Rappers have always been quick to put Kanye West on a song. Early on some probably did it as a means to getting one of his beats. Later, maybe 'cause he was a nice guy. Then, obviously, it was because he was a superstar and selling point. But we always secretly thought a part of it was that these rappers, competitive as they are, just didn't feel threatened by 'Ye, lyrically. Take Jay-Z, for example, who just threw out "Run This Town", the new single off Blueprint 3 featuring none other than Kanye West. Well guess what, Big Homie? Lil bro here fucked around and murdered you on your own shit!
But then, really, should Jay be surprised? We started thinking about all the other times rappers invited Yeezy onto their songs, and we noticed a trend. Every time 'Ye has a chance to shine next to your favorite rapper he goes in and goes in hard! (Pause) Whether you're in agreement or disbelief, keep reading to check out Kanye's 10 Best Scene-Stealing Guest Verses (rap songs only) complete with audio clips and our favorite lines. Apologies to those who got laid out, but stop sleeping on the kid!
Young Jeezy - "Put On" (2008)
BEST LINE: "When the Jesus pieces can't bring me peace / Yo, I need just at least one of Russell's nieces"
• We were all thinking it, but he said it.
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The Game - "Wouldn't Get Far" (2006)
BEST LINE: "Since they all fall in my palm, I'll take a Treo"
• The Game starts beef so much, we're surprised he never dissed Kanye for sonning him on this track.
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Clipse - "Kinda Like A Big Deal" (2009)
BEST LINE: "I guess I'm like the black Marshall meets Jay"
• Pusha and Malice didn't really show out on this one, but that didn't stop 'Ye from reminding heads that he's more than 808s & Heartbreak.
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Stat Quo - "Oh Drama" (2004)
BEST LINE: "Sometimes I wanna say fuck my bitch, but I don't want nobody to fuck my bitch"
• Proof that the College Dropout was breaking necks long before he graduated.
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Lil' Wayne - "Lollipop (Remix)" (2008)
BEST LINE: "This a song with Wayne so you know it's gon' melt / But you ain't finna murder me like everybody else"
• This one's probably a tie, but given the way Wayne had been bodying the competition, there's no question that Kanye beat the point-spread even if there was no clear victor.
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Slum Village - "Selfish" (2004)
BEST LINE: "If y'all fresh to death, then I'm deceased"
• To keep it a hundred percent, these guys woulda gotten bodied by Lil Romeo, so 'Ye probably needn't brag about this one.
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Rick Ross - "Maybach Music 2" (2009)
BEST LINE: "Talking 'bout how ya boy clothes extra tight / I just remembered that my limelight extra bright"
• Kanye's lucky that Officer Ricky didn't turn him in for stealing the show.
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Dilated Peoples - "This Way" (2004)
BEST LINE: "We saying the same thing like a synonym / I wasn't really spitting game, I was scrimmaging"
• Scrimmage or no, we have, er, evidence that Dilated clearly lost that match.
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88 Keys - "Stay Up (Viagra)" (2007)
BEST LINE: "Try imagining something passionate between you, Cassie, and Kim Kardashian / Maybe that'll work when you get to hit that ass again"
• Kanye's verse definitely left 88Keys impotent.
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Jin - "I Got A Love" (2004)
BEST LINE: "I got a love that's better than you ever was"
• Kanye only did the hook on this song and still merked Jin. SMH.
ithinkiloveher July 27th, 2009 at 04:36 PM
finally! somebody showing some respect. sick of dudes acting like he's not the nicest rapper out right now.
vinnydelnegro July 27th, 2009 at 04:59 PM
Ye goes in on Kweli's In the mood... "In the club with Silicone Suzie,What happened to real girls like Rudy? With real titties like Tooty, This girl got a silicone booty!"
J. Tinsley July 27th, 2009 at 05:03 PM
Complex with another entertaining list and I agree, Kanye has been bodying features for years. Don't forget that feature he had "Hip Hop Is Dead."I was working on a post like this for The Smoking Section...well, it's different, but Kanye is the subject. Anyway, great work again Complex. Keep it up.
MT July 27th, 2009 at 05:08 PM
Nice list! They Say-Common could make this list?
DJ New Money July 27th, 2009 at 05:15 PM
add Rhymefest - Brand New to the list.
TED August 2nd, 2009 at 01:09 AM
YESSSSSSS, he kills that shit
suckitmarshall July 27th, 2009 at 05:16 PM
He kinda killed Common on "Southside" too, but not as bad as these...
modi July 27th, 2009 at 05:16 PM
LOL nah, on that jin joint, he has another line in the middle/end of the 1st verse: "take 'em back stage, get acquainted, that's what i suggest, jo. . ." he still outshined him though. yikes.
Esco's bars July 27th, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Slum Village's wack ? come on come on man Elzhi's underrated please, Ye did it but Slum Village irrelevant.. nah! ohhh And i like Mr West but Now : put Yeezy's tracks where he was outshined too check his own albums for dat
RJ July 27th, 2009 at 05:28 PM
"To keep it a hundred percent, these guys woulda gotten bodied by Lil Romeo, so ‘Ye probably needn’t brag about this one." What? You idiots do realize Elzhi is in Slum Village, right? I will literally never come to this site again.
suckitmarshall July 27th, 2009 at 05:49 PM
You're so awesome just how you are. Please, don't ever change!
bewrightt July 27th, 2009 at 07:02 PM
i couldnt have said it better so i second that
marlymarrr July 27th, 2009 at 09:02 PM
Damn, right. that line made me dislike this article. Don't ever diss SV, especially not Elzhi.
RJ July 27th, 2009 at 05:29 PM
God Mark Ecko is one dumb motherfucker to put his name on this shit. Filed under: Morons who shouldn't be writing about hip-hop. Hang it up, dipshit.