Top 10 Best Kanye West Songs

My favorite from the start - perhaps the best song ever. We're basically all in agreement, so I'll list a few reasons why I like this. For one, the beat is killer. Kanye picked the right music for his song.

Another thing: his vocals. Kanye West really put forward his best voice in this. Amazing! Gold Digger and Can't Tell Me Nothing are good, but this one easily tops all his other work combined.

Objectively, this is his biggest-scale production to date. He worked with producers across the globe and spent years perfecting everything from the lyrics to the vocals to the music video. In my opinion, nothing he's ever made could top it.

This song is my second favorite from Kanye West and is actually one of my top ten favorite songs ever, up to this point. The reason for this doesn't become clear until the first part of the song is over. At the 6:00 minute mark, the heavy distortion of the voice starts up. I'm not really sure of the official term, but it makes sense, I believe.

Lyrics have never been a big part of music for me. It's always been about the sound - how everything fits in with everything else. Kanye is probably the best modern artist for this reason. The emotion exhibited in this song is phenomenal and is one of the few songs I've listened to that actually made me tear up.

This song should definitely be in the top five. I won't say it should be number one because this is a list based on people's opinions, not a list of stated facts. However, if it were my own personal list of these ten songs, this would be number one. Though, if Say You Will were on the list, it would most definitely claim the number one spot. That song really defines a year-long depression in just six minutes.

People really don't understand what a breath of fresh air this guy was to hip-hop when this song (and album) was released in 2004. After years of bling and gangsta rap, with artists like 50 Cent rapping about being In Da Club and money, drugs, guns, and whatnot, here comes someone rapping about family and religion. And he does it in a totally non-preachy way. He also makes his own beats, and they sound well-orchestrated and grand! Kanye West will always have good looks for this song.

Obviously, this is the hit that brought him to extreme heights, but for good reason. Its production is insane and foreshadowed what was to come. Also, his lyricism and somewhat serious subject matter make it so much better.

"Gold Digger" is easily my favorite Kanye West song. This song is clever, has great lyrics, and a very memorable hook. "Gold Digger" keeps listeners laughing and wanting to hear what Kanye has to say about getting a prenup.

This song is so good. With awesome vocals by both Kanye and Jamie Foxx, and a hard-hitting beat, it should be at least in the top 3. Not to mention, it's probably one of his most well-known songs.

It always makes me laugh when I hear this song. It's just a song that everyone likes and can groove to. Kanye and Jamie Foxx are a recipe for disaster - in a good way.

It is definitely better than Stronger and Heartless, neither of which has any business being labeled his best song. That makes me suspect that those who voted for them do not listen to any other songs of his. Additionally, it is catchier than Jesus Walks. 21st Century Schizoid Man is an awesome song, and Kanye making it his hook was a brilliant idea that worked superbly.

This song is just something else. It exemplifies the prog-rock ethos of the entire album. From the genius King Crimson sample (at that point in time, who wasn't thinking of Kanye as a real-life 21st Century Schizoid Man?) to the cascading guitar riffs and acrobatic verses, this song essentially carries on the spirit of progressive rock through its compositional structure. The brilliant and haunting outro is genius.

I love this song so much. It's cool, the video is cool, and the use of auto-tune actually impresses me because he makes it work so well. He doesn't sound like an auto-tuned phony. Auto-tune works well for this song. Power, Gold Digger, Stronger, and Runaway are also good songs.

This is one of the few rap songs I've ever heard that can use auto-tune so well. Very well done, great melody. I prefer the original "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" rather than Kanye's version. Also, "Jesus Walks" should be number one.

Nothing could be better. Great use of everything he has. People just hate it because he uses his talents so effectively. I love the use of auto-tune. Keep it up, man.

This song is so great! I listen to it all the time. It makes me think of a memory. I love it. It's my favorite Kanye West song! Graduation, the album, is one of the greatest albums ever made.

This song was in The Hangover. It's an amazing night album, and the music video is unbelievable, like all Kanye West music videos.

