The Complete History of Kanye West Guest Verses

A thorough look back at every single featured appearance from Yeezy.

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Image via Complex Original
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On the heels of G.O.O.D. Music's Complex cover story, and previous intimate looks at Kanye West's personal career, we decided to go back and find all the songs Kanye’s breathed on that weren’t his own. Even today, with DJ Khaled's "I Wish You Would" and 2 Chainz's "Birthday Song" making their rounds, it's apparent that 'Ye has made just as much of a musical impact on other artists' records. From 1996 to 2012, across seemingly every genre, here's The Complete History of Kanye West Guest Verses.

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Grav's "Line for Line" (1996)

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Infamous Syndicate's "What You Do To Me" (1999)

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Jagged Edge's "Let's Get Married (Reception Remix)" (2000)

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Abstract Mindstate's "Welcome 2 Chicago" (2001)

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Jay-Z's "Never Change" (2001)

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Talib Kweli's "Guerilla Monsoon Rap" (2002)

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Jay-Z's "The Bounce" (2002)

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Dame Dash's "Champions" (2002)

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Malik Yusef's "Wouldn't You Like To Ride?" (2003)

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Consequence's "The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly" (2003)

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Talib Kweli's "Get By (Remix)" (2003)

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Jay-Z's "Excuse Me Miss Again (Remix)" (2003)

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Twista's "Slow Jamz" (2003)

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White Boy "U Know" (2004)

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Chamillionaire's "Call Some Hoes" (2004)

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Jadakiss' "Gettin' It In" (2004)

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Twista's "Overnight Celebrity" (2004)

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Consequence's "I See Now" (2004)

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Janet Jackson's "My Baby" (2004)

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Usher's "Confessions Pt. 2 (Remix)" (2004)

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Carl Thomas's "The Way That You Do" (2004)

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Jin's "I Got A Love" (2004)

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CHOPS "Changing Lanes" (2004)

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Dilated People's "This Way" (2004)

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Consequence's "So Soulful" (2004)

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Slum Village's "Selfish" (2004)

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Rell's "Real Love" (2004)

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Consequence's "'03 'Til Infinity" (2004)

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Dwele's "Hold On (Remix)" (2004)

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Cam'ron's "Down & Out" (2004)

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Brandy's "Talk About Our Love" (2004)

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Consequence's "Getting Out The Game" (2004)

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Melbeatz "Oh Oh" (2004)

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Keyshia Cole's "I Changed My Mind" (2004)

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Consequence's "Take It As A Loss" (2004)

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Ma$e's "Welcome Back (Remix)" (2004)

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Consequence's "Turn Yourself In" (2004)

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Bump J's "Pusha Man" (2004)

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Common's "They Say" (2005)

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Do or Die's "Higher" (2005)

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Miri Ben-Ari's "Fly Away" (2005)

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John Legend's "Number One" (2005)

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Common's "The Corner" (2005)

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Jamie Foxx's "Extravaganza" (2005)

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Young Gunz's "Grown Man, Pt. 2" (2005)

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Common's "The Food" (2005)

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Do or Die's "Paid the Price" (2005)

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Common's "Go" (2005)

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Rhymefest's "Brand New" (2006)

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Three 6 Mafia's "Side 2 Side (Remix)" (2006)

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E-40's "Tell Me When To Go (Remix)" (2006)

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Ghostface Killah's "Back Like That (Remix)" (2006)

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Nas' "Still Dreaming" (2006)

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Rhymefest's "More" (2006)

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Pharrell's "Number One" (2006)

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The Game's "Wouldn't Get Far" (2006)

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DJ Clue's "Like This" (2006)

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Cassidy's "My Drink N My 2 Step (Remix)" (2007)

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T-Pain's "Buy U A Drank (Remix)" (2007)

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Common's "Southside" (2007)

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Ne-Yo's "Because Of You (Remix)" (2007)

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Chris Brown's "Down" (2007)

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Album: Exclusive
Producer: Bigg D
Label: Jive/Zomba

Kanye kicks off his verse stunting about how fresh he is. "I'm so clean/And them, they've got rabies," he spits. That's just dirty.

88-Keys' "Stay Up" (2007)

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Album: The Death of Adam
Producer: Kanye West, 88-Keys
Label: Decon Records

88-Keys’ concept album, Death of Adam, dealt with the murder and sexcapades of a fictional character named Adam. The project was executive produced by Kanye, and Yeezy joined longtime associate 88 on the first single, “Stay Up (Viagra).” Kanye’s verse talked about a passionate romp including him, Cassie and Kim Kardashian. Four years later, Kim is now Kanye’s main squeeze—foreshadowing at its finest! Hopefully he’s made this fantasy a reality. No blue diamond needed.

Fall Out Boy's "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race (Remix)" (2007)

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Album: Infinity On High
Producer: Neal Avron
Label: Island

This song was meant for Fall Out Boy's album, but it wasn't made in time to make the tracklist so it was later released online as a remix. Fall Out Boy's lyrics (as explained by the song's writer and group bassist Pete Wentz) deals with the bands newfound popularity but is discussed in terms of international politics, but that must have gone over Kanye's head since he opens his verse with a hilarious confession, "Now I don't know what the hell this song is talking 'bout." LOL. Damn, you would think of all people Ye could relate.

