Let's have some fun, eh?
I had to think about doing this one for a little bit. I mean, I felt like if I did it a couple months ago, I would just be copying Complex, but if I did it a month ago, I would be copying Needle Drop. But hey, no matter what I'll be compared to the Melon or whomever. So, fuck it. Here it is.
The best Kanye albums, from the worst to the best. Now, I know Kanye is definitely a polarizing person, and people usually have strong feelings about him, I'll establish how I feel, so you now where I'm at. I tend to disagree with a lot of what he says, and he's definitely a larger than life person, but you have give the man credit for his music. His albums are some of the most highly produced, event-sized, and well done hip hop albums ever. I have my favorites, and that's what this list is. If you have a different list, let me know. This kind of stuff is just for fun.
Note: I am not counting Cruel Summer. It's a compilation of GOOD Music artists, and should be treated as such.
8. Yeezus
Easy. This is his worst album that he's ever made. Having said that, I don't hate this album. It just annoys me a lot. Sure, sonically, this is the most dark and minimal Kanye has ever gone. However, this always showed how far from innovative music making Kanye has gone. Most of the songs come off at Kanye doing his best Death Grips impression, and the other half is Kanye bitching about how he's not accepted in the fashion industry. In between the cracks though, we see themes of "rich racism" and straight raw emotion we've never seen from him before. The kind where he screams on a chorus, not the ones where he talks about his Grandma in the hospital. It's kind of a problem when the first track sound like a carbon copy of "COME UP AND GET ME", and the last track (the best one), reminds me of Kim Kardashian trying to look sexy on a bike.
7. Watch The Throne
The collaborative album of Jay-Z and Kanye West. Ya know, I was just barely breaking into the hip hop scene when this album came out. There was talks of who had the best verses, what songs were wack, and if this album was a classic. Let me answer those: Jay, "Lift Off" and "Made in America", and no. I'm aware this album as a big event, but it's not a testament to hip hop, it's not the bar v bar competition either. This album is a celebration of success. And it gave us "No Church In The Wild". Pretty happy about that.
6. 808's and Heartbreak
This one grew on me. For reference, I used to think this was his worst album. You might think it's his worst album, or his best. When this came out, everyone thought this was it. No more soul samples. No more college bear. No more "old" Kanye. He made a straight up indie record. It's his massive switch up, with a concept that mirrors how he was feeling at the time. Going through the death of his mother, and a break up with Amber Rose as well. He manifested all of those feelings into this record. Honestly, I hated it because, of course, the autotune. But once I got past it, it's really not a bad album. His lyrics are heart-breaking, the production is pristine, and it was a good indicator of what hip hop will offer in the future. Did I mention how freakin' influential this album is? It deserves a good listen.
5. The Life of Pablo
Ah yes. The enigma that is The Life of Pablo. I had a lot of strong feelings on this album when it was first released. He was doing that whole "this is a moving art instillation... the songs constantly change", basically he released it unmixed then would repair it later. And you know what, after everything was mixed, this album sounded pretty great. I mean, holy cow it this thing has low points, but it also has some highlights as well (not the track, Highlights though). This album is a scatterbrained, Jackson Pollock-inspired sound collage. It's the most modern Kanye album, but also the most abstract. He'll have straight industrial rap like on "Feedback", then feeds you with the old Kanye like on "Real Friends". The asshole line on "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" is still one of the worst lines I've ever heard. That drop is incredible though.
4. Graduation
Oh, you know what it is. Kanye's entrance into a more commercial and stadium sounding rap went better than possibly imagined. I remember hearing "Stronger" on the radio way back, and it was probably my favorite radio hit of that year. Nothing else sounded so grandiose in the most electronic sense on the radio. Then I found out it was Kanye West, the person I pretty much hated up until that point. It changed my entire perception of him. I checked out the rest of the singles from this album and loved those too. Got older, listened to the album, and it's one of his best. However, this is easily his most dated album. "Barry Bonds" and "Drunk and Hot Girls" are some of Kanye's worst tracks. But, the album easily has more highs than lows. "Flashing Lights" is this flashy yet epic ode to the fame. This song sounds like the grand limelight manifested into sound. This whole album has hit after hit, man. If this is your favorite, I don't blame you at allllll.