This is my theme song right here! It puts me in my zone before I do anything. No matter how small the task, I listen to this song first.

Easily one of the greatest songs of all time, and my favorite rap song ever. The background music, lyrics, video, and vocal performances are just amazing. Not only that, but it features vocals from not only Kanye, but also Rihanna, Kid Cudi, Fergie, Elton John, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Elly Jackson, The-Dream, Charlie Wilson, Tony Williams, and Drake. Just an overall beautiful song from one of my favorite rappers of all time.

This is the best song of Kanye West, though I consider Eminem the best rapper alive and am his biggest fan. I am also a big fan of Kanye West. This song should be placed at number one, and Stronger should be at number two, and so on.

Alright, y'all, come on. How can you say this isn't the best song? I'm not talking about how good it sounds to you - that's just opinion. I'm talking from a perspective of lyrical content and deeper meaning. Here's why: the song is an allegory. It's two stories in one rap song.

On the surface level, it's a story about Kanye and a girl named Wendy falling in love and what they go through together. But Wendy is a symbol for Chicago and how Chicago changes and shapes Kanye.

Lines throughout the song, like "My name is Wendy, and I like to blow trees," can be interpreted in different ways. Either it's about Chicago, the Windy City, blowing on trees with its wind, or it's about Wendy smoking weed. I know that sounds weird, but you have to understand that in this case, "blowing trees" is less about smoking weed and more about having some swagger. Lines like these show you how much of a lyrical genius he is. It's not just appealing to the ear like "Stronger" or "Gold Digger," but something really deep, meaningful, and poetic. That's what rap is all about - finding a way to put poetry to a beat and making it sound good.

By far Kanye's most emotional track ever.

I personally think this should be at least number 5 on the top ten list. I don't understand how Stronger and Heartless are ahead of Through the Wire. This is one of his most meaningful songs, if not the most, because it was recorded only a few days after almost being killed in a car crash. This is one of Kanye's best songs, and it's on my personal top ten. Kanye is one of the most underrated rappers ever, especially for people who are just judging him on his three latest albums and not on his first three. I highly recommend The College Dropout and Late Registration.

Hip-Hop NEEDED The College Dropout in 2004. So much heavy gangster rap, and here comes Kanye, rapping about family, religion, and on this song, materialism. He also had a great sense of humor on his earlier records.

This is my favorite Kanye song because of the top-tier production, his passionate and powerful delivery (the lyrics are incredible) and Syleena Johnson's vocals are absolutely incredible. This song is perfect.

During last summer, I went through a rough patch. To distract myself, I tried to listen to every Kanye song. This song, to me, was by far the best. The beat, piano, gospel, and so much more make this song incredible.

Kanye West killed this track. I love how he is standing up for his own skin color and isn't just making a song about attracting girls or something like that.

I love this song. The lyrics give it a meaning that no one might understand, and I love that. Standing up for your own skin color is very courageous.

The best song on the album. If I could describe it, it's like Skrillex meets Wu-Tang Clan. It's the only song I could label as a masterpiece on that album.

Melody is nearly as insane as Ross's sick cameo! Heavily soul-sampled beats that Yeezy laces with rhymes about, what else? A relationship destroyed by a sexy, gold-digging female's desire for, well, Kanye's gold. "The way you look should be a sin / I'm preaching to the congregation / We love Jesus, but she done learned a lot from Satan." Dope, often hilarious rhymes? A dope beat?

Guitar solos in hip-hop, man, Christ. This album got me into hip-hop and fully pulled me out of my snobbish rap isn't music phase. If you like rock and are looking to get into hip-hop or rap, actually listen to this album. It's so, so good.

An ode to success that will leave anyone feeling great! The beat is on point, the lyrics are proper, and then add a fire guest appearance from Lupe - I couldn't imagine anyone disliking this song.

Straight-up dope, along with the rest of this album. Phenomenal song that actually says something.

I'm more of a Lupe fan than a Kanye fan, so of course, I think this song should be in the top ten!

