The quintessential Kanye West playlist

Before Kanye West released The College Dropout, he was praised for his production work for artists such as Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z. He put the world on notice about his potential as a rapper with his debut single “Through The Wire.” The song sampled Chaka Khan’s 1985 hit “Through the Fire,” and West titled his track in reference to rapping the song while his jaw was wired shut.

Kanye West’s “Touch The Sky” was produced by Just Blaze and Kanye. With a sample of Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up,” the song finds West detailing how much confidence he has in his success. 

In 2008, Kanye West released 808s & Heartbreak, his fourth studio album. The album focused on love, loss, and heartache, evident in the lead single “Love Lockdown.” West raps in autotune as he tries to handle the aftermath of a failed relationship.

“All Falls Down” focuses on people worrying about material and superficial things. It has him questioning what life would be like if people didn't focus on worldly possessions. He knows that things people treasure can always be taken away on any day.

In 2004, Kanye West founded the record label imprint GOOD Music. In 2012, Kanye West released Cruel Summer, a compilation album that featured artists from the GOOD Music roster. Produced by Hit-Boy, the album’s final single “Clique” had West, Jay-Z, and Big Sean boasting about their friend groups.

“Jesus Walks” was an unexpected song from Kanye West. Because the song is presented from a faith-based standpoint, some people didn’t think it would get radio airplay. However, the drum instrumentation and the choir make it sound like it could easily be on gospel radio. Kanye West had three versions of the video, and the track earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song.

Kanye West teamed up with Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine on “Heard ‘Em Say.” The song stresses how nothing in life is guaranteed and encourages listeners to do the right thing. 

A number of songs in Kanye West’s early discography have heavy string instrumentation. This sound was prevalent in his single “The New Workout Plan,” which had a melody led by violinist Miri Ben-Ari. 

It’s the opening line of “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” Kanye West sets a confident tone as he says, “La, la, la, la / Wait ‘til I get my money right.” He then goes into detail about how sometimes fame and success can change people.

In Kanye West’s earlier production days, he was known to use samples from old-school songs. It was no different when he teamed up with Twista for the single “Slow Jamz.” The song sampled Luther Vandross’ cover of “A House Is Not A Home” and featured Jamie Foxx on vocals. Twista’s fast rapping style perfectly contrasts with Kanye’s smooth and soulful production.

“Flashing Lights” finds Kanye trying to handle his emotions regarding an ex-girlfriend. The track became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

After the massive success of The College Dropout, Kanye West had to make sure Late Registration, his sophomore project, could follow in its footsteps. The album’s second single, “Gold Digger,” skyrocketed to the top of Billboard charts. The song samples the Ray Charles track “I Got A Woman.” Jamie Foxx is featured on the track, and Foxx also portrayed Charles in his biopic, Ray. 

In 2016, Kanye West released The Life of Pablo, his seventh studio album. The album was led by “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1,” which is about a couple arguing but, in the end, realizing they still want to wake up next to each other.

On “Drive Slow,” Kanye West showcases how the worlds of hip-hop and jazz intersect. The rapper references cars as a message to go through life with ease.

Throughout Kanye West’s discography, especially earlier in his career, he was prone to experimenting with different sounds. His empowerment single “Stronger” fused hip-hop with electronic music — filled with synthesizer elements while sampling Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” 

Using a sample of Michael Jackson’s hit song “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," Kanye West teamed up with T-Pain for “Good Life.” The track is about celebrating, living lavishly, and telling haters to continue to hate from the outside. 

Going back to Kanye West's passion for song sampling, he uses Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” on “Believe What I Say.” The song became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Kanye West has consistently advocated for his hometown of Chicago. He teamed up with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin on “Homecoming,” in which the rapper pays tribute to his city and feels guilty for leaving to pursue his dreams.

Kanye West teamed up with producer No I.D. for “Heartless.” West details a failed relationship. He doesn’t see any sign of reconciliation. He also believes that his ex-partner won’t be able to find a better person than him.

The piano-driven melody on “Runaway” finds Kanye West realizing his imperfections with relationships. He knows his ego is just who he is, but he’s not going to change himself to please others.

Although “Ultralight Beam” wasn’t officially a single, it was an instant standout from The Life of Pablo. The song features vocals from Kelly Price, Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin, and a gospel choir.

In “All of the Lights,” Kanye West tells the story of a person dealing with troubles in their life. "All of the Lights" had quite the all-star element with additional vocals from artists like Drake, The-Dream, Elton John, Charlie Wilson, John Legend, Rihanna, and more. The song won Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Jesus Is King, Kanye West’s ninth album, meshed more of his hip-hop sound with gospel. The lead single, “Follow God,” is about wrestling with living a religious life and following God’s direction when faced with adversities.

In 2013, Kanye West released Yeezus, his sixth album. Although it only garnered two singles, the standout track was “Bound 2.” The song finds Kanye West wearing his emotions on his sleeve and showcasing love for his partner. 

In 2010, Kanye West released My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, his fifth album. Lead single “Power” is a track that stands out with its production, thanks to the sample of King Crimson’s “21^st Century Schizoid Man.”

There was controversy surrounding “Life of the Party” due to rapper Drake leaking an earlier version of the song. However, the version that made it to Kanye's album presented a vulnerable and emotional rap from André 3000 as a tribute to his late mother. 

“Otis” is the second single from Watch The Throne, the collaborative album from Kanye West and Jay-Z. The song has always been a fan favorite due to the Otis Redding feature, with a sample of “Try a Little Tenderness.” The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.

In 2018, Kanye West released his eighth studio album, appropriately titled Ye. (He legally changed his name to Ye in October 2021.) The lead single, “Yikes,” tells the story of someone dealing with drug addiction and the menacing side effects it could have. The song peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Estelle worked with Kanye West for her breakout single, “American Boy.” Although Estelle hails from London, the song tells the story of meeting an attractive man from America. The song was produced by will.i.am. and featured songwriting from John Legend. 

Kanye West and Jay-Z teamed up on “N—s in Paris,” in which the two detail about balling so hard while staying true to themselves in the famous French city. The single won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance at the Grammy Awards.