Kid Sister's "Pro Nails" (2007)

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Album: Ultraviolet
Producer: A-Trak
Label: Universal Republic

When this track dropped in 2007, you probably wondered who the hell was Kid Sister? Who cares! This record was hot. As the story goes, Kanye heard the original version of “Pro Nails” through his then-DJ A-Trak, who’d just begun dating Kid Sister. Kanye loved the record so much, he immediately offered up a free verse, and placed it on his 2007 mixtape, Can’t Tell Me Nothin. Kid Sis was from Chicago and was the real life kid sister of Flosstradamus’ J2K, so it was a full-fledged Chi-Town family affair.

Sure, the Project Pat sample was great, but Kanye took it to another level with his jammin’ verse about pedicures, tricking off in the strip club, and being on Concrete Loop in his pajamas.

Teriyaki Boyz's "I Still Love H.E.R." (2007)

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Album: Serious Japanese
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Bape Sounds/Def Jam

While they were always bigger in their native Japan than the U.S, the Teriyaki Boyz have collaborated with some huge artists and have some great songs. One of the frequent collaborators and fellow Bape enthusiast is none other than Mr. West himself. In the Common referencing song off their Serious Japanese album, Kanye provides the beat and the verse and the Boyz do the rest. The song is dangerously catchy with a dope video to match.

Alicia Keys' "No One (Remix)" (2007)

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Album: As I Am
Producer: Alicia Keys, Dirty Harry, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers
Label: J Records

It would've been hard for just anybody to improve on Alicia Keys' chart-topping hit, but Kanye made the task look like a piece of cake. It makes sense too, as The Louis Vutton Don has a lot of the haters the original song targets. Yeezy verse asserts once again that he simply can't be stopped by side talk: "What you think gonna happen when they see me in that two door/She gonna be with you she gonna see me she ready to go." Nuff' said.

Patti LaBelle's "Anything" (2007)

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Album: The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle
Producer: Gerald Haddon, Nisan Stewart
Label: Umbrella/Bungalo

On Patti's inspirational cut, Kanye talks about a kid pitching him his demo tape, hoping to get a deal, much like his idol once did. "He remind me of me just a year ago," he raps. "Now he's telling me I'm his hero... True story." Wonder if he's talking about Big Sean.

Talib Kweli's "In The Mood" (2007)

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Album: Ear Drum
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Blacksmith/Warner Bros.

Kanye is going to take the listener for a ride in a lot of his guest verses, especially if they're above 14 bars. Kanye's contradictions are part of his genius and he gracefully embraces them in his verse for "In the Mood," saying he's "The only producer that feel like 'fuck rappers'/Only backpacker with a chip like hackers," and noting "You ain't figured out what I'm about yet/Always rockin that 'this ain't out yet'." But just before his rant on silicone features, he still finds time to keep it real and shoutout the Chi: "But this ain't 'bout that/From a city where niggas plug like outlets."

N.E.R.D's "Everyone Nose (Remix)" (2008)

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Album: Seeing Sounds
Producer: Neptunes
Label: Star-Trek/Interscope

While we’ll never get a proper CRS album, we did get a few collaborations here and there—one of the best being the “Everyone Nose” remix—an upbeat ode to nose candy. With Pusha T rounding out the quartet, Kanye spazzed about girls who “Stopped drinking Diet Coke/She on that coke diet” and snorting Hollywood rails through $100 bills. Hitting the slopes never sounded so good!

Lil Wayne's "Lollipop (Remix)" (2008)

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Album: Tha Carter III
Producer: Jim Jonsin
Label: Cash Money/Universal Motown

Kanye and Weezy F. Baby have had a number of collaborations over the years, but none more potent than this. By the time this song was released, Weezy was the undisputed cameo killer, a beast who laid waste to any instrumental thrown into his grimy labyrinth of bars and hooks. Rival rappers had best be aware before they got murdered on their own shit. Kanye even admitted as much on his verse rhyming, "This a song with Wayne so you know it gon' melt/But you ain't gon' murder me like everybody else." In the end, Mr. West held his own alongside Weezy, proving that his steady growth as an MC had carried him to the upper echelons of rap.

Madonna's "Beat Goes On" (2008)

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Album: Hard Candy
Producer: The Neptunes, Madonna
Label: Warner Bros.

Riding Pharrell WIlliams' dance beat, West joins the Madge in the club and bags a cutie on his way out. "I use my celeb to get this one home," he raps. Light work.

Jamie Foxx's "Digital Girl" (2008)

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Album: Intuition
Producer: Tricky Stewart, The-Dream
Label: J

On Foxx's ode to tech savvy love, Kanye wisely encourages chicks to send headless nude pictures, raps about his taste for all races, and then asks a special lady if she's awake late at night for some dirty talk. Her response? "'Yess-s-s-i-r'," he recalls.

