama)

I'm a mama's boy through and through so this song tugs on ALL the heartstrings, every last one. There's a significant shift in the Ye we saw pre-Donda West passing versus post and I think this song gives a solid snippet as to why that was. It's been tough to watch Ye trying to perform this song and being too overcome with emotion to get through it. 10/10

008. All of the Lights (feat. Rihanna)

Turn up the lights in here baby
Extra bright, I want y'all to see this
Turn up the lights in here, baby
You know what I need
Want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights
Fast cars, shooting stars
(All of the lights, all of the lights)
Until it's Vegas everywhere we are
(All of the lights)
If you want it you can get it for the rest of your life
If you want it you can get it for the rest of your life
Something wrong
I hold my head
MJ gone, our n*gga dead!
I slapped my girl, she called the feds
I did that time and spent that bread
I'm heading home, I'm almost there
I'm on my way, headed up the stairs
To my surprise, a n*gga replacing me
I had to take 'em to that ghetto university (all of the lights)
Cop lights, flashlights, spotlights
Strobe lights, street lights
(All of the lights, all of the lights)
Fast life, drug life
Thug life, rock life
Every night (all of the lights)
Turn up the lights in here, baby
Extra bright, I want y'all to see this
Turn up the lights in here, baby
You know what I need, want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights
Restraining order
Can't see my daughter
Her mother, brother, grandmother hate me in that order
Public visitation
We met at Borders
Told her she take me back
I'll be more supportive
I made mistakes
I bumped my head
Courts suck me dry
I spent that bread
She need her daddy
Baby please,
Can't let her grow up in that ghetto university (all of the lights)...
Unemployment line, credit card declined
Did I not mention I was about to lose my mind? (My mind, my mind, my mind)
And also was about to do that line (line, line, line)
Okay, okay, you know we going all the way this time (time)

The production on this song is perfection. It's so grandiose and commanding. I also love the shout-out to MJ - I think that was the most Ye way of going about it. Further, I find it hilarious that there are a tonne of A-list stars on this and the only one Ye bothered to credit was Rihanna. I mean, if he had to pick one, he picked the right one, but I always found that funny. 10/10

007. Stronger

Work it, make it, do it
Makes us harder, better, faster, stronger
N-now th-that that don't kill me
Can only make me stronger
I need you to hurry up now
'Cause I can't wait much longer
I know I got to be right now
'Cause I can't get much wronger
Man I've been waiting all night now
That's how long I been on ya
I need you right now
Let's get lost tonight
You could be my Black Kate Moss tonight
Play secretary, I'm the boss tonight
And you don't give a f**k what they all say, right?
Awesome, the Christian in Christian Dior
Damn, they don't make 'em like this anymore
I ask, 'cause I'm not sure
Do anybody make real shit anymore?
Bow in the presence of greatness
'Cause right now thou hast forsaken us
You should be honoured by my lateness
That I would even show up to this fake shit
So go ahead, go nuts, go apeshit
Specially in my pastel, on my Bape shit
Act like you can't tell who made this
New Gospel homie, take six and take this, haters
I don't know if you got a man or not
If you made plans or not
If God put me in the plans or not
I'm tripping, this drink got me saying a lot
But I know that God put you in front of me
So how the hell could you front on me?
It's a thousand yous, there's only one of me
I'm tripping, I'm caught up in the moment, right?
'Cause it's Louis Vuitton Don night
So we gonna do everything that Kan like
Heard they'd do anything for a Klondike
Well, I'd do anything for a blonde dyke
And she'll do anything for the limelight
And we'll do anything when the time's right
You know how long I've been on ya?
Since Prince was on Apollonia
Since O.J. Had Isotoners
Don't act like I never told ya

"Stronger" was the first Ye song I can recall ever hearing. For me, it was such a refreshing rap song, hip/hop paired with dance-pop? It wasn't a lot of those hybrid songs out at the time and for a while, I even had this down as my top Ye song. To this day, I still think this has the most 'Ye' lyric ever: "You should be honoured by my lateness, that I would even show up to this fake shit." That line will likely give me life into perpetuity. 10/10

