Kanye West has been a constant presence in my life since childhood. The first time I heard Through the Wire, I knew it would be one of my all-time favorite tracks. Recently, after watching Seb (la frite)’s latest video on Kanye, I felt inspired to dive back into his discography, which led to the creation of this article.
A Golden Era: Kanye’s Early Days
Kanye West’s first two projects, The College Dropout (2004), Late Registration (2005), and Graduation (2007), represent, to me, the very essence of timeless musical artistry. These albums laid the groundwork for a sound where innovation and efficiency blend seamlessly. Kanye had an unmatched ability to capture raw energy and transform it into unforgettable tracks, whether through heartfelt lyrics or rich, groundbreaking production. Even today, these albums remain essential references and foundational pillars of my personal musical journey.
The College Dropout (2004)
- Released : February 10, 2004
- Nb of tracks : 21
- Featurings : The Boys Choir of Harlem, Common, Consequence, Freeway, GLC, JAY-Z, J. Ivy, Ludacris, Syleena Johnson, Talib Kweli & Yasiin Bey
- Producers : Brian Miller, Evidence, Kanye West & Porse
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Through The Wire
- 2 – All Falls Down
- 3 – Never Let Me Down
Late Registration (2005)
- Released : August 30, 2005
- Nb of tracks : 23
- Featurings : Adam Levine, Brandy, Cam’ron, Common, Consequence, The Game, GLC, Jamie Foxx, JAY-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Nas, Paul Wall, Q-Tip, Really Doe, Rhymefest & Talib Kweli
- Producers : Devo Springsteen, Jon Brion, Just Blaze, Kanye West & Warryn Campbell
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Diamonds From Sierra Leone
- 2 – Gold Digger
- 3 – Hey Mama
Graduation (2007)
- Released : September 11, 2007
- Nb of tracks : 15
- Featurings : Al Be Back, Chris Martin, DJ Premier, Dwele, John Mayer, Lil Wayne, T-Pain & Yasiin Bey
- Producers : Al Be Back, Brian Miller, Daft Punk, DJ Toomp, Eric Hudson, Gee Robertson, Jason T. Miller, Kanye West, MIKE DEAN, Nottz, Plain Pat, Timbaland & Warryn Campbell
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Good Morning
- 2 – Homecoming
- 3 – Big Brother
The Age of Singles: A Fragmented Discovery
With the rise of platforms like YouTube, my way of discovering Kanye’s music evolved. At the time, I didn’t necessarily listen to his albums in their entirety—no need to purchase them anymore—but instead gravitated toward singles from various projects. Tracks like POWER, Otis and Heartless were everywhere, instantly becoming classics, even outside their album context. Kanye had mastered the art of crafting catchy songs that transcended genres and captivated diverse audiences.
808s & Heartbreak (2008)
- Released : November 24, 2008
- Nb of tracks : 12
- Featurings : Jeezy, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne & Mr Hudson
- Producers : Jeff Bhasker, Kanye West, Mr Hudson, No I.D. & Plain Pat
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Heartless
- 2 – Robocop
- 3 – Paranoid
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
- Released : November 22, 2010
- Nb of tracks : 14
- Featurings : Beyoncé, Big Sean, Bon Iver, Charlie Wilson, CyHi, JAY-Z, John Legend, Kid Cudi, Nicki Minaj, Pusha T, Raekwon, Rick Ross, RZA & Swizz Beatz
- Producers : Andrew Dawson, Bink!, DJ Frank E, Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker, Kanye West, Lex Luger, Mike Caren, MIKE DEAN, No I.D., RZA & S1
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Blame Game
- 2 – POWER
