The 10 Best Beats Made for Kanye West

We all know how prolific of a producer Kanye West is. Before he was jet-setting across the globe in Maison Martin Margiela masks, the Chicago native was putting in work in the studio, perfecting a sound that would shape hits for the likes of Jay Z, Common, Cam'ron, Game, and many more. Kanye used this same blueprint for himself when he branched out as a solo artist, pioneering the producer-rapper label in the modern rap era.

As Kanye's focus shifted toward rapping, he began reaching out for production, calling upon trusted veterans and rising talents to bless him with heat. And if there's one thing a prolific producer has, it's an ear for dope beats. 'Ye has aligned with the likes of Just Blaze, Pete Rock, and Hit-Boy in the booth, and the results have been nothing short of impressive. From "Touch the Sky" to "Cold," these are The 10 Best Beats Made for Kanye West​.

Main Producer: Just Blaze

Additional Producers: N/A

Album: Late Registration

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Just Blaze is the only other producer besides Kanye West who has completely owned the lane of sped-up soul samples post-2000, which is fitting considering they both earned their stripes as in-house producers for Roc-A-Fella. Kanye would eventually veer off into his own path as a solo artist, dropping The College Dropout in 2004 and Late Registration a year later, two projects that featured this distinct sound heavily.

Just Blaze got the opportunity to showcase his talents on “Touch the Sky” off the latter project, and the Paterson, N.J., producer came with the heat. The record features a slick, sped-up sample of Curtis Mayfield's funk anthem “Move on Up,” with drums that'll knock listeners off their feet because they're reaching for the stars off this joint. Just Blaze was the only producer to have his work featured on either of Kanye's first two albums, which is probably why people to this day still forget who crafted this gem. Well, the more you know. —Edwin Ortiz

Main Producer: DJ Toomp

Additional Producers: N/A

Album: Graduation

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Stadium status. Those are the first words uttered on “Big Brother,” Kanye West's lyrical ode to Jay Z. Stadium status was a running theme throughout Graduation, and it was especially present on “Big Brother,” where DJ Toomp lays warped guitar synth over towering drums. Even in headphones, this beat echoes like a 15,000 seater, with the listener front row. Toomp has been known for his whopping drum lines; T.I.'s “What You Know” would be exhibit A. But what he did here for Kanye perfectly encapsulated the mood of the record. 'Ye's big brother would be proud. —Edwin Ortiz

Main Producer: S1

Additional Producers: Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Mike Dean, Andrew Dawson

Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

“Power” is the most apocalyptic beat on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and that's saying a lot. S1's use of King Crimson's “21st Century Schizoid Man,” Dwele's vocal harmony, and what sound like tribal chants, created the perfect sound for Kanye to flex his superhero bars. “Power” is the type of track that makes you want to assert dominance over simple-minded peasants while pounding your chest on top of an Egyptian pyramid—the perfect Kanye beat. —Brian Padilla

Main Producer: Bink!

Additional Producers: Mike Dean

Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

What Bink! did with Smokey Robinson's “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” on “Devil in a New Dress” should be written in the scriptures of producing. Bink! chops heavenly vocals from Smokey, with his piercing yowl tied down by a lush melody and a rousing bass line. Kanye West seemingly floats over the production, spilling his heart out, note by beautiful note. And the guitar break that takes place before Rick Ross' verse? Crying tears of joy at just the thought of it. You the real MVP, Bink!. —Edwin Ortiz

Main Producer: Pete Rock

Additional Producers: Kanye West, Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker

Album: Watch the Throne

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, Def Jam

Pete Rock's production on “The Joy” is just another example of why this Mount Vernon, N.Y., legend has earned the title of Soul Brother #1. He flips Curtis Mayfield's “The Making of You,” turning the '70s ballad into a smooth boom bap track that could warm even the coldest heart. “The Joy” was initially released as a part of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Friday series, and then later as a bonus track on Watch the Throne.

This collaboration was a longtime coming for Pete Rock, as the producer had yet to work with Kanye and Jay Z beforehand, despite running in similar circles. Even crazier, Pete told Complex he had this beat in the stash since the late '90s. We're glad he shared it with Kanye and Jay, who did it poetic justice. —Edwin Ortiz

Main Producer: RZA

Additional Producers: Kanye West, No I.D., Mike Bhasker, Mike Dean

Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

“Dark Fantasy” is the gospel hymn that begins your Sunday service. RZA transformed Mike Oldfield's soft rock song “In High Places” into an epic hip-hop ballad only fit for Kanye. He pulled the orchestra back on the verses, allowing Kanye's braggadocious rhymes to dominate the track. He even proved that Nicki Minaj is so provocative that her voice alone makes men feel some type of way. “Dark Fantasy” didn't have the same radio play as “All of the Lights,” but it was the foundation for Kanye's perfect album. —Brian Padilla

Main Producer: Hit-Boy

Additional Producers: Kanye West, Mike Dean, Anthony Kilhoffer

Album: Watch the Throne

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, Def Jam

Hit-Boy joined Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint as an in-house producer in the middle of 2011, and the partnership that lasted through 2013 would end up paying dividends for both sides involved. Here was a rising talent from Fontana, Calif., fresh off a platinum plaque for Lil Wayne's “Drop the World,” ready to take over the production game. And Kanye—being a smart investor with an equally great ear for beats—gave the young gun a shot. And like his namesake, Hit-Boy didn't miss.

One of his first achievements was crafting the beat for “Niggas in Paris,” a song that soon became a club anthem off the strength of its snappy synth line and rolling drum pattern. The record also became a fan favorite on the road, with Kanye and Jay performing “Niggas in Paris” 11 times in Paris. It's amazing to think this Hit-Boy beat was originally offered to Pusha T, who turned it down because it sounded like a “video game.” —Edwin Ortiz

Main Producer: Swizz Beatz (“Murder”), S1 (“Excellence”)

Additional Producers: N/A

Album: Watch the Throne

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, Def Jam

Kanye West and Jay Z went the ultra-creative route with "Murder to Excellence" off Watch the Throne, which acts as a mini rap suite containing two distinct, yet equally impressive beats. The first is a mid-tempo backdrop from Swizz Beatz, who works in a hypnotizing vocal sample of Indiggo Twins' "La La La" over jittery drums that add to the urgency of the record.

"Murder" is book-ended by S1's production on "Excellence." The Southern native reaches deep into his stash of samples on this soulful cut, flipping vocal chants from "Celie Shaves Mr./Scarification Ceremony," a Quincy Jones composition found on The Color Purple soundtrack. What Jay and 'Ye are left with is black excellence, opulence, decadence, in beat form. —Edwin Ortiz

Main Producer: Hit-Boy

Additional Producers: N/A

Album: Cruel Summer

Label: G.O.O.D./Def Jam

Hit-Boy continued his prominence as a go-to producer in G.O.O.D. Music with “Cold,” a massive beat that almost matches the weight of Kanye West's ego on the track. The song is built over a sample of LL Cool J's “Illegal Search,” with Hit-Boy laying down drums that absolutely snap. There's also an interpolation of Ma$e's “Lookin' at Me” used, which can be heard at the top of the melody. That filthy synth nestles perfectly alongside Kanye's brash rhymes, which include shade and shots at Wiz Khalifa, Amber Rose, Kris Humphries, and PETA. If you can get that out of Kanye during a studio session, you're doing a pretty damn good job. —Edwin Ortiