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West has attracted an exceeding amount of attention on social media in recent months. For a guy who once idolized Dame Dash, Beanie Sigel, and Freeway, it’s more than just a miracle that he has become an icon Jay Z endorses. Ye surpasses everything a starving artist could pray for. High-profile relationships? Check! Has he sold out shows? Check! RCAA-certified platinum-selling albums? Check! Fame and a gigantic estate? Check! Does a big-name celebrity co-sign? Check! Millions of dollars of clothing, sneaker, and record deals? Check! With Jay Z as a mentor, Ye also proved to be a brilliant entrepreneur.
Yes, there are hiccups in Ye’s checks, but they’re still remarkable. Amber Rose and Kim Kardashian have a reputation that surpasses their goodwill, and Kanye’s clout is often marred when his tirades explode on social media. While his sneakers are costly, his clothes look like they came from Zion in the Matrix. There you have it. If there were negatives about this multi-talented genius they would be his political views and his choice of women. Then again, I told my ex I was luckier than her present guy because we dated during her best years. Ye dated Amber Rose long before she was the publicly known radical feminist.
Kanye West falls in the unique class of high-profile fashion designers after producing some of the most classical music, rapping iconic lyrics, and collaborating with the best rappers. In one of my blogs, I wrote that he could be in the same clout as Dr. Dre, Timberland, or even Quincy Jones. Of course, Dre has a more brilliant career. He took NWA, Snoop, Tupac, Eminem, The Game, and Kendrick to higher heights, and his Beats brand also falls into a whole other stratosphere. But Kanye is right up there too.
Dr. Dre is the only megastar alive who only dropped three albums and still became a mogul. Most people don’t realize that as a “Nigga Wit Attitude,” he also set the microphone on fire. By that, I mean he held his own as a rapper. The reason I even made comparisons between Ye with Dre is that they both produce and rap on a high level. If you consider the entirety of Dre’s career, Ye has not come close by a far stretch, but he defeated 50 Cent by being a doper emcee and a more elite music producer at the same time.
Obviously, if you consider the entirety of Dre’s career,
Ye has not come close by a far stretch.”
Hip Hop respects rappers who write their lyrics, and we all know Kanye receives help in that department. The upside to this is that even as great producers, Dre and Kanye also get service on the boards. Samples aside, these super producers get assistance from other renowned producers in the industry. These are some of the hiccups of which I spoke earlier. I would say, I’d been a vast Dre fan before Kanye but put his ego aside, Ye has the potential to reach Dre’s level at some point significantly since he didn’t falter when he switched his original sound to this vintage one. Without further ado, here is my list of Ye’s albums:
I expect Ye to be a bit more God fearing than that.
However, if he’s referring to the 5 Percenter’s definition of the black man being god as in the sun while black women are goddesses as in the moon…”
7. Yeezus [2013] – This is the dopest wack album I’ve ever heard. I forced myself to play it in the truck, which was painful. I don’t know if he was pushing his boundaries production-wise or introducing a new sound. All I can say is that his promotion team did an excellent job marketing this record. I’ve noticed what I can only describe as that vintage Kanye West sound in many songs lately. The lyrics are well-written, and his rap delivery is spot-on. “Blood on the Leaves” is my favorite song on this one.
While I admired its grit and social consciousness, I’m not keen on Ye calling himself God or being blasphemous. I expect Ye to be a bit more God-fearing than that. However, if he’s referring to the 5 Percenter’s definition of the black man being a god, as in the sun. In contrast, black women are goddesses, as in the moon and the universe’s stars representing black children. The album is certified gold, with about seven songs played on the radio. I won’t co-sign it on any day. I will subscribe to it.
I’m sure if someone bleached their asshole they would want to let people know about it. “Pt. 2” is dope! So is “Famous”, “Real Friends” and “No More Parties in LA”.
6. The Life of Pablo [2016] – This album is unconventional. It has the potential to be a classic. I don’t doubt that. But it does not fall high on my list of Kanye’s best work. Of course, I streamed the whole thing on Tidal. On the production end, it’s better than “Yeezus” but falls short lyrically because it doesn’t paint that sophisticated picture I’ve known Ye to paint. I’m not really into songs about how much pussy or dick is in an artist’s life. I want to hear topics that move the Kulture. There’s so much going on in the world
Pussy should be given to someone like Kanye, so there shouldn’t be a need to emphasize that on his record. OK, maybe in one song but any more than that, and it’s just too much. If someone breached their asshole, they would want to inform people about it. “Pt. 2” is dope! So are “Famous,” “Real Friends,” and “No More Parties in LA.” It’s a song for a song album. However, I kept wanting what wasn’t there.
A Hip Hop head should enjoy it. However, it does not compare to his previous work. This album feels to me like a list of bonus tracks from “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” with the song “Feedback” being a leftover from “Yeezus.” The album lacks the excitement needed to have a social impact, but it can change how a platinum album or number-one hit is graded. It will be interesting to see what comes of it.
My impression of this album is one of pain and recovery. “Heartless”, “Amazing” and “Coldest Winter” easily portray…”
5. 808s & Heartbreak [2008] – I love this album! It gives me the feeling of chasing a dream and then losing the pleasure of attaining it, like surrendering the motivating influence that drove you to accomplish something, but what you relinquish is far more than your passion. The 808s represent the dream or objective that was striven for, and the Heartbreak represents the passion for the achievement.