006. Gold Digger (feat. Jamie Foxx)

She take my money when I'm in need
Yeah, she's a triflin' friend indeed
Oh, she's a gold digger
Way over town, that digs on me
Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger
(When I'm in need) But she ain't messin' with no broke n*ggas
(She give me money) Now, I ain't sayin' she a gold digger
(When I'm in need) But she ain't messin' with no broke n*ggas
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head, get down
(I gotta leave) Get down girl, go 'head
Cutie the bomb, met her at a beauty salon
With a baby Louis Vuitton under her underarm
She said, "I can tell you rock, I can tell by your charm
"Far as girls, you got a flock"
"I can tell by your charm and your arm"
But I'm lookin' for the one, have you seen her?
My psychic told me she'll have a ass like Serena
Trina, Jennifer Lopez, four kids
And I gotta take all they bad ass to ShowBiz?
Okay, get your kids, but then they got their friends
I pulled up in the Benz, they all got up in
We all went to Den and then I had to pay
If you f**kin' with this girl, then you better be paid
You know why? It take too much to touch her
From what I heard she got a baby by Busta
My best friend said she used to f**k with Usher
I don't care what none of y'all say, I still love her
Eighteen years, eighteen years
She got one of your kids, got you for eighteen years
I know somebody payin' child support for one of his kids
His baby mama car and crib is bigger than his
You will see him on TV any given Sunday
Win the SuperBowl and drive off in a Hyundai
She was supposed to buy your shorty Tyco with your money
She went to the doctor, got lipo with your money
She walkin' around lookin' like Michael with your money
Shoulda got that insured, Geico for your money
If you ain't no punk
Holla, "We want prenup! We want prenup!" (Yeah!)
It's somethin' that you need to have
'Cause when she leave yo' ass, she gon' leave with half
Eighteen years, eighteen years
And on the 18th birthday he found out it wasn't his?
Now, I ain't sayin' you a gold digger, you got needs
You don't want a dude to smoke but he can't buy weed
You go out to eat, he can't pay, y'all can't leave
There's dishes in the back, he gotta roll up his sleeves
But while y'all washin', watch him
He gon' make it to a Benz out of that Datsun
He got that ambition, baby, look at his eyes
This week he moppin' floors, next week it's the fries
So stick by his side
I know there's dudes ballin', and yeah, that's nice
And they gonna keep callin' and tryin', but you stay right, girl
And when you get on, he'll leave yo' ass for a white girl

Fun fact - for a long time, I thought this song was overrated. I think it clicked with me as I got older and was able to appreciate it more as a satirical piece on some serious socioeconomic issues. 10/10

[Plym]

love roses, definitely my fave out of this lot.
the obligatory singles, they're good but slightly overplayed for me

[JSparksFan]

love roses, definitely my fave out of this lot.
the obligatory singles, they're good but slightly overplayed for me

Three more obligatory singles to go! Glad you appreciate "Roses" too.

[JSparksFan]