- 3 – All Of The Lights
Watch the Throne (2011)
- Collab album with JAY-Z
- Released : August 8, 2011
- Nb of tracks : 16
- Featurings : Beyoncé, Curtis Mayfield, Frank Ocean, Mr Hudson, Otis Redding & The-Dream
- Producers : 88-Keys, Anthony Kilhoffer, Don Jazzy, Hit-Boy, Jeff Bhasker, Kanye West, Ken Lewis, Lex Luger, MIKE DEAN, The Neptunes, No I.D., Om’Mas Keith, Pete Rock, Pharrell Williams, Q-Tip, RZA, S1, SAK PASE, Southside & Swizz Beatz
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Otis
- 2 – Ni**as In Paris
- 3 – No Church In The Wild
Yeezus (2013)
- Released : June 18, 2013
- Nb of tracks : 10
- Featurings : N/A
- Producers : 88-Keys, Ackeejuice Rockers, Arca, Ben Bronfman, Benji B, Brodinski, Carlos “6 July” Broady, Che Pope, Daft Punk, Dom Solo, Eric Danchick, Evian Christ, Gesaffelstein, Hudson Mohawke, Jack Donoghue, Kanye West, Ken Lewis, Lupe Fiasco, MIKE DEAN, Noah Goldstein, No I.D., Rick Rubin, S1, SAK PASE, TNGHT & Travis Scott
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – I Am A God
- 2 – Bound 2
- 3 – Black Skinhead
The Life of Pablo (2016)
- Released : February 14, 2016
- Nb of tracks : 21
- Featurings : Chance the Rapper, Chris Brown, Desiigner, Frank Ocean, Kelly Price, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, Kirk Franklin, Max B, Post Malone, Rihanna, Sampha, Sia, The-Dream, Ty Dolla $ign, VIC MENSA, The Weeknd & Young Thug
- Producers : Allen Ritter, Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer, Benji B, Boi-1da, Caroline Shaw, Cashmere Cat, Chance the Rapper, Charlie Handsome, Charlie Heat, DJDS, DK the Drummer, Ging, Havoc, Hudson Mohawke, Kanye West, Karriem Riggins, Keyon Christ, Kuk Harrell, Madlib, Menace, Metro Boomin, MIKE DEAN, Noah Goldstein, Plain Pat, Rick Rubin, Sevn Thomas, Sinjin Hawke, Southside, Swizz Beatz, Trevor Gureckis & Velous
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Famous
- 2 – FML
- 3 – No More Parties In LA
ye (2018)
- Released : June 1, 2018
- Nb of tracks : 7
- Featurings : PARTYNEXTDOOR
- Producers : 7 Aurelius, Aaron Lammer, Andy C, Apex Martin, benny blanco, Caroline Shaw, Che Pope, Eric Danchick, Francis and the Lights, Irv Gotti, Kanye West, MIKE DEAN, Noah Goldstein, Pi’erre Bourne, ROBOTSCOTT & Ty Dolla $ign
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Ghost Town
- 2 – Yikes
- 3 – Violent Crimes
KIDS SEE GHOSTS (2018)
- Collab album with Kid Cudi
- Released : Jun. 8, 2018
- Nb of tracks : 7
- Featurings : Louis Prima, Pusha T, Ty Dolla $ign & Yasiin Bey
- Producers : André 3000, Andrew Dawson, Andy C, benny blanco, BoogzDaBeast, Cashmere Cat, Dot Da Genius, E.Vax, Francis and the Lights, Jeff Bhasker, Justin Vernon, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, MIKE DEAN, Noah Goldstein, Plain Pat & Russell “Love” Crews
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Reborn
- 2 – 4th Dimension
- 3 – Feel The Love
A Sublime Conclusion with Gospel Music
In 2019, Kanye released Jesus Is King, followed by Donda in 2021. These albums delve into a different dimension of his artistry, blending gospel, introspection, and audacious musical experimentation. To me, these projects could serve as a perfect endpoint to his career. They showcase his unique talent for transforming genres often perceived as distant from mainstream appeal into groundbreaking phenomena. Kanye managed to merge spirituality with artistic creation, innovating in realms few dared to explore. Unfortunately, this depth seems absent in his more recent projects, like the VULTURES series, which lack the same spark.