DJ Felli Fel's "Finer Things" (2008)

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Album: Go DJ!
Producer: DJ Felli Fel
Label: Rock Hill Records/So So Def/Island Urban

Kanye, Ne-Yo, Jermaine Dupri and Fabolous all joined up on DJ Felli Fel's track to remind all the girls out there how good they could have it. While all the artists give us a good idea of the good life Kanye stunts the hardest on this one. Although he's talking to the ladies, hes not to preocupied to throw a shot at the haters. "Bitches hatin' again that's music to my ears/What's you think my fuel was for all Of these years?"

Estelle's "American Boy" (2008)

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Album: Shine
Producer: will.i.am
Label: Atlantic

Setting out to break his new artist, Estelle, in 2004, John Legend was hit with the biggest alley-oop ever when Kanye decided to jump on her single “American Boy.” He contributed not one but two verses—a big look from one of the most popular rappers in history.

The will.i.am backdrop gave Yeezy a smooth and airy canvas, on which he stunted about being an international playboy, and selling out floor seats across the globe. The chemistry between Ye and Estelle was evident, making this her biggest single to date.

Young Jeezy's "Put On" (2008)

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Album: The Recession
Producer: Drumma Boy
Label: Def Jam

Yeah, this was a Jeezy record, but let’s keep it all the way real—it belonged to Yeezy. Dusting off the Auto-Tune skills he’d tinkered with on College Dropout, Kanye finally broke his silence about his late Mother, Donda West, as well as speaking on the perils of success. It was lonely at the top, and now felt more alone than ever.

Kanye was also addressing his fellow Chicagoans on the verse. Chicago is often referred to as Haterville or the City of Hella Haters, so when residents began to take shots at Ye for no longer showing love to his hometown, he had to speak up.

Some on the Chicago scene believed that Kanye had ignored the talent in the Chi in favor of artists in other regions, and took his moves to LA and NY as a diss to the city that bred him. Kanye didn’t take this talk lightly—and he had to get a few things off his chest. On this song he professed that he “put on everybody that I knew from the ‘Go” and that he still puts on for his city “every night.” Just because he was no longer home didn’t mean he wasn’t representing.

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean 2008" (2008)

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Album: Thriller 25
Producer: Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, & Kanye West
Label: Epic/Legacy

Sometimes the classics should be left alone. Trying to add lyrics to one of the biggest records of all times proved to be a task Kanye wanted know parts of. Which is why when he was approached to remix Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," he simpliy added a new bass line and kept his lyrical addition brief—a simple "Yeah, uh" at the top. Smart move.

T-Pain's "Therapy" (2008)

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Album: Three Ringz
Producer: T-Pain
Label: Nappy Boy/Konvict/Jive/Zomba

On Teddy P's sleeper jam Kanye drops a chick and eyes on one that's a better fit for him, mentally and, of course, physically. "I'mma get a girl with an ass just as soft," he promises. Then he asks to see what's under her shirt. "Show me your Janet Jacksons if your nasty," he continues. At least he knows what he wants.

Kidz in the Hall's "Purrty Woman" (2008)

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Stream On Spotify

Naledge and Double-O let 'Ye hop on this Just Blaze-produced beat and do his thing. Kanye speaks about smoking a little of that sticky stuff and gold teeth.

Fonzworth Bentley's "Everybody" (2008)

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Album: N/A
Producer: Sa Ra
Label: G.O.O.D. Music

Fonzworth Bentley was that dude by the late '00s. Diddy's former assistant had appeared in many music videos as that dancing extra who just happened to know how to dress well. In 2008, he was hosting MTV reality show G's to Gents and getting ready to release his solo album, C.O.L.O.U.R.S(Cool Outrageous Brothers Of Uniquely Raw Style).

It's first single, "Everybody" featured Andre 3000 spitting another sharp verse and Mr. West playing the soul brother on the hook. While C.O.L.O.U.R.S didn't come out until 2011, "Everybody" gave us a thowback jam that had a progressive Kanye having fun and going back to his soulful roots.



Really Doe's "Plastic" (2008)

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Album: First Impression
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Cartel Records

Really Doe was a childhood friend and sometime collaborator of Kanye West, so big homie Ye didn’t mind blessing him with an insane verse on his first single “Plastic.” The upbeat radio-ready slapper featured the standard Yeezy stunting: “I’m the king of the world, so the king of your city by default,” in a verse that went on and on and on. It’s safe to say Yeezy did Doe a solid on “Plastic”—and Really D. Williams didn’t even have to swipe his card for the verse.

T.I.'s "Swagga Like Us" (2008)

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Album: Paper Trail
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Grand Hustle/Atlantic

In 2008, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and T.I were arguably the four hottest MCs in the game. The grouping of this fearsome foursome on “Swagga Like Us” was a giant middle finger to the rest of the industry—a “we da best” moment, if you will.

Kanye not only verbally attacked the track, but also produced the “Paper Planes”–sampling monster, making his claim of “Swagger is Mick Jagger” an actual fact.