005. Blame Game (feat. John Legend)

Whose fault?
Let's play the blame game, I love you more
Let's play the blame game for sure
Let's call out names, names, I hate you more
Let's call out names, names, for sure
I'll call you bitch for short
As a last resort and my first resort
You call me motherf**ker for long
At the end of it, you know we both were wrong
On a bathroom wall I wrote
I'd rather argue with you than to be with someone else
I took a piss and dismiss it, like f**k it
And I went and found somebody else
F**k arguing or harvesting the feelings
Yo, I'd rather be by my f**king self
'TIl about two am and I call back and I hang up
And I start to blame myself, somebody help
You weren't perfect but you made life worth it
Stick around, some real feelings might surface
Been a long time since I spoke to you in a bathroom
Gripping you up, f**king, and choking you
What the hell was I supposed to do?
I know you ain't getting this type of dick from that local dude
And if you are, I hope you have a good time
'Cause I definitely be having mine
And you ain't fixin' to see a mogul get emotional
Every time I hear about other n*gga's stroking you
Lie and say I hit you, he sitting there consoling you
Running my name through the mud, who's provoking you?
You should be grateful a n*gga like me ever noticed you
Now you noticeable and can't nobody get control of you
1 a.m. and can't nobody get a hold of you
I'm calling your brother's phone, like what was I supposed to do?
Even though I knew he never told the truth
He was just gon' say whatever that you told him to
At a certain point I had to stop asking questions
Y'all got dirt on each other like mud wrestlers
I heard he bought some coke with my money, that ain't right, girl
You getting blackmailed for that white girl
You always said Yeezy, I ain't your right, girl
You'll probably find one of them "I like art" type girls
All of the lights, she was caught in the hype girl
And I was satisfied being in love with a lie
Things used to be, now they not
Anything but us is who we are
Disguising ourselves as secret lovers
We've become public enemies
We walk away like strangers in the street
Gone for eternity, we erased one another
So far from where we came with so much of everything
How do we leave with nothing?
Lack of visual empathy
Equates the meaning of L-O-V-E
Hatred and attitude tear us entirely
Chloe Mitchell
And I know that you are somewhere doing your thing
And when the phone called it just rang and rang
You ain't pick up but your phone accidentally called me back
And I heard the whole thing
I heard the whole thing, whole thing, whole thing
Oh, my God, baby, you done took this shit to the 'nother motherf**king level
Now a neighborhood nigga like me
Ain't supposed to be getting no p*ssy like this
God damn, god damn
Who taught you how to get sexy for a n*gga? Yeezy taught me
You never used to talk dirty, but now you, you god damn disgusting
My, my God, wh-wh-where'd you learn that? Yeezy taught me
Look at you mother******* butt-ass naked
With them mother******* Jimmy Choo's on
Who thought you how to put some mother******* Jimmy Choo's on?
Yeezy taught me
Yo, you took your p*ssy game up a whole 'nother level
This is some Cirque Du Soleil p*ssy now, shit
You done went all porno on a n*gga, okay?
And I, I, I, I love it, and I thank you
I thank you, my dick thanks you
How did you learn, how di-
How did your p*ssy game come up?
Yeezy taught me
I was f**king parts of your p*ssy
I never f**ked before
I was in there like, "Oh shit I never been here before
I've never even seen this part of P*ssy Town before"
It's like you got this shit re-upholstered or some shit
What the f**k happened?
Who, who the f**k got your p*ssy all re-upholstered?
Yeezy re-upholstered my p*ssy
You know what, I got to thank Yeezy
And when I see that n*gga I'mma thank him
I'mma buy the album, I'ma download that motherf**ker
I'mma shoot a bootlegger, that's how good I feel about this n*gga
Oh, I still can't believe you got me this watch
This motherf**ker's the exact motherf**ker I wanted
With the bezel, this is the motherf**ker I wanted
I saw this shit, I saw it
Twista had this shit on in The Source, I remember
Twista had this ************ on in The Source
That's right, that's right
Yo, yo, babe, yo, yo, this is the best birthday ever
Where you learn to treat a n*gga like this?
Yeezy taught me
Yeezy taught you well
Yeezy taught you well

One of his biggest growers, "Blame Game" is grade A storytelling from Ye, aided by long-time collaborator John Legend. Double, triple, and perhaps even quadruple entendre lines; distorted vocals paired with that classic 'Twisted' instrumentation; and that outro. As brilliant as the overall track is, that Chris Rock outro is the highlight. It really drives home the message of how oftentimes the investments we make in others, the return/benefit of that investment is ultimately reaped by someone who isn't you. 10/10