JESUS IS KING (2019)
- Released : October 25, 2019
- Nb of tracks : 11
- Featurings : Ant Clemons, Clipse, Fred Hammond, Kenny G, Sunday Service Choir & Ty Dolla $ign
- Producers : Angel López, benny blanco, BoogzDaBeast, Brian Miller, Budgie Beats, CAMEone, DRTWRK, E.Vax, Federico Vindver, FNZ, Francis and the Lights, Josh Berg, Kanye West, Labrinth, MIKE DEAN, Pi’erre Bourne, RONNY J, Timbaland, tizhimself, Warryn Campbell & Xcelence
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Selah
- 2 – Use This Gospel
- 3 – On God
Donda (2021)
- Released : August 29, 2021
- Nb of tracks : 27
- Featurings : Baby Keem, Conway the Machine, DaBaby, Don Toliver, Fivio Foreign, Jay Electronica, JAY-Z, Kid Cudi, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Lil Yachty, The LOX, Marilyn Manson, Playboi Carti, Pop Smoke, Roddy Ricch, Rooga, Shenseea, Stalone, Travis Scott, Ty Dolla $ign, Vory, Westside Gunn, The World Famous Tony Williams & Young Thug
- Producers : 30 Roc, 88-Keys, Andrew Dawson, AntMan Wonder, Arrowstar, AyoAA, Bastian Völkel, Boi-1da, BoogzDaBeast, Brian Miller, Cashmere Brown, Cirkut, Cory Henry, CuBeatz, Darius Woodley, DAVID x ELI, Dem Jointz, Digital Nas, DJ Khalil, DRTWRK, E.Vax, f a l l e n, Federico Vindver, FNZ, Fya Man, Gesaffelstein, Jeff Bhasker, Kanye West, Louis Bell, Mia Wallis, MIKE DEAN, Nabeyin, Nascent, Ojivolta, Rico Nichols, Roark Bailey, RONNY J, Sean Solymar, Shuko, Sloane, SLOAN (Producer), Sucuki, Swizz Beatz, Syleena Johnson, Teddy Walton, TT Audi, The Twilite Tone, Twisco, Wallis Lane, Warryn Campbell, Wheezy & ZenTachi
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – Off The Grid
- 2 – Hurricane
- 3 – Praise God
VULTURES 1 (2024)
- Collab album with Ty Dolla $ign
- Released : February 9, 2024
- Nb of tracks : 27
- Featurings : Bump J, Chris Brown, Freddie Gibbs, India Love, Lil Durk, Mike Tyson, Nipsey Hussle, North West, Playboi Carti, Quavo, Travis Scott & YG
- Producers : 88-Keys, Adey, Ambezza, Anthony Kilhoffer, Aver Ray, AyoAA, Azul, BBYKOBE, Camper, Chad Hugo, Che Pope, Chordz (Producer), Chrishan, CuBeatz, Dez Wright, Digital Nas, Dom Maker, DTP, Edsclusive, Feez, FNZ, Fya Man, Gustave Rudman, Hubi, Jae Deal, James Alex Hau, James Blake, Jasper Harris, Johnny Goldstein, JPEGMAFIA, Juice (Producer), Kanye West, KAYTRANADA, The Legendary Traxster, Leon Thomas, Lester Nowhere, London on da Track, LukasBL, Manuel #1, MIKE DEAN, Morten “Rissi” Ristorp, Mustard, Nic Nac, No I.D., Ojivolta, SHDØW, Stryv, Swizz Beatz, TheLabCook, Timbaland, Ty Dolla $ign, VEYIS, Vinnyforgood, VITALS (Producer), Wax Motif, Wheezy & will.i.am
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – STARS
- 2 – CARNIVAL
- 3 – PAPERWORK
VULTURES 2 (2024)
- Collab album with Ty Dolla $ign
- Released : August 3, 2024
- Nb of tracks : 16
- Featurings : 070 Shake, Big TC, Chicago West, CyHi, Desiigner, Don Toliver, Future, The Inter Milan Ultras, Kodak Black, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, North West, Playboi Carti & Young Thug
- Producers : 88-Keys, Angel López, Apollo Parker, ATL Jacob, Audiovista, AyoAA, Azul, BoogzDaBeast, Camper, Chrishan, Cruza, damn james!, Deaton Chris Anthony, Dez Wright, DRTWRK, EJ PARIS, E.Vax, Federico Vindver, Flex on the Beat, FNZ, FOREVEROLLING, Fred again.., Gabe Shaddow, Gren808, Havoc, James Blake, John M F Anderson, Kanye West, Lamm, The Legendary Traxster, Leon Thomas, Lester Nowhere, London on da Track, Morning Estrada, Nathan Butts, Nico Baran, Noah Madrid, No I.D., Oscar (Music Producer), Outtatown, Peter Lee Johnson, Pi’erre Bourne, Rory Noble, ryderoncrack, SHDØW, Taydex, Tech Club, TheLabCook, Timbaland, Ty Dolla $ign, Wes Singerman & Wheezy
- Our Top 3 tracks :
- 1 – FRIED
- 2 – SLIDE
- 3 – TIME MOVING SLOW
In conclusion, Kanye West’s discography is a true emotional and artistic journey, continuing to inspire me daily. Whether you’re drawn to his early days, his catchy singles, or his gospel explorations, there’s a touch of magic for everyone to discover.