Luckily “Swagga” felt more like a traditional posse cut than one of those emailed posse cuts—it sounded like these four genuinely enjoyed sharing mic time together. The song did, however, give us hip-hop's most overused buzzword since “bling bling.” But watching them perform the song live at the Grammy Awards alongside a very pregnant M.I.A. made it all worthwhile.

DJ Khaled's "Go Hard (Remix)" (2008)

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Album: We Global
Producer: The Runners
Label: We The Best/Terror Squad

Somehow Yeezy managed to spit one of the greatest rap verses of '08 using auto-tune, a device which should have taken away from his trill wave of quotes. "I go hard/flow so retard/I'm disguested in my myself/I mean ugh, where do I start?" he opens. What follows is even nastier.

Malik Yusef's "Promised Land" (2008)

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Album: Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement,
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Hidden Beach Recordings

In these tough times, Kanye raps about people needing a little more than just hope to win. "Everybody's saying that we need something special/Nah, we need something extraterrestrial," he raps.

Sophia Fresh's "What It Is" (2008)

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Album: Sophia Fresh
Producer: T-Pain
Label: N/A

Guess Kanye owed T-Pain a favor? Whatever the reason, he hopped on this track for T-Pain's artist Sophia Fresh (it's a trio, not a girl) and totally murdered it rhyming about gas, how a girl's family loved him, and how big his...umm you know what is. Hearing rhymes like, "Yo’ little brother love me/He say, 'Yeezy got some fresh clothes'/Yo grandmother love me cause I always dress in dress clothes" is rather ironic since it's a total role reversal from his opposite claim on "All of The Lights" where Ye lamented, "Her mother, brother, grandmother hate me in that order."

John Legend's "It's Over" (2008)

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Album: Evolver
Producer: Malay & KP, The Neptunes, Kanye West
Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia

Covering his voice with a light coat of autotune, 'Ye broke it down to his former woman that, just like Def Jam and Hova, their relationship was over. Kanye's sing songy verse was reminiscent of his work on 808s & Heartbreak, which would come out the same year.

Common's "Punch Drunk Love" (2008)

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Album: Universal Mind Control
Producer: The Neptunes
Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen

Kanye's braggadocio verses are some of the most quotable in rap, but what makes his part in Common's "Punch Drunk Love" so memorable is that he's saying that he's not crazy for thinking of himself in such a larger-than-life manner. In fact, you're crazy for not thinking of him as such. Plus he's on the hook, so if you didn't catch his wisdom the first time, you have plenty more chances.

GLC's "Flight School" (2009)

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Album: Love, Life & Loyalty
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Ylimit/Ice H2O/EMI

On the GLC cut, Kanye plays it cool and witty, explaining to a chick that with all the work he's put into his cool stuff, showing off is a must. "See I pimped my ride," he starts, "So I must exhibit."

Twista's "Alright" (2009)

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Album: Category F5
Producer: Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, No I.D.
Label: Get Money Gang/EMI Records

One of the longstanding debates in Chicago rap circles has been: Whose production makes Twista sound better, the Legendary Traxster or Kanye West? Kanye gave Twista a more commercial sound, while Trax brings that gutter West Side music out of the fastest rapper in the game.

After Kanye and Twist made a huge splash in 2004 with Yeezy’s contributions to Kamikaze, their joints together were few and far between. They had a few records here and there, but didn’t get their groove back until 2009’s “Alright.” “Alright” was a last-minute inclusion to Twista’s seventh album, Category F5. Ye was unable to complete the track in time for the initial pressing, so it was included as a digital bonus track. Unfortunately, a lot of people missed it for that reason. It stands as one of their best—if not their very best—collaborations. Plus Kanye’s verse was gnarly.

Beyoncé's "Ego (Remix)" (2009)

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Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce
Producer: Blac Elvis, Beyonce Knowles
Label: Columbia

People endlessly criticize Kanye for being cocky, full of himself, aarogant, however you want to say it. That is why he was the perfect choice for the remix to Beyonce's hit "Ego." On the remix, a laid back sounding Kanye proceds to toy with all the haters and make them look foolish. To show just how sure of himself he really is, he ends his verse by quoting himself and saying "Coulda let the dream killers, kill my self esteem/Or use the arrogance as a steam that power my dreams." Ultimately Kanye says everyone can keep hating because "You coulda been anywhere in the world/But you’re here with me"

Jay-Z's "Hate" (2009)

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Album: The Blueprint 3
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Roc Nation/Atlantic

Fuck the haters. That's a fairly basic sentiment that Hov and Kanye expand on in their collabo off of Jay's Blueprint 3. 'Ye's roll in the song is mostly confined to backing up Jay by talking about how great the two MC's are but in the process he answered a question that had been plagging American's for what seemed like ages: How does Kanye make the noise of a laser gun? "Peeuuww peeuwww peuww!"

GLC's "The Big Screen" (2009)

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Album: N/A
Producer: Kanye West
Label: N/A

"It's a party in your closet/I swear it's going off/ I see Dolce and Gabbana/Viktor and Rolf," Kanye spits on his former G.O.O.D. artist's single. It's classic 'Ye: comedic and fashion savvy.