004. New Body (feat. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign)

Oh my God, Ronny
Can't wait to see your new body
Don't be acting like you don't know nobody
No body count on your new body
I'll be the first one to hit your new body, whoa
New ass, new tits, new bitch, who this
Who else you know is this bad with two kids?
Nobody ever, ever gave you shit
Nobody flew to Colombia like you did!
Trying the new ass out with the new drip
Only thing to ask, who first to hit?
'Cause far as you 'cerned, you is a new bitch
In them, we in them, them niggas is too rich
Old dick don't count, these titties don't bounce
All these n*ggas say they're here, tryna run up your account
Picked up on a thou, yeah, this summer they were down
But they better act like they know who they f**kin' now
This a new bitch, got a party table at the Ruth Chris
All bad bitches take a group pic, had to step back 'cause she's too thick
Used to twerk to every, every song
Saved up to buy an ass of your very, very own
FaceTime, body looks like Dom Perignon
Don't pay me no attention, go and carry on
Hey yo, you ain't f**k me, you f**ked the old body
You ain't f**k Nicki, you f**ked Nicole body
Ain't no miles on this here new body
Off with their heads, these bitches is nobodies
G-got me a new body, now I need some new dick
No little wood, tryna stick me like a toothpick
Got me a new body, now I need some new dick
I bust shots, don't duck, unless the shoe fits
Cookie game make me the GOAT, cookie game come with the throat
Puff, puff, pass, no, you do not want the smoke
B-b-bitches be sleeping on me but be claiming they woke (ooh)
F**k up a check on my body (ahaha)
Then let them lick on my body out in Abu Dhabi (Grr)
You see me shining, you pissed
I-I-I think my haters just really be wanting a kiss (mwah)
They know I'd body you, sis
Old n*gga hit me and I said "New body, who this?"
(Old n*gga hit me and I said "New body, who this?")
New body, you've been working hard
I've been on your IG page, lurking hard
New boobie job, now they perfect
Six weeks off, it was worth it
Baby got that nip tuck, let me titty f**k
Hit it from the back, get my dick sucked
Put me on the scoreboard, make a new one
He said he hit before; not since you got your boobs done
You're working on your abs, huh? You got your ass done
You better show it all, you better work it
Why they body shaming? Baby, I commend it
Dr. Ghavami, I recommend it, woo!

Ye has done a lot of quality tracks over the years tackling a myriad of important themes, but what his discography has lacked, for me, is quality club bops so his election to leave this absolute stormer of a dancefloor smash in his shelved catalogue was and is disappointing. Oftentimes with even as few as three names on a track, there's someone who's out of place or delivers a limp verse, but all three names here fire on all cylinders. There was so much potential in this, but I am happy we at least got a mostly polished copy of this leak. It'll go down as one of the best unreleased songs ever. 10/10

