Kanye WestBest Kanye West Albums Ranked

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

pitchfork

10

“Kanye’s big year culminates in an LP that feels like an instant greatest hits, the ultimate realization of his strongest talents and divisive public persona.”

Late Registration

rollingstone

10

“If anything, Kanye West is too modest. Yeah, he’s got an ego or two — he’s liable to compare himself to Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Bill Gates and Prince, sometimes in the same sentence. But he pours all that ego into musical ambition. As he says, "I ain’t putting nothing out unless I can talk […]”

ye

consequence

9.5

“At last, our greatest pop mind has made his anti-pop record”

Yeezus

pitchfork

9.5

“Marking a blunt break with the filigreed maximalism he nailed on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye's sixth solo album trades smooth soul and anthemic choruses for jarring electro, acid house, and industrial grind while delivering some of his most lewd and heart-crushing tales yet.”

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

consequence

9.5

“There is no question that Yeezy's fifth outing is a bonafide game changer”

Late Registration

pitchfork

9.5

“The producer-rapper follows his Pazz and Jop-winning debut The College Dropout with a collaboration with Jon Brion; together they transform West's chattering, seemingly unrealistic ideas into an expansive, imperfect masterpiece.”

The Life of Pablo

CHAZZJAZZ

9.8

“I know that’s crazy to say. But you really get everything from Ye here. The albums early structure was definitely very messy. But after the multiple updates to the album. This is definitely his second best or best album. This album transformed from Yeezus 2 and Swish and the album really was minimalized and tweaked to perfection. That’s why I love it. I love this album because it’s not trying to really dump and trauma or any bragging rights down your throat. It’s a milestone in Ye’s career. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was an album trying to desperately prove something. And Yeezus was the hangover. This album is basically a calm humble victory lap of all of that. Does he brag in it? Yes, of course he would. But it’s not the entire point of the album. The production of the album is very interesting. You get old Ye songs like Father Stretch My Hands and No More Parties In LA. While some of the songs are extremely techy like Feedback and Freestyle 4. His rapping in this album peaks here in his career (so far.) . He truly goes all out in tracks like No More Parties In LA and Feedback. This album just has everything and it doesn’t get enough credit for it. The structure is great and probably his best. The only flaw is once again. The amount of skits. I mess with the I Love Kanye skit but dear god silver Surfer and Franks track? That’s necessary? I like them but why? Otherwise. Phenomenal album.”

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

mickmeter

9.6

“One of my absolute favorites, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is Kanye West’s best work of genius. Released in 2010, after one of the most public backlashes in pop culture, the album feels like both an apology and a coronation. Kanye paints a theatrical portrait of himself that leans fully into his ego, insecurity, lust, and shame. He positions himself as a villain and victim, a genius and a disaster. The title says it all; it’s beautiful, dark, twisted, and undeniably his fantasy. At its core, the album explores the fracturing and self-destruction of his fame. The album displays monumental orchestras and production. Soul samples are layered precisely and drums hit with heavy cinematic weight. The album is very maximal, yet it remains cohesive and perfectly dramatic. Overall, a flawless record from one of the most enigmatic artist of our generation.”

Graduation

manyucole104

9.5

“This album is peak, not my favorite kanye album in my opinion but there isn’t a miss on this album, some songs may not miss but they are still fairly mid, like drunk and hot girls or barry bonds. These 2 songs prevent this album from a 10/10 even though they aren’t terrible. RANKING: 1. Homecoming: This song is catchy, Musical, and it gets stuck in my head easily. 2. Everything I am: I have never skipped this song, nor do i ever plan to. This song isn’t talked about enough for how good it is. 3. Good life: This song makes me feel oddly nostalgic, and it is very catchy. Overrated: I Wonder, the amount of times I heard this song while doomscrolling 2 years ago annoys the hell out of me. Underrated: The Glory, I have never heard anyone talk about this song but the sample makes me want to listen to it on repeat.”

Yeezus

mickmeter

10

“Yeezus is one of Kanye West’s most discussed albums, some love it, but some hate it. Personally, I love this album from start to finish. Yeezus strips everything down to jagged synths, industrial percussion, and an overall experimental sound . It’s abrasive, confrontational, and intentionally uncomfortable. The production is skeletal but explosive; which is created by distorted bass, metallic drums, harsh textures that feel more like machinery noise than music. Yet, beneath all the chaos lies vulnerability. “Hold My Liquor” is lonely and spiraling. “Blood on the Leaves” blends rage with heartbreak. While “Bound 2” ends the album with warped sincerity. This is not necessarily aux music, but this is Kanye’s ego at the loudest. He’s cohesive, confrontational, and emotionally unstable.”

The College Dropout

Miguel

10

“In my opinion, Kanyes best album. I think as a whole this album is incredible and follows this theme and storyline on it so well. Some of Kanyes best rap performances come on this album too and the skits throughout the track list help rather than hinder the album alongside the perfect use of the choir verses throughout the album. While I think there’s bigger hits in his other albums like ‘Graduation’ & ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ I think this album flows more and is more consistent throughout. Top songs on the album are ‘We Don’t Care’ ‘All Falls Down’ ft Syleena Johnson ‘Spaceship’ ft GLC & Consequence ‘Jesus Walks’ ‘Get Em High’ ft Common & Talib Kweli ‘New Workout Plan’ ‘Through The Wire’”

Late Registration

funnyguppygaming

9.6

“An absolute classic rap album. Full of quality - Ye clearly refining his lyricism and skills from an already great first album. Classic songs like Gone, Heard Em Say, Drive Slow, Celebration and so many more.”

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Deluxe Edition (Explicit))

FatRatesMusic

9.8

“LISTENED: 10/17/2023 One of the most grand, monumentally produced albums that i’ve ever heard, and it fits perfect for an album that is attempting to be the greatest rap album ever made. Really nice.”

Yeezus

CHAZZJAZZ

9.9

“Now I know this is a seriously biased ranking. But I can’t hold it back. This was the album that got me listening to more music. The lyrics are so depressing over industrial beats it’s perfect, Ye raps about his state of being on top of the world feeling like a god and suffering from it. The production is phenomenal, with Daft Punk, Gestaffelstein, Travis Scott and so many other great and talented industrial producers. And on top of that Rick Rubin coming it to minimize it all into what it is, was the best thing that happened to this album. Giving it more a clean and precise feel to the project. The flaws is that this album is too short. Maybe a few more tracks. And little bit more rage to the vibe. Sometimes it can feel a bit too mellow. Overall TRY THIS ALBUM.”