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Kanye West is considered one of the most influential and controversial figures in the rap industry. The 47-year-old rapper is not only recognized for his lyrical prowess but also for his ability to address political and societal topics in his music.
The rapper boasts of a successful career with over 160 million records sold worldwide and 24 Grammy Awards under his belt. His first six solo albums were included in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list of 2020.
He was also named as one of the greatest songwriters of all time by the same publication. This article explores some of the most popular Kanye West songs of all time.
Disclaimer: This article is ranked according to Spotify streams at the time of writing this article.
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Ni**as in Paris, Stronger, and other popular songs by Kanye West to add to your playlist
1) Ni**as in Paris (1,495,848,838 Spotify streams)
On September 13, 2011, Kanye West and New York-born rapper, Jay-Z collaborated to release the hit trap single, Ni**as in Paris. The was the third record from the duo's 16-track collaborative album, Watch the Throne.
Ni**as in Paris reflects on how these pop icons were able to scale through different setbacks in a predominantly-white industry.
In the song, the rap juggernauts address racism and highlight their growth in the industry amidst negativity with lyrics like:
"We ain't even 'posed to be here/ (Ball so hard) Since we here/ It's only right that we'd be fair/ Psycho: I'm liable to go Michael, take your pick/ Jackson, Tyson, Jordan, Game 6"
The record won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 2013 Grammy Awards ceremony.
2) Stronger (1,453,797,036 Spotify streams)
Released on June 26, 2007, Stronger is the third single from West's third album, Graduation. The Hip Hop track samples Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger with elements from Cola Bottle Baby from Edwin Birdsong.
The song reportedly took months to create and was praised by critics for its innovation upon release. In the song’s lyrics, the West paraphrases Nietzsche's famous dictum, "What does not kill him, makes him stronger" and raps:
Work it, make it, do it/ Makes us harder, better, faster, stronger / Na-na-na that that don't kill me / Can only make me stronger
Stronger won the Best Rap Solo Performance award at the 2008 Grammy Awards. The track ranked 493 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2024.
3) Heartless (1,419,443,452)
Penned by Ernest Wilson, Malik Jones, Scott Mescudi, and Kanye West, Heartless is a pop record from the rapper's 2008 studio album, 808s & Heartbreak.
The pop ballad also features a blend of Hip Hop, R&B, and synthesizers. Kanye reportedly wrote this song in response to his breakup with Alexis Phifer. In the breakup song, the guy is still emotionally attached and tries to reach out to the girl to make amends, but to no avail.
The chorus conveys the message:
"Talk and talk and talk and talk/ Baby, let's just knock it off/ They don't know what we been through/ They don't know 'bout me and you/ So I got somethin' new to see/ And you just gon' keep hatin' me/ And we just gon' be enemies"
The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 upon its release and has been certified septuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
4) Gold Digger (1,207,056,508 Spotify streams)
On July 5, 2005, the American rapper featured critically acclaimed actor-singer, Jamie Foxx, for the release of his pop-rap jam, Gold Digger. This is the fourth single from his sophomore album, Late Registration.
The song also includes additional vocals from Plain Pat and Don C. Gold Digger critiques women getting into relationships just because of their selfish desires. In the second verse, Kanye West explains how these "gold diggers" play their games:
"Eighteen years, eighteen years/ She got one of your kids, got you for eighteen years/ I know somebody payin' child support for one of his kids/ His baby mama car and crib is bigger than his/ You will see him on TV any given Sunday/ Win the Super Bowl and drive off in a Hyundai"
In 2005, the song won an award for Best Solo Rap Performance at the Grammy Awards Show and set a record for the most digital downloads in a week upon its release, selling over 80,000 copies.
5) Father Stretch My Hands, pt. 1 (1,190,971,520 Spotify streams)
Father Stretch My Hands, pt. 1, is the first half of a two-part record, written by a host of writers including Kanye West, Cydel Young, Chancelor Bennett, and Aubrey Graham, amongst others. It was released on June 7, 2016, as the second track from Ye's seventh album, The Life of Pablo.
This hip-hop and gospel music song has its meaning rooted in redemption and true love. The lyrics depict a guy who feels remorseful for not being a good partner to his lover. To be at peace with himself he also prays to God for help.
The chorus reads:
"I just wanna feel liberated, I-I, na-na-na (Who can I turn to?)/ I just wanna feel liberated, I-I, na-na-na (After all, who can I turn to?)/ If I ever instigated, I am sorry (If I don't turn to you)/ Tell me who in here could relate, I-I-I (No other help I know, I stretch my hands)"
Father Stretch My Hands, pt. 1 has been certified sextuple platinum by the RIAA and peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Gospel Songs chart.
6) Flashing Lights (1,155,290,328 Spotify streams)
Flashing Lights hit the airwaves on November 20, 2007. The cross-genre song combines the street-inspired groove of hip-hop with the softness and funky vibe of R&B and electro-pop. This single, penned by Eric Hudson and Kanye West is the ninth record from Kanye West's 13-track studio album, Graduation.
In this song, Kanye West reflects on one of his previous relationships with a materialistic girl, whose sole interest was in the flashy lifestyle and fame she could get from being his lover.
Through the lyrics, Kanye West explains how blinded he was not to notice the signs before calling it off with her. Some of the lines from the first verse read:
"She don't believe in shootin' stars/ But she believe in shoes and cars/ Wood floors in the new apartment/ Couture from the store's departments"
This hit single peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified platinum six times by the RIAA.
7) Bound 2 (1,005,312,753 Spotify streams)
Bound 2 talks about a complicated affair between two individuals, which is a result of their contradicting lifestyles. The lyrics depict one party’s attempt to make the relationship work. Lines from the second verse convey this message:
"Hey, you remember where we first met?/ Okay, I don't remember where we first met/ But hey, admittin' is the first step/ And hey, you know ain't nobody perfect"
Released on August 28, 2013, Bound 2 was written by Kanye West, Malik Jones, John Stephens, and Bob Massey, amongst others. It serves as the final track from the rapper’s sixth studio album, Yeezus.
The rap song got two nominations at the 2015 Grammy Award Ceremony.
8) Power (964,123,800 Spotify streams)
Power conveys messages of self-respect and authenticity. Power was released on July 1, 2010, as the lead track from Yeezy's fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Kanye West, Billy Carter, Robert Fripp, Ronald Isley, and others, are credited as songwriters on the track. Some lines of the first verse read:
"I’m living in that 21st Century, doing something mean to it/ Do it better than anybody you ever seen do it/ Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it/ I guess every superhero need his theme music/ No one man should have all that power/ The clock’s ticking, I just count the hours"
The song peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and secured a nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 2011 Grammy Awards.
The stream counts of these Kanye West songs allude to his cultural relevance and the popularity of his songs across different generations.