003. Through the Wire

Yo, Gee, they can't stop me from rappin', can they?
Can they, Hop?
I spit it through the wire, man
(For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all)
There's too much stuff on my heart right now, man
I'd gladly risk it all right now
(Through the fire, through whatever, come what may)
It's a life-or-death situation, man
(For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way)
Y'all, y'all don't really understand how I feel right now, man
It's your boy, Kanye to the
(Right down to the wire, even through the fire)
Chi-Town, what's goin' on?
Uh-huh, yeah, yeah
I drink a Boost for breakfast, an Ensure for dessert
Somebody ordered pancakes, I just sip the sizzurp
That right there could drive a sane man berserk
Not to worry, Mr. H-to-the-Izzo's back to wizzerk
How do you console my mom or give her light support
Tellin' her her son's on life support?
And just imagine how my girl feel
On the plane, scared as hell that her guy look like Emmett Till
She was with me before the deal, she been tryna be mine
She a Delta, so she been throwing that Dynasty sign
No use me tryna be lyin', I been tryna be signed
Tryna be a millionaire, how I used two lifelines
In the same hospital where Biggie Smalls died
The doctor said I had blood clots, but I ain't Jamaican, man
Story on MTV and I ain't tryna make a band
I swear, this right here, history in the makin', man
I really apologize to everyone right now
If, if it's unclear at all, man
(For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all)
They got my mouth wired shut
For like, I dunno, the doctor said like six weeks
You know, he had reconstruct, I had reconstructive surgery on my jaw
(Through the fire, through whatever, come what may)
I looked in the mirror, half my jaw was in the back of my mouth, man
(For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way)
I couldn't believe it
But I'm still here for y'all right now, man
(Right down to the wire, even through the fire)
This what I got to say right here, dawg
Yeah, turn me up, yeah, uh
What if somebody from the Chi' that was ill got a deal
On the hottest rap label around?
But he wasn't talkin' 'bout coke and birds
It was more like spoken word
'Cept he's really puttin' it down?
And he explained the story 'bout how Blacks came from glory
And what we need to do in the game
Good dude, bad night, right place, wrong time
In the blink of a eye, his whole life changed
If you could feel how my face felt, you would know how Ma$e felt (Mason Betha)
Thank God I ain't too cool for the safe belt (uh-huh)
I swear to God, driver two wanna sue
I got a lawyer for the case to keep what's in my safe safe
My dawgs couldn't tell if I
I looked like Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky, it was televised
There's been an accident like GEICO
They thought I was burnt up like Pepsi did Michael
I must got a angel, 'cause look how death missed his ass
Unbreakable, what, you thought they'd call me Mr. Glass?
Look back on my life like the Ghost of Christmas Past (uh-huh)
Toys "R" Us where I used to spend that Christmas cash
And I still won't grow up, I'm a grown-ass kid
Swear I should be locked up for stupid shit that I did
But I'm a champion, so I turned tragedy to triumph (uh-huh, yeah, yeah)
Make music that's fire, spit my soul through the wire (woo)
You know what I'm sayin'?
When the doctor told me I had a, um, I was gonna have to have a plate in my chin
(For a chance to be with you, I'd gladly risk it all)
I said, dawg, don't you realize I'll never make it on a plane now?
It's bad enough I got all this jewelry on
(Through the fire, through whatever, come what may)
You can't be serious, man
(For a chance at loving you, I'd take it all the way)
(Right down to the wire, even through the fire)

The journey to "Through the Wire" is incredibly inspiring, though I will admit that the studio recording of this is not my preferred version of the track. In my view, the full magic of this song is captured via live interpretation. This song was a sign of what was to come. I mean, who would've thought to fuse an 80s Chaka Khan song with a hip/hop beat for a debut rap single? Only Ye. For me, this is the Ye song with the most heart. 10/10

002. Diamonds from Sierra Leone

Diamonds are forever
They won't leave in the night
I've no fear that they might
Desert me
Diamonds are forever
Throw your diamonds in the sky if you feel the vibe
Diamonds are forever
The Roc is still alive every time I rhyme
Forever ever? Forever ever? Ever, ever?
Ever, ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever? Ever, ever?
Close your eyes and imagine, feel the magic
Vegas on acid
Seen through Yves St. Laurent glasses
And I've realized that I've arrived, 'cause
It take more than a magazine to kill my Vibe
Does he write his own rhymes, so sort of, I think 'em
That mean I forgot better shit than you ever thought up
Damn, is he really that caught up?
I ask if you talkin' bout classics, do my name get brought up?
I remember I couldn't afford a Ford Escort or even a four-track recorder
So it's only right that I let the top drop on a drop-top Porsche
It's for yourself that's important
If a stripper named Porscha and you get tips from many men
Then your fat friend her nickname is Minivan
Excuse me, that's just the Henny, man, I smoke
I was sick about awards, couldn't nobody cure me
Only playa that got robbed but kept all his jewelry
Alicia Keys tried to talk some sense to them
30 minutes later seems there's no convincing them
What more could you ask for?
The international assholes nah
Who complain about what he is owed?
And throw a tantrum like he is three years old
You gotta love it though, somebody still speaks from his soul
And wouldn't change by the change, or the game, or the fame
When he came, in the game, he made his own lane
Now all I need is y'all to pronounce my name
It's Kanye, but some of my plastic still say Kane
Got family in the D, Kin-folk from Motown
Back in the Chi, them folks ain't from Motown
Life movin' too fast, I need to slow down
Girl ain't give me no ass, ya need to go down
My father been said I need Jesus
So he took me to church and let the water wash over my ceaser
The preacher said we need leaders
Right then my body got still like a paraplegic
You know who you can call you gotta best believe it
The Roc stand tall and you would never believe it
Take your diamonds and throw 'em up like you bulimic
Yeah the beat cold but the flow is anemic
After debris settles and the dust get swept off
Big K pick up where young Hov left off
Right when magazines wrote Kanye West off
I dropped my new shit, it sound like the best of
A&R's lookin' like "Pssh, we messed up"
Grammy night, damn right, we got dressed up
Bottle after bottle 'til we got messed up
In the studio, where really though, yea he next up
People askin' me if I'm gon' give my chain back
That'll be the same day I give the game back
You know the next question dog "Yo, where Dame at?"
This track the Indian dance to bring our reign back
"What's up with you and Jay, man, are y'all ok man?"
They pray for the death of our dynasty like Amen
R-r-r-right here stands a-man
With the power to make a diamond with his bare hands

