From “College Dropout” to “Yeezus”, Ranking Every Kanye West Album Posted by Lucas G. on 06/19/13 | Filed under Top Stories, Opinion, Debates, Kanye West

Regardless of how well received Yeezus is or how many copies are sold, Kanye West deserves recognized as one of the greats in hip-hop history. His impressive catalog has to put him in the running for best emcee ever, but that is a whole other piece all together. Each of Kanye’s albums are vastly different, which just goes to show how fearless he is. When a normal emcee finds a working formula, it is very rare that they will deviate from that plan, but Kanye almost refuses to make similar projects that follow a trend, and for that he should be commended; Kanye doesn’t follow trends, he sets them. But which album is best? Where does Yeezy rank among the others? Which ones are classics? While this might end up being a highly subjective topic, it will nonetheless spark some great discussion.

Before we get into the rankings, I want to make it clear I am basing this on which albums can be “classics” in terms of replay-ability. In other words, which album can you put on today and it will have the same effect as the day you first heard it. Albums that are truly classics stand the test of time and while pretty much all of Ye’s work will never get old, it should make for some pretty good discussion. So below you will find my list.

1.College Dropout


For me College Dropout is the best album from Kanye; just so happens its also his first. I can put it on any time and no matter what mood I am in, I can enjoy it. The Kanye on display is vastly different from the persona he presents now. He is venerable, emotional, to an extent, humble. I really loved how he wrestled with his own insecurities and his honesty in regards to his then fledgling career as a rapper; there is just a subtle touch of pain in his his performance which makes it all the more potent. The best emcees challenge you, make you think about life and music, and are able to relate to the listener. I feel like Kanye put it all on the line and you find your self really rooting for him because of it. Rappers love to present a larger than life persona, but College Dropout showed the opposite and you really feel like there is a person behind the mic. His later works are exceptional, but there is some so raw and emotional about College Dropout that he never recaptured in his later works. This album also showed me hip-hop isn’t all money, guns and women. He is really the first rapper I knew that didn’t fit the mold of a “gangsta” to be considered legitimate or mainstream. College Dropout is still an album I play on the regular and still listen form start to finish. The memories I have with this album are some of the best music related memories I have and I will always feel indebted to this album for what it has done for both hip-hop and myself.



2.Late Registration


Late Registration actually has two of my favorite Kanye songs on it with “Gone” and “Touch The Sky” and is almost as potent as College Dropout, but there are moments where the album is a little slow for my tastes. College Dropout is perfectly paced where as Late Registration gets a little slow at times and because of that I have to put CD first; Late Registration is a very close second. Still there is plenty to love. The production is phenomenal, and there is some really great instrumentals. The features are all perfect; not too many and the ones who are on there are perfectly placed. This album is right up there, but College Dropout has a certain je ne sais quoi that gives it the edge.



3.Graduation


Graduation is perhaps Kanye’s most consistent album. He doesn’t really deviate from the cloudy, softer vibe, but that is by no means a terrible short coming. It also loses points because “Drunk and Hot Girls” is still a song I skip. I have tried so many times to listen to it, hoping my opinion has changed, but it is so sluggish I still can’t get into it. What “Drunk and Hot Girls” lacks, cuts like “Big Brother” more than make up for it. That song is so fascinating to me because it gives us insight into he and Jigga’s relationship, something which most mentors and mentees never seem to address. Its almost like the father of Cole’s “Let Nas Down”; you can really hear both struggling with their new found fame and what it means to go from a good emcee to great.



4.My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy


At first, I was hesitant to even put My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy this high, but after a few more listens, I think I have really begun to appreciate Kanye’s indulgence and lavishness. I also think its amazing that this album makes me like emcees I don't normally listen to or, in Rick Ross' case, hate. MBDTF might be Kanye’s most elaborate, extensive project, but I prefer the soulful, more bare-bones West to the grandiose one. Try as I may, I cant seem to make the connection with this album that I made with College Dropout.I like to think of this album as a 16 ounce filet mignon. The flavor and presentation are exquisite and there isn’t anything quite like it, but if you were going to tell me I had to eat it every day, I don’t know if I could. College Dropout, Late Registration, and to a certain extent, Graduation, are like comfort food; Chicken and Mashed Potatoes. If I am happy, sad, angry, or just want to enjoy a meal, I know I will always enjoy chicken and it is far more accessible than that Filet. Give me the steak when I am feeling lavish, but comfort food is far more important to my diet.



5.808s & Heartbreak


While 808s & Heartbreak isn’t like his other albums, I still don’t see why people hate on it so much. Its very different from anything he has done but that doesn’t it make it bad. Considering he had three highly successful albums before, 808s & Heartbreak was a big risk and I commend him for taking it. 808s was ahead of its time. Kanye was experimenting with a futuristic, almost electronic sound years before any one else and the heavy auto-tune/electronic influence you hear now wouldn’t be as prevalent if Kanye hadn’t blazed the trail. While this album isn’t one of his best, if you are going through a breakup, it might just be number one. It’s the perfect break-up album and really captured all the peaks and valleys that come with the end of a relationship.



6.Watch The Throne


Before I re-listened to MBDTF I might have put Watch The Throne ahead of it. They are, very similar after all. Both have lavish, ebullient production and a larger than life vibe; but MDTF has more substance than Throne. Sure Jay is never a bad thing, but I’ll take the plethora of sounds of MBDTF of the formulaic WTT. Watch The Throne was very well done especially considering joint albums don’t always work, but the two biggest emcees in the game were able to make it happen and were quite successful. Still there aren’t as many themes, sounds, and concepts behind Throne.


7.Yeezus


I am still wrestling with first take on Yeezus, but down the line, I don’t think I will revisit this album very much. It is two aggressive and electronic rooted for my tastes. Like 808s Kanye took some big risks and I respect him for it. Again no artist take bigger risks than Yeezy and even when he takes a leap of faith he delivers quality. I can see the appeal of Yeezus and to some it might be very high up in the rankings, but not for me. It’s hard to tell how it will fit in the grand scheme of things because it was just released, but my gut tells me its largely forgettable.



8.Cruel Summer


I debated whether or not to even include Cruel Summer, but since West’s fingerprints are all over it, I thought it deserved mention. Kanye is truly a jack-of-all-trades. He can rap, produce, write and he is an expert marketer, but Cruel Summer shows his A&R skills (in addition to the others too). The album is very impressive for a more mainstream oriented album, but it just isn’t my style. It needed more Raekwon and less 2 Chainz.



It is hard to believe that Kanye has eight albums under his belt. It feels like just yesterday he was just bursting on to the scene but almost a decade later, Kanye has become the worldwide face of hip-hop and is one of those rare artists who can balance quality with quantity and make music for all tastes. Ranking his albums is making a parent pick a favorite kid. Okay maybe it’s a bit easier, but you get the idea; so lets hear yours!

RefinedHype has merged with The DJBooth. It's the same articles you loved on RefinedHype, new address. For more info, check out the official announcement.

See Also:  The Kanye West “Yeezus” Review Mega-Podcast ft. Donwill
See Also:  Stop Your Life & Check Out Every Kanye West Sample