Keri Hilson's "Knock You Down" (2009)

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Album: In a Perfect World..
Producer: Danja
Label: Mosley/Zone 4

“Knock You Down” finds Kanye entangled in a bizarro love triangle with the smokin’ hot Keri Hilson and—well—Ne-Yo. With Kanye playing the protagonist, he dubs himself a nerdly class clown fighting for the affection of Hilson, who typically dates the football star. We’re still not sure where Ne-Yo fits in here, but we went along with it.

Kanye’s cleverly crafted verse helped “Knocks You Down” become a radio smash. Yeezy delivered one of his favorite rapping patterns, building a few lines based around a famous name. Tthis time it was the Jacksons: “This is bad, real bad/Michael Jackson/Now I’m mad, real mad/Joe Jackson.” The song eventually went double platinum and hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Clipse's "Kinda Like A Big Deal" (2009)

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Album: Till The Casket Drops
Producer: DJ Khalil, Chin
Label: Star-Trek/Re-Up Gang/Columbia

We know that Kanye and Pusha Ton are now the bestest of friends, but we saw hints of their chemistry on their “Kinda Like A Big Deal” collabo. Built around Ron Burgundy’s catchphrase, Ye, Push and the artist formerly known as Malice went in, all vying for the best verse award. While everyone smashed the track, Ye’s verse was the biggest deal, spewing arrogance like: “I guess I’m like the black Marshall meets Jay/Me Ye alligator souffle/Got it made, Special Ed/Got head from a girl in special ed.”

The-Dream's "Walkin' On The Moon" (2009)

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Album: Love vs. Money
Producer: L.O.S, Kanye West
Label: Def Jam

"Walkin' on the Moon" sounded like a hit as The Dream was crooning throughout the first half of the song, but Kanye's verse was the piece that pushed this single through the stratosphere. Throughout his lengthened verse, Kanye switches from boastful ("You hit the red carpet and modeled it up. We hopped in the 'rari and throttled it up") to romantic ("And Umm, maybe ice down you/And Umm, maybe white gown you") to downright clever ("I swear God must of made lightning strike and I bottled it up"). Mr. West goes through all these phases while he's still walking on the moon. What makes his verse resonate is that we've all been there before.

N.A.S.A.'s "Gifted" (2009)

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Album: The Spirit of Apollo
Producer: N.A.S.A.
Label: ANTI-

It's usually a mistake to put a Kanye West verse first on one of his features since he pretty much kills everything he's on. So it's no surprise that Mr. West stole the show on N.A.S.A's "Gifted." This overlooked verse also had premonitions of some of the iconic moments in Mr. West's career - such as his performance at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards ("And my jacket kinda fresh, bright red/And as usual, my pants tight-threaded").

Mr. Hudson's "Supernova" (2009)

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Album: Straight No Chaser
Producer: Mr. Hudson, Kanye West
Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Mercury

With a song as good as "Paranoid," you know Yeezy and G.O.O.D Music signee Mr. Hudson had to link up for another jam. "Paranoid" was a sharp piece of British Pop and placed high on the UK Singles Chart. West putting a stamp on Mr. Hudson's Supernova, as well as his appearances on the Blueprint 3's "Young Forever" and Watch the Throne's "Why I Love You," was definitely a good look for the UK artist.

Rick Ross' "Maybach Music II" (2009)

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Album: Deeper Than Rap
Producer: J.U.S.T.I.C.E League
Label: Maybach Music Group/MMG/Slip-N-Slide/Def Jam

As Rozay came of age on his third album, Deeper Than Rap, he made quite the splash with the all-star posse cut, “Maybach Music 2” featuring T-Pain, Lil Wayne and Martin Louis The King, Jr. Over a lush Justice League instrumental, the group crafted an almost perfect record, but it was Yeezy’s colorful verse that stole the show.

His stunting on “Maybach Music 2” was next level: “So all the shit you talkin, dead. Coffin/ Light the weed. Coughin’/New crib. Loftin’/ Where it’s at? Austin/Where is that? Texas/What’s in front? Benzes?/ What else? Lexus/Now whose Maybach is this? Mr. West’s.”

Kid Cudi's "Make Her Say" (2009)

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Album: Man on the Moon: The End of Days
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Dream-On/G.O.O.D Music/Universal Motown

Over a brilliant flip of Lady Gaga’s worldwide smash “Poker face,” the good fellas at G.O.O.D. Music took one pop hit and turned it into another one. Produced by and featuring Ye, “Make Her Say” was originally titled “I Poke Her Face,” but the title was changed for obvious reasons. That was a good call on the label's part, because “Make Her Say” went on to be a radio hit, and led to both Cudi and Kanye touring with Gaga (kind of).

Kanye rapped about poking the faces of younger women—but not before checking ID first. “Born in 88/How old is that? Old enough.” Gotta be safe, right?

Jay-Z's "Run This Town" (2009)

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Album: The Blueprint 3
Producer: Kanye West, No I.D.
Label: Roc Nation/Atlantic

The Blueprint 3 was a statement album. Jay was pushing 40, and still proclaiming he was the best. To prove his point, he needed his best ally, Kanye West. Showcasing the new sound Kanye created with No I.D., “Run This Town” marked the second time Jay-Z would get murdered on his own shit. Advantage: Kanye.