Another song that lends itself to a live setting, "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" sees Ye deep in his wordsmith bag. "Through the Wire" is his song with the most heart, but this is him at the highest heights of his pen game. The lyric, "Big K pick up where Young Hov left off" felt very much a passing of the crown moment from one hip/hop king to another. 10/10

001. Power

I'm living in that 21st century
Doing something mean to it
Do it better than anybody you ever seen do it
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero need his theme music
No one man should have all that power
The clock's ticking, I just count the hours
The system broken, the school's closed, the prison's open
We ain't got nothing to lose, motherf**ker, we rolling
Huh? Motherf**ker, we rolling
With some light-skinned girls and some Kelly Rowlands
In this white man world, we the ones chosen
So goodnight, cruel world, I'll see you in the morning
Huh? I'll see you in the morning
This is way too much, I need a moment
F**k SNL and the whole cast
Tell 'em Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass
More specifically, they can kiss my asshole
I'm an asshole? You n*ggas got jokes
You short-minded n*ggas thoughts is Napoleon
My furs is Mongolian, my ice brought the goalies in
Now I embody every characteristic of the egotistic
He knows he so f**kin' gifted
I just needed time alone, with my own thoughts
Got treasures in my mind but couldn't open up my own vault
My childlike creativity, purity and honesty
Is honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts
Reality is catching up with me
Taking my inner child, I'm fighting for custody
With these responsibilities that they entrusted me
As I look down at my diamond encrusted piece
Stop tripping, I'm tripping off the powder
'Til then, **** that, the world's ours
Colin Powells, Austin Powers
Lost in translation with a whole ****in' nation
They say I was the abomination of Obama's nation
Well that's a pretty bad way to start the conversation
At the end of the day, goddammit, I'm killin' this shit
I know damn well y'all feeling this shit
I don't need your p*ssy, bitch, I'm on my own dick
I ain't gotta power trip, who you goin' home with?
How 'Ye doing? I'm surviving
I was drinking earlier, now I'm driving
Where the bad bitches, huh? Where y'all hiding?
I got the power make your life so exciting
Now this will be a beautiful death
I'm jumping out the window
I'm letting everything go
I'm letting everything go

Ye's top three songs stand separately from the rest of his catalogue, as individually brilliant and spectacular as they each are, but what gives "Power" the edge is the production. For far longer than he cared to be, he was pigeon-holed as a producer, but it's that special ear and vision he has in that role that makes him such a special emcee. A glorious amalgamation of rock and gospel music, seamlessly melded into this supreme, stadium-ready anthem, "Power" is a complete, crystallised masterpiece of a rap song that absolutely no one else could've delivered with an iota of the precision as Ye did. I've said before that this is Kanye West at his Kanye best and I doubt he'll ever top this. While not his most commercially successful, for me, this is his signature song as it captures his essence and excellence better than any of his other creations. 10/10