What can be said about a collaboration from two of the greatest rappers and hip hop producers of all time? It delivered. Standout Tracksįor a reminder of who runs the rap game, look no further: a collaboration to be performed in colosseums. Amidst the anarchy, a great album was born in a tumultuous time. The album is simultaneously serious and silly, likely as Kanye intended. I met Kanye West, I’m never going to fail Ultralight Beam I made Sunday Candy, I’m never going to Hell Tubman of the underground, come and follow the trail You can feel the lyrics, the spirit coming in braille Chance the Rapper’s verse hammers it home in ULB. The album is one of Kanye’s most epic, like a monument built unto himself, with anthems like Waves and Ultralight Beam as its foundation. While the brash lyricism of Life of Pablo alone isn’t enough to carry the album, it’s supported by powerful percussion and an impressive production team. Toeing the line between unadulterated egoism and sincere gospel from track to track, The Life of Pablo brings the bars and pulsating excitement of the classic Kanye albums ranked in our list.
Following Yeezus, The Life of Pablo was a return to vintage Kanye. Standout TracksĮccentricity is in high demand these days, and Kanye is ever the supplier on this groovy rap album. One that opens up a new genre to play around in for Kanye.
An album with a beautiful choral sound that we’ve heard hints at in past albums. Overall, Jesus is King shot for the stars and landed among the clouds. They sing a different tune when the slammer close Use This Gospel If this wasn’t enough, No Malice’s passionate verse comes right before a Kenny G saxophone solo.Ī lot of damaged souls, I done damaged those In Use This Gospel, Kanye brings the rap duo Clipse, made up of Pusha T and No Malice, back together for the first time in nearly a decade. Traditional 808s styles sit in the background of Follow God and On God. The drums on Selah propel the track forward and heavenward. Many elements motivate each track, while the theme remains the same. Lyrically underwhelming, but sonically fascinating. What emerged after a troubled promotion was a gospel choir-backed rap album. Yet, taking a deeper look into Kanye’s discography, one finds gospel influences have been present in his music since College Dropout. To many, it seemed off-base for Kanye to drop the sinner persona in place of the saint. Gospel choirs sing the praises of a different King on this heavenly album as Kanye searches for that Ultralight Beam he was once on. It may lack the Kanye-like intensity his albums usually have, but it isn’t counterfeit Kanye by any means. Its sincerity, stellar production, and use of guests make up for the sometimes incomplete feel of the album. In the end, ye was one of the stronger projects to come out of the Wyoming Sessions. The track Ghost Town finds unparalleled freedom in a future hope surrounded by rock guitar and shrill organ, ultimately powered by high-flown vocals from 070 Shake. I use the same attitude that done got us here Wouldn’t Leave I got the mind state to take us past the stratosphere Kanye has always been busy, but he was scrambling during the infamous Wyoming Sessions. Ye came out exactly one week before Kids See Ghosts, and what’s even more astounding is that Kanye produced three more albums, all five of which dropped within a single month. Ye is a reminder that new Kanye will never be old Kanye, but he will always be Kanye. But it pales in comparison to the rest of their body of work together. Kids See Ghosts brings together a mentor and mentee who always make magic when they pair up, and this album is no exception. If I get locked up, I won’t finish the sent- 4th Dimension That’s too new to mention, or fit in a sentence Might need an intervention for this new dimension Even among the company of ghouls Kanye’s clever wit is present. In 4 th Dimension, the twisted Louis Prima sample and shrieks seem to be the ghosts the title alludes to. Throughout the album, it’s Cudi’s hums that give the album a feeling like daydreaming in space, most evident on Fire and Reborn. With a runtime of 24 minutes, Kids See Ghosts barely feels like an album, and you can hear some of the rushed touch Kanye usually conceals. It flows freely with the thoughts and emotions of two artists who have gone through mental health issues and remain the icons they’ve worked so hard to become. This album, while at times depressing, is never repressing. The Kanye West / Kid Cudi partnership began in 2008 when Kanye recruited the up-and-coming Cudi to be on his GOOD Music record label.
The duo proved to be a tasteful collaboration, but their greatest albums have come each from their own minds.