I completely agree with the guy before me; "Power" is a masterpiece. I don't think anything from "808s" deserves to be on this list, but that's just my opinion. I think "All Falls Down" is definitely in the top 5, probably the top 3. "Good Life" should be higher too. I love Kanye. He's my favorite rapper. I just don't agree with a lot of this list. Also, this list is really mainstream. Songs like "All of the Lights" are horrible, but they are also really mainstream.

Looking back on how negative this comment is, I feel like I should say again that I love Kanye. I would probably put "Good Life" or "Can't Tell Me Nothing" at number one.

This song is epic, probably my favorite Kanye West song of all time. It still gives me chills when I listen to it, especially the bonus track version. I love how it sheds light on the inhumanity of the blood-diamond trade and how materialistic consumers are culprits in their desire for diamonds. I personally prefer the bonus track version over the remix with Jay-Z. The remix cuts some of Kanye's verses to add a Jay-Z verse where he mostly brags about how great he is and how much money he has, rather than adding to the meaning of the song.

This is by far Kanye's best song. Honestly, I think this is the best rap song ever.

Amazing beat by Kanye and amazing collaboration with Nicki.

Nice beats, incredible lyrics, and it flows extremely well.

Incredible auto-tune. Kanye's bit is great too, and I can't help but nod my head to this. I haven't listened to a lot of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but this is by far the best tune on it. Blame Game is good too, but this rocks.

Lyrically, it's one of the most underwhelming songs on MBDTF. However, sonically, it might be one of Kanye's best songs. The instrumental is the perfect encapsulation of the maximalist theme that Kanye conveys on the album.

I was blown away when I first heard this song. Never has autotune and sampling been used so brilliantly.

My favorite. This is the most beautiful song that shows why people loved Kanye in the first place. Also, I would like to point out that the top 5 voted songs are all from different albums, and I think that's pretty cool.

Beautiful piano, beautiful message. I would say it's at least the best song on LR, next to Hey Mama. The backup vocals on the chorus are great, and you can tell he's really genuine when he talks. Basically, every bar in the first verse rhymes and flows perfectly.

Beautiful, wistful beat and some great, topical verses on something more real than just women and money.

I Wonder is an amazing sample of who he is and what he believes. It speaks of how his dreams have come true while addressing aspects of himself and concepts to which we can relate as well. Additionally, it has an amazing beat with a sick chorus and epic bass. Really, this is a masterpiece of music.

One big reason why Graduation has always been my favorite Kanye album is his sample usage for the beats. It was just excellent.

This is a great song. I don't know who sings the chorus, but it's really good. This song is simple yet fantastic. And I wonder.

This is the greatest Kanye song. The hook and the flow are just beautiful.

This is a classic. The sample is beautiful.

This is a classic song. Play it anywhere, and everybody will start singing.

I feel like this song gets overlooked because of the love/hate relationship fans had with the album Yeezus. However, this song is the only one that crosses the border between the two types of fans.

The lyrics are amazing. The beat is reminiscent of the maximalism on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and the haunting melodies on 808s and Heartbreak. This song often brings me to tears when I play it. Kanye's ingenious comparison of Black mob lynchings to a celebrity's ruined love affair is incredible.

In my opinion, this is Kanye's last classic. The raw emotion he felt during MBDTF and 808s was fading into ego, and it did. That ego prevented the genius from Kanye from coming back out, and when it did, it was in unconventional ways. Listen to all six minutes of it and be impressed with the genius of Mr. West.

How the heck is this down in the 30s? This should be in the top five, along with Stronger, Gold Digger, and Heartless. It has a nice, easy-to-memorize hook and an overall cool beat. 2 Chainz, Pusha T, and Big Sean dominate this song!

I don't know why this is 28th! This should at least be fifth. I can't believe the people who voted. They're definitely bad voters. Actually, they're terrible voters. People these days don't know a thing about music. Seriously, what are people thinking?

Everybody performs well in this song, and somehow 2 Chainz got the best verse. It's an insane song and definitely one of the best on Cruel Summer, besides New God Flow.