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Top 20 Kanye West Songs: Top 5

 All right: home stretch.

We now find ourselves, finally, at the Top 5. It’s been a blast putting this list together so far, so I hope that I’m able to deliver with the final songs on the list.

While I have your attention, I’d like to address another opinion on the list that was brought to my attention: the predominance of earlier Kanye songs.

Now, there are a few reasons why many of the songs on this list are from Kanye’s first two albums.

A main reason is that the earlier songs were handled in a much more “hands on” way by West in terms of rapping and producing, and Kanye has since elevated himself to a more orchestral role.

Here’s Chijioke Orijakor again, with a much-better-than-I-can-describe explanation of Kanye’s career trajectory:

 

“I know–rapping wise–he was at his best between College Dropout and Late Registration. However, later in his career he gained this “Quincy Jones” skill of composing tracks. He spends less time producing and more time gathering/guiding production and rap geniuses, which allowed him to make My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The music sounds more epic and grand in his new role, but his rapping has diminished”.

 

While I probably just opened a can of worms that made this whole thing a lot more complicated than it needs to be, the main point is that there are two main phases of Kanye’s career to choose from. It seems as though many prefer the first phase, because it seemed more personal to West.

In any case, I won’t continue to delay this anymore. Thanks for staying with us during this journey.

Here are the Top 5 songs:

 

5. StrongerGraduation

Let me start by saying that this is the best beat Kanye West has ever constructed in his entire career. Given all of the songs that we’ve already visited on this list, that’s saying something.

Using a sample of a popular song is tricky: it can go over as passable, or it’ll blow up in your face…typically the second one.

In a great example of West flexing his confidence muscles, he decided to take on the masters of beat-making themselves: Daft Punk. Was Kanye’s sampling of the classic “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” passable?

Hell no. It was downright better.

There’s a certain heaviness to West’s reworking of the beat, which almost makes it seem as though Kanye’s incarnation is the perfected version of the original.

I haven’t even gotten to the content yet. But in the interest of space, let’s just agree that the lyrics to this song are just as impressive as the beat is.

Bow in the presence of greatness.

 

 

4. Through the Wire—The College Dropout

We now find ourselves at square one—where it all began for Kanye and his rapping career.

I just watched the video for the first time in several years, and I couldn’t help but smile at just how genuinely hard-working Kanye was at the start of it all.

The title “Through the Wire” refers to how West rapped the entire song with his mouth wired shut—the immediate result of a car accident that nearly took his life. The fact that Yeezy recorded this song only two weeks after his hospital visit help shows exactly how much he was willing to put on the line to get his rapping career off the ground.

And it’s this Kanye that we should never forget. Despite the crazy antics at award shows, and the Kim-K nonsense, he was—at one point—a guy who literally cheated death and made a name for himself by striking a relatable nerve in people across the nation.

West always looks back to his car accident as the beginning of a metaphorical “second life”. Given his recent self-proclamation as a musical deity—he wasn’t too far off.

 

 

3. Family Business— The College Dropout

It’s a bit difficult to describe this song without getting a little bit emotional.

The penultimate track of College Dropout is a heartfelt walk down memory lane, and a tear-jerking celebration of the dysfunction, timeless experiences, and idiosyncrasies that come with family.

I’ve said it perhaps a million times, but what turns music from good to “great” is the innate ability to connect to the innermost feelings of the listener.

This isn’t just a song that’s listened to: it’s experienced, digested, felt, and pondered. It’s nearly impossible to listen to this entire track without finding a line that whiplashes you back in time to a specific family gathering.

Whether the memories are joyful reflected upon or agonizingly longed for, the point is that the song will transport you there. I think that’s very powerful, and the main reason why “Family Business” is one of my favorite songs of all-time.

Okay, I’m going to stop now before I start crying.

 

 

2. Gold Digger—Late Registration

Just getting edged out for the top spot is Kanye’s biggest hit to-date, as well as the 9th most successful US single of the 2000s.

The 2003 track, which displayed West’s collaborative prowess at the highest level through the inclusion of Jamie Foxx’s vocals, captivated audiences through its hilarious subject matter accompanied by a bubblegum tone.

Yeezy was able to take two of the Modern Man’s worst fears—unplanned pregnancies and being hypnotized by a money grubbing she-harpy—and turn them into a laughable tale of relevancy that surprisingly offended very few people.

West was able handle such a dynamic topic through his clever wordplay. After all, he never did accuse women of being gold diggers—he was simply just pointing out some…trends.

The last verse really helps bring the song home. West gives his respects and blessings to both sides of the dating cycle— describing that the man will eventually overcome and move on, while also giving the girl encouragement to continue her ways.

The “don’t hate the player, hate the game” theme of Gold Digger will make the track as timeless and relevant as its most marquee line:

“Holler we want prenup!”

 

 

1. Jesus Walks—The College Dropout

(When I first started this list, I had the notion in my head that “Gold Digger” was undoubtedly going to be number one. But after hearing what my peers had to say, and giving both songs several, serious listens, the choice became clear)

Here’s a quote I heard recently that’s really resonated: “To be perceived as better, you must be perceived as different”.

Rappers who are just starting out, trying to make a name for themselves, will bend over backwards to fit the mold of whatever image is currently popular in the industry. That’s why it seems as though music trends occur in waves, with several artists promoting the same style and image.

It’s a simple equation in the eye of record executives: fit in, or get out.

In this track, not only does West articulate that there is faith to be found in all walks of life, but he also questions why the music industry shies away from positive religious content in favor of sex, violence, and drugs.

“So here go my single, dog, radio needs this/They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus/That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes/But if I talk about God my record won’t get played, huh?”

So who would have guessed that a rap artist releasing a song which openly broadcasted his faith would become a legendary hit? Well, Kanye did.

No wonder he calls himself a genius.

 

Well, thanks for coming along…

I’m actually a pretty sentimental person, and it’s pretty agonizing that I finally have to let this list go.

I had a blast doing it, and I know it’s because of all the input and feedback that I got from you all. I sincerely would like to thank anyone who either made suggestions, tuned in to read every (or any) installation, or those who did both. I really tried to make this series as best as I could, as a way of repaying everyone for your help.

We’re gonna downshift a bit here at Pearson’s Place and take a break, but be on the lookout for my next article, “The Layman’s Guide to Exercising”, which should be out in a few weeks.

As always, thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays!

#4Bear
#RIPCS<3
#2wheels4ever

 

Numbers 20-16
Numbers 15-11
Numbers 10-6
Honorable Mentions 

 

The Full List:

  1. Jesus Walks
  2. Gold Digger
  3. Family Business
  4. Through The Wire
  5. Stronger
  6. All Falls Down
  7. Runaway
  8. Can’t Tell Me Nothing
  9. Good Life
  10. Power
  11. Spaceship
  12. Touch the Sky
  13. New Slaves
  14. Monster
  15. Gorgeous
  16. Slow Jamz
  17. We Don’t Care
  18. Black Skinhead
  19. Homecoming
  20. Hey Mama

 

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