The song would hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and win two Grammys. Jay and Ye also set a new trend for “all back everything,” and the song’s lyrics and ominous video fueled talk that Jay and Ye were card-carrying members of the Illuminati. Can't a brother just wear a pentagram in peace? “Run This Town” also made it hard out here for a Rav-4 driver. Jay-Z may have killed throwbacks, but Yeezy definitely put the toe tag on the Toyota SUV. R.I.P.

Drake's "Forever" (2009)

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Album: More Than A Game Soundtrack
Producer: Boi-1da
Label: Zone 4/Interscope/Shady/Aftermath

Although "Forever" is remembered more as the song that helped launch Drake in rap stardom, Kanye comes through with a sneakily good verse. On a song full of giant names, Yeezy stunts the hardest and muses about his come up and ultimate success. Even though we know 'Ye loves his awards, you gotta believe him when he says that he would "Trade the Grammy plaques just to have my granny back."

Consequence's "Whatever U Want (Remix)" (2009)

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Album: Movies on Demand
Producer: Kanye West
Label: N/A

Once you get past the awkwardness of a Consequence song starting with Kanye proclaiming "G.O.O.D Music has arrived!" this is actually a solid posse song. All the members of the crew ala 2009 exchange bars and although the song is good, we are glad some additions have been made to the crew. If you can't tell, we are eagerly awaitingCruel Summer.

Stromae's "Alors on Danse" (2009)

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Album: Cheese
Producer: Stromae
Label: Universal France

Kanye showed his ability to tone down his intellect and lyrical content and making a club hit into a true banger. While Stromae's song "Alors on Danse" was huge across his native Europe, it had not made an impact in America. That is, until Kanye decided to remix and got to stunting all over the place. Complete with 'Ye's braggadocio this song was everywhere in the summer of 2009 which is a testament to how much two short verses from Yeezy can do.

DJ Class' "I'm The Shit (Remix)" (2009)

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Album: N/A
Producer: DJ Class
Label: N/A

Kanye has an impeccable ear for music, no matter the genre. So when he heard “I’m The Shit,” a dance-floor killer by legendary Baltimore club jock DJ Class, he instantly knew it was a hit. Ye jumped on the official remix, which gave the club-friendly smash an even bigger push. Yeezy was fresh off 808s & Heartbreak, and if you weren’t feeling the Auto-Tune, the singing and the direction of the project, Kanye had words for you: “And it’s still top 10, ‘bout 15 weeks later/So that’s a middle finger for you 808s haters.” Those are the type of things you can say when you’re the shit.

Q-Tip's "We Fight/We Love (Remix)" (2009)

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Album: Movies on Demand
Producer: Q-Tip
Label: Universal Motown

The "We Fight/We Love" (Remix) has Q-Tip sounding optimistic and amorous in his nasally drone; Kanye West, on the other hand, sounds more grounded and realistic. Here he references his Air Yeezys, compares sex with his girl to crack, and maxes out his credit cards all to satisfy his woman. He then likens his love to Seal/Heidi Klum, Chris Brown/Rihanna, and Jay-Z/Beyonce. Sure, two out of the three broke up since the song's release, but that only adds to the humor of 'Ye's verse. Who can hate on love if it sounds that clever?

Teairra Mari "Diamonds" (2009)

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Album: Don't Make Me Cause a Scene
Producer: Madd Scientist
Label: N/A

Teairra Mari is known more for her films like Bow Wow's "Lottery Ticket" or the Snoop and Wiz epic "Mac and Devin Go To Highschool," but before all that she was a recording artist signed to Def Jam. She's collaborated with artists like Ross and Jay-Z, and in 2008 she tapped Kanye for her single "Diamonds." This one is pretty generic and Kanye throws down a solid verse about how he's afraid his girls only love him for his rocks. Ultimately, this collaboration is nothing to write home about.

Mr. Hudson's "Anyone But Him" (2009)

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Album: Straight No Chaser
Producer: Mr. Hudson
Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Mercury

Mr. Hudson and Kanye were on the same team in "Supernova," but things change. The UK star loses the girl, but hopes that his ex will go out with anyone other than this one guy he seems to despise so much. That guy is none other than Kanye West. Of course, Yeezy ends up with the girl by the end of the song, but look at it this way Mr. Hudson - at least you didn't get Kris Humphrie'd.

Big Sean's "Glenwood" (2009)

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Album: Finally Famous Vol. 3: Big
Producer: Kanye West
Label: G.O.O.D. Music

"Can I be honest? Honestly, Modesty wouldn't ever end my policy." And fans wouldn't have it any other way. Kanye stood as belligerent as ever on this track off Big Sean's Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG, shooting lines like "In the booth I use the restroom" and "Ya'll ride the beat I'm about to pop a wheelie bitch." Big Sean had his work cut out for him when he had to spit after 'Ye's verse.