3. The College Dropout
CLASSIC. This album is an undisputed classic amongst all hip hop fans. This was the world's introduction to Kanye West. Fresh off producing The Blueprint, it felt like Kanye was ready to prove the world what he was capable of. To this day, it remains a breath of fresh air that hip hop desperately needed. It stands as an album that has sounded better over time, and was one of his most grand statements. This has some of his best singles ever, "Jesus Walks", "Slow Jamz", and "All Falls Down". Shoot, most of the tracks here are damn near perfect. There is only a couple skippable songs away from this album shooting higher on the list for me personally. But honestly, if you listen to ANY album from this list first, start with his first record, then work your way outward.
There's a certain charm about this album I just can't pinpoint. Maybe it's the quirkiness of Kanye mixed with the soul samples that really show you a musical marvel at the top of his game. Well, until his next album.
There's a certain charm about this album I just can't pinpoint. Maybe it's the quirkiness of Kanye mixed with the soul samples that really show you a musical marvel at the top of his game. Well, until his next album.
2. Late Registration
No, this album is NOT too high. There is not one skippable track on this album. It's everything great about The College Dropout but more refined, mature, and even creative. Kanye was exploring with what he had been working on for years prior. Boy, did it pay off. He went into some darker directions with "Addiction", then he shows off how he masterfully orchestrates his production on tracks like "Heard Em Say", "Drive Slow", and ESPECIALLY "Gone". I'll always say this is his most underrated album. It's the pinnacle of the Old Kanye everyone loves to prop up. It's Kanye being a God in his ow sound. Perfectly crafted. The only flaw is it slowly loses momentum until the very last track. Not that the lost momentum is a bad thing, Kanye lets you sit in each song made here. I appreciate every little trinket his album has to offer.
1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
If you know me, you seen this coming. From miles away. This is one of the most expertly produced, rapped, and engineered albums I have ever listened to ever. It's one of the first hip hop albums I fully digested. It has songs that I personally connect with. It's Kanye at the height of his producing powers and his lyrical ability. "Dark Fantasy" masterfully recreates ODB's "Shimmy Shimmy Ya", to make it the sweetest and most epic album opener in all of Kanye's discography. "Gorgeous" has some of the best and thought-provoking Kanye bars ever (Is hip hop just a euphemism for a new religion?/ The soul music of the slaves the youth is missing?). AND "POWER". OH MY GOD. "POWER". That's one of my favorite songs of all time probably. It's perfectly crafted, especially that King Crimson sample. Jesus, it gives me chills. "All of the Lights" is a damn beautiful track as well. Rihanna is a huge highlight on there. Then we got Nicki Minaj's best verse ever on "Monster", a track that is grisly as it implies. I honestly don't know who had the best verse sometimes. I say the same thing about "So Appalled". Released in one of the best roll-outs of an album, GOOD FRIDAYS, where Kanye releases a free track a week until the album.
Alright. "Runaway". Oh my god, man. Can't explain how much this track has been played through my brain during hard times on cheap ear buds. I connect with it a lot, even if it's quirky, I'm quirky too. Pusha T presents a gorgeous guest appearance, something I thought before I would never say.
Who could forget "Lost In The World"? Come on. Listen to it once and you know what I mean.
This album was definitely needed when it came out. 808s left a bad taste to everyone, and this was his return to hip hop. And boy, this was one of the best returns any artist has every displayed.
This album was definitely needed when it came out. 808s left a bad taste to everyone, and this was his return to hip hop. And boy, this was one of the best returns any artist has every displayed.
Alright, and that about does it.
If you got a different list. Let me know. I'd love to compare and contrast.
Praise Yeezus!
2020!
2020!
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