Whether you're a Ye follower, you're still salty over the 2009 MTV Video-Music-Awards-Taylor-Swift incident, or you just don't like him, you can't deny that Kanye has supplied constant personality and influential music throughout the last two decades.
Even if you hate Kanye's personality, I guarantee that you know these 13 songs and love them:
1. "All Falls Down" (2004)
"She had hair so long that it looked like weave,
Then she cut it all off now she look like Eve."
This 2004 hit is a reminder that everyone is a little insecure or self-conscious-- even the pretty and the wealthy. He also reminds us that "the people highest up got the lowest self esteem" and that "the prettiest people do the ugliest things." We may envy the lives of celebrities such as himself, but things are not always as they seem. Money doesn't buy you happiness, and looks do not give you a self-esteem.
2. "Gold Digger" (2005)
"Get down, girl, gon' head get down."
3. "Flashing Lights" (2007)
"As I recall, I know you love to show off,
But I never thought that you would take it this far."
You can almost see the paparazzi's flashing cameras when you listen to this song. The 2007 hit is timeless and arguably the best song off of his Graduation album. "But what do I know?"
4. "Ni**as in Paris" (2011)
"Prince William’s ain’t do it right if you ask me,
Cause I was him I would have married Kate & Ashley."
Be honest with yourself-- you'll never be able to look at a fish filet the same way again. Whether you like Ye or not, you've known almost every line to this song since it was released in 2011. The song has become a 5x Platinum record and won over 5 big time awards. This Ye and Jay Z collab however is mostly known for it's unexpected sample of dialogue from the Will Ferrell and Jon Heder ice-skating comedy "Blades of Glory."
5. "Mercy" (2012)
"Well, It is a weeping, and a moaning, and a gnashing of teeth. It is a weeping, and a moaning, and a gnashing of teeth. It is - when it comes to my sound which is the champion sound. Believe! Believe!"
6. "Stronger" (2007)
"N-now th-that that don't kill me,
Can only make me stronger.
I need you to hurry up now,
'Cause I can't wait much longer."
I am sure I was not the only one that was slightly thrown off by Kanye sampling Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster Stronger" in this 2007 hit. You have to admit that what he did with the prominent sample was borderline musical genius though. Also, I am almost positive that the the music video for this song is to thank for the shutter shade fad-- so there's that.
7. "Heartless" (2009)
"The coldest story ever told,
Somewhere far along this road, he lost his soul to a woman so heartless."
A little perfectly auto-tuned reminder that even Ye has feelings. This was the second single for his fourth studio album, "808's and Heartbreak." The album came shortly after his break up with his fiancee Alexis Phifer and the untimely death of his mother. He poured his emotions from the two life-changing events into his music and it paid off.
8. "Good Life" (2007)
"And now my grandmamma ain't the only girl calling me baby."
When you hear this song come on, you can't help but smile. The world loved this summer time hit, and it won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song at the 50th Grammy Awards. While Kanye and T-Pain's auto tuned voices are rapping about fame and fortune, the catchy tune and chorus allow us to embody a moment of life appreciation ourselves. We all are left feeling like we are living the good life too-- and the truth is that we are.
9. "All of the Lights" (2010)
"Cop lights, flash lights, spot lights, strobe lights, street lights
All of the lights, all of the lights."
This contagious collab with Rihanna was Kanye's fourth single dropped from his fifth album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." The song is 4 minutes and 59 seconds of Rihanna's electrifying vocals paired with Ye's clever lyricism and was an instant hit.
10. "Love Lock Down" (2008)
"I'm not loving you, the way I wanted to."
This was the lead single of Kanye's album "808's and Heartbreak." The song was very different from the music West had previously released, but the song was well received by his fans and the music industry. No matter how much you dislike Kanye, you know this song brings back some happy middle school memories.
11. "Touch The Sky" (2005)
"Gotta testify,
Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly.
'Fore the day I die, I'mma touch the sky."
This song featuring a young Lupe Fiasco is almost motivational. The production by Just Blaze is perfection-- he used a slowed down horn sample from the Curtis Mayfield song "Move On Up." The song arguably jump started Fiasco's career. The music video was also well known and filmed as a humorous 70's style short movie about Evel Kanyevel.
12. "Father Stretch My Hands. Pt. 1" (2016)
"If young metro don't trust you..."
13. "Pt. 2" (2016)
"I just want to feel liberated, I, I, I-
I just want to feel liberated, I, I, I-"
Even if you only love this song for the sample of Desiigner's "Panda," you love it. The song is a continuation of "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" on Kanye's most recent album "The Life of Pablo." The two songs fit perfectly with the fragmented and unfinished nature composition of the album.
Even if you can't stand the man, you can't deny that he has supplied us many hits that we can not help but love. Kanye West might have a personality that is hard to swallow by most, but his music can be enjoyed by almost anyone.