Nicki Minaj's "Blazin'" (2010)

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Album: Pink Friday
Producer: Drew Money
Label: YMCMB/Universal Motown

Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was released in November 2010 after a months' long rigorous recording process in Hawaii. So, of course, it was time to stunt, and Yeezy's verse on Nicki Minaj's "Blazin'" is stuntin' at its finest. Example: "They'll be jeal' when we in the mag looking magnif’/As if I ain't used Magnums on your favourite bad bitch." It's called "Blazin" for a reason.

T.I.'s "Welcome To The World" (2010)

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Album: No Mercy
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Grand Hustle/Atlantic

On the first cut off of T.I.'s No Mercy album 'Ye, TIP, and Cudi kindly welcome possible gold diggers and haters to their world. This is a world where fakers get no love and where "the system is made to make niggas fall." The biggest takeaway from the song is that Kanye finally address the never ending and omnipresent rumors about his membership to the illuminati. To put it eloquently, "people ask me shit about Illuminati/First off, fuck that mean?!"

Keri Hilson's "Pretty Girl Rock (Remix)" (2010)

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Album: Pretty Girl Rock (Germany CD Single)
Producer: Chuck Harmoney
Label: Mosley/Zone 4

Ye keeps it pretty light and lets his swag do the talking on his remix of Keri Hilson's hit. Kanye talks about how now he uses his wealth and status to get girls but that "Back when I was poor I used to pull em with my poetry." Say, 'Ye, you think we could borrow some of those old poems for our own usage? Hook a blogger up!

Rick Ross' "Live Fast, Die Young" (2010)

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Album: Teflon Don
Producer: Kanye West
Label: Mayback Music Group/MMG

Rap stars live life in hyperspeed. Fast women, fast money and fast cars. Things change in the blink of an eye, so balling till you fall isn’t just a motto; it’s a way of life. Kanye and Rozay created the theme song to their fast times, the aptly titled “Live Fast, Die Young.” Even though no one actually wants to die young, Ross and Ye were prepared to do so, and planned to enjoy every last minute of it. Kanye closes his verse with: “So they could never say we never lived it/And if I see Biggie tonight, I loved every minute.”

Kid Cudi's "Erase Me" (2010)

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Album: Man on the Moon II:The Legend of Mr. Rager
Producer: Jim Jonsin
Label: Dream-On/G.O.O.D. Music/Universal Motown

"Erase Me" was the lead single off of Cudi's second album and caught its fair share of flack for being too rock/poppy. Be that as it may, Kanye held it down for hip-hop by laying a slick third verse full of cheesy pick up lines and ruminations of the advantages and disadvantages of dating a celebrity. "I know I seen you before, but don't know where I seen ya/Oh I remember now, it's something that I dreamed of." Smooth Kanye, very, very smooth.

Lloyd Banks' "Start It Up" (2010)

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Album: H.F.M. 2
Producer: Cardiak
Label: G-Unit/EMI

“Start It Up” began as a record with just Lloyd Banks and Fabolous—it was going to be an 11th-hour entry for his Hunger For More 2project. But after Kanye West tweeted that Banks was “underrated,” the trajectory of the track changed completely.

Twitter went crazy with Kanye’s tweet, and within a few hours Lloyd and Kanye were in the lab together. Twenty-four hours later, the track went from being a two-piece to featuring Kanye, Ryan Leslie and Swizz Beatz, who were all in NYC at the time. “Start It Up” wasn’t released as a single, but it garnered radio play almost instantly, and later charted on Billboard.

That just goes to show how massive Kanye’s influence is. The song would’ve been dope sans Ye, but it turned into a hit once he blessed it. “The first album I vomited/The second I colonic’d it/Ain't nobody fucking with me, I plutonic’d it”—all such claims are validated here.

La Roux's "Going In For the Kill (Remix)" (2010)

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Album: La Roux
Producer: Elly Jackson/Ben Langmaid
Label: Polydor

La Roux's hit got the remix treatment more than a couple of times, but Kanye West was chosen to hop on the "official" remix of the incredibly infectious track. In between La Roux's original verses, 'Ye rapped about getting kinky, and maybe a little weird, with his girl: biting, scratching, and "living off her vitals."

Chris Brown's "Deuces (Remix)" (2010)

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Album: F.A.M.E.
Producer: Kevin McCall
Label: RCA

Kanye's "Dueces" verse + "Blame Game" = Amber Rose getting completely ethered. Although both sides have moved on and found new famous boo's, when Amber hears this verse its gotta sting. Whether 'Ye is telling her "You gonna be hot a little while, I’mma be rich forever" or throwing out some subliminal disses like "niggas take my old flows and they take my old swag/He just took my old bitch and turn it to his new bitch" (Keep in mind this song came before Wiz and Amber) this verse is ruthless. Boom, roasted.

Kid Cudi's "Wildin' Cuz I'm Young" (2010)

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Album: Man on the Moon II:The Legend of Mr. Rager
Producer: Plain Pat/Emile
Label: Dream On/G.O.O.D. Music/Universal Motown

Although Kanye's verse didn't make the final cut of this track for Cudi's album, we certainly wish it had. 'Ye and his G.O.O.D. labelmate swapped tales of going hard simply because they are young celebrities. If we were getting free alcohol all night and women were throwing themselves at us, we'd probably wild out too.