Before this album was released, Kanye had tragically lost his mom. As a man who yearns to take his mom to Hollywood, I can only imagine his Heartbreak. My impression of this album is one of pain and recovery. “Heartless,” “Amazing,” and “Coldest Winter” easily portray the double platinum album’s message. Ye also experimented with his sound as he sang more than before. It is undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind classic.
The production is haunting. I hear the songs in my head hours after playing them. The words are touching. But I overplayed it to the extent that I can’t stand to autotune anymore.
I was in college around this time. I had attended several colleges up until this point so I could relate to the idea of dropping out only to become a success.”
4. The College Dropout [2004] – Most Kanye fans got hooked during this era. I think I speak for the more significant percentage when I say this is probably Kanye’s most authentic. He had been working on these songs for years before gaining Jay Z’s approval to be promoted from a Rocafella producer to coming off his own. I was in college around this time. I had attended several colleges up until now, so I could relate to dropping out only to become a success.
We had not known the egotistic side of the soon-to-be mogul. With songs like “Jesus Walks,” “All Falls,” and “Through the Wire,” it appeared that Kanye was going to be that emcee/producer who put the Soul back into Hip Hop. At that time, socially conscious rappers were not selling much, so he set another record in pitching real issues from the hood and having that be accepted on a mainstream level. The double platinum album went on to sell four million copies! As a true classic, it shows a hungry, excited, yet seasoned Kanye West who’s God-fearing, grateful, and street-smart.
In a way I think the reason why it’s difficult for me to appreciate “Yeezus” and “The Life of Pablo” is because I’m looking for the high I got from “Late Registration”
3. Late Registration [2005] – To tell you the truth, I was late to join the Kanye West bandwagon. While the world was going crazy over “The College Dropout,” I was heavy into those D-Block mixtapes. Styles P had kept the streets on lock. B was into Biggie, Pac, Snoop, Nas, Jay Z, and 50 Cent. I liked his debut, but I was not sold on Kanye yet. I remember going to Philadelphia in the spring of 2006 and catching up with a friend who enjoyed Kanye’s songs in car rides. She surprised me by slipping in the “Late Registration,” which I had not heard.
The boy, have I blown away! It was like listening to the best music I’d ever heard. That was the day I became a Kanye West fan. For me, this album has so much Soul. I went from that dude who thought Kanye was that pink polo-wearing soft to fully blasting “Heard Em Say,” “Diamonds of Sierra Leone,” “Touch the Sky,” and “Drive Slow.” I’m a guy who grew up away from his parents and spent most of his life missing his mom, so you could imagine how it felt to hear, “Hey, Mama.”
This album swept me way off my feet. I think it went triple platinum. In a way, I think the reason why it’s difficult for me to appreciate “Yeezus” and “The Life of Pablo” is because I’m looking for the high I got from “Late Registration.”
On all accounts this album is the very best of Kanye West.
It embodies duality in his experience. College guy meets world and unveils
some dark fantasies.”
2. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy [2010] – You can sense the brilliance in Ye’s work when you experience this album. It’s like sharing a journey where the subject goes from excitement, with the debut and sophomore albums, to the ultimate climax on “Graduation,” and then, boom! The warm, sunny, and colorful experience subsides to a rainy “808s and Heartbreak,” but after the storm passes, expecting a return to the bright, colorful, and warm atmosphere, you get to where it’s not rainy, but it’s not sunny either.
You feel the playful Kanye from “The College Dropout,” “Late Registration,” and “Graduation,” and you think of a wounded Kanye. The music gets darker, and a psychotic yet wealthy mogul emerges. You get a sense that he’s come to a different state of mind. On all accounts, this album is the very best of Kanye West. It embodies the duality of his experience. A college guy meets the world and unveils some dark fantasies.
The platinum-selling album is a once-upon-a-time narrative, a classic, and Kanye’s last great album. With “All of the Lights,” “Blame Game,” “Monster,” and “Power,” you feel his orchestral return to the Soul. It’s Like Ray Charles when he recorded “Georgia.” You hear anthem after anthem. His lyrical delivery is at its peak.
When it’s all said and done, Kanye is one of
the most talented people who inhabited God’s green earth.”
1. Graduation [2007] – 50 Cent couldn’t have picked the worst time to challenge Kanye. His music career never recovered from the blow of “Graduation.” I consider it part three of “The College Dropout.” The mercury rises higher on “Late Registration” and overflows on “Graduation.” Here, Kanye celebrates his success. He also warns of what’s to come. All-time classics “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” “Champion,” “Flashing Lights,” “Good Life,” and “Stronger” galvanizes his victory!
But he defeated 50 Cent by proving to be not only a dope emcee but also an elite producer.”
He’s now untouchable! Sadly, we don’t know if Ye would have switched this path if his mom had not passed. “808s & Heartbreak” seemed to have transitioned him. In his post “Graduation” work, you watch the mercury rise again, but it does not overflow. Ye’s fans are torn. They know he’s a genius who pushes the envelope to deliver a masterpiece. But, besides “Watch the Throne,” we find that while “The College Dropout,” “Late Registration,” and “Graduation” are classics on the earlier side of his musical offering, “808s & Heartbreak” is at the midpoint. At the same time, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” remains the best of the latter.
“Yeezus” and “The Life of Pablo” will always be up for debate. Kanye’s work on “Watch the Throne” is another masterpiece, but it counts as a collaborative rather than a solo effort. Ultimately, it will remain his best if he does not do another album on the “Graduation” level. When it’s all said and done, Kanye is one of the most talented people who inhabited God’s green earth. Out of seven solo albums he has released, at least four are indisputable classics. No one can deny that. *