JYJ's "Ayy Girl" (2010)

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Album: The Beginning
Producer: Malik Yusef, Jae Chong
Label: Warner Korea

Who has the power to unite an underground spoken word poet from Chicago and a Korean boy band? Why, only Kanye West of course! Malik Yusef starts off the song with a few lines which is followed by a verse full of clever lines about living up from 'Ye. The rest of the song, which is produced by Kanye, is handled by the pop group JYJ. While Kanye and Malik do their thing, the cross over success of JYJ may be in question after this one.

30 Seconds To Mars "Hurricane 2.0" (2010)

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Album: This is War
Producer: Flood, 30 Seconds to Mars
Label: Virgin/EMI

Another song in which Kanye's contributions harken back to 808s & Heartbreaks as 'Ye's Autotune-laden vocals float throughout the chorus over this futuristic tune from rockers 30 Seconds to Mars. Kanye croons about a miserable relationship with a woman, fitting for the dark feel of the music behind him.

Katy Perry's "E.T." (2011)

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Album: Teenage Dream
Producer: Dr. Luke, Joshua Coleman, Martin
Label: Capitol

Anybody else down to let Yeezy take control of NASA? Under his lead, our astronauts would be decked in Prada, getting twisted on Mars, and be messing around with some fine ass aliens. That sounds a hell of a lot better than the whole bunch of nothing we got going on in space now, right?

Big Sean's "Marvin & Chardonnay" (2011)

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Album: Finally Famous
Producer: Andrew Wansel, Mike Dean
Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam

Having Kanye West on your debut album is always a good look, especially when he's on a joint as catchy as "Marvin & Chardonnay." Here, West ups the swag with two short and sweet verses. By the end, there's no doubt that this is "the fucking anthem." West even says "I don’t really wanna, uh, talk too much shit/But you love it when I talk like I lost it." Can't say we disagree.

Pusha T's "Touch It" (2011)

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Album: Fear Of God
Producer: Kanye West
Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Deacon/Re-Up

Over a guitar-based beat made by none other than Kanye West, Pusha T spits three verses on this ode to fellatio. West suggests some foreplay on the hook, then he downright commands his girl to "Do Something!"

Snoop Dogg's "Eyez Closed" (2011)

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Album: Doggumentary
Producer: Kanye West, Mike Dean
Label: Doggystyle/Priority

We already heard pieces of Kanye's verse about a year before it wound up on Doggumentary. He first spit parts of his verse (as well as parts of "Dark Fantasy") in the momentous G.O.O.D Music cypher at the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards. Then in January, the track leaked with the Kanye-produced instrumental before the mastered version showed up on Snoop's album in March. Yeezy's verse still sounds just as good the third time around, though.

Beyoncé "Party" (2011)

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Album: 4
Producer: Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker
Label: Columbia

Kanye's lyrical contribution isn't much on this single, but it's become a slogan for any guy who appreciates a slew a hotties. "You a bad girl and your friends bad bad, too," Kanye says on the hook. He was loving the crew.

Pusha T's "Amen" (2011)

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Album: Fear Of God II: Let Us Pray
Producer: Shawty Redd
Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Deacon/Re-Up

Yeezy comes off aggressive as ever on the track as he rhymes about fame, corrupt police, and Kit-Kat bars. That's a lot of stuff to pile on in just two short verses, but the message is clear: Kanye West is only going to get bigger. Amen to that.

Tony Williams' "Another You" (2012)

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Album: King Or The Fool
Producer: Bink!
Label: The High Society

Content : Kanye and Tony Williams, his first cousin, have had a long and successful relationship dating back to The College Dropout. In fact, if you hear some background vocals on a Kanye song, chances are that voice belongs to The World Famous Tony Williams. That relationship continued when Kanye made an on the standout track from Tony's mixtape.

Fat Joe's "Pride N Joy" (2012)

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Album: N/A
Producer: Bink!
Label: Terror Squad/E1

It might be time to demand some type of continuity from Kanye regarding his position on gold diggers. First he's putting them on blast and now hes giving up the black card? Either way, Kanye's contribution to this song is small but he is certainly one of the factors in making it infectiously catchy. Fat Joe back!

DJ Khaled's "I Wish You Would" (2012)

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Album: Kiss The Ring
Producer: Hit-Boy
Label: We The Best/Terror Squad/Universal

Khaled's newest song starts off with Kanye flipping nursery rhymes and Bible verses to "talk his shit." Kanye, who is also featured on the bridge and hook, is the high point of the song and unleashes a few gems like, "Niggas getting bust over In God’s We Trust/We believe in God, but do God believe in us."

2 Chainz's "Birthday Song" (2012)

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Album: Based On A T.R.U. Story
Producer: Sonny Digital
Label: Def Jam

All 'Ye and the artist formerly known as Tity Boi want for their respective birthdays is a big booty girls. No sweaters. IS THAT SO HARD? If they get their wishes or not, the old birthday song was getting a little tired. Good thing we have a new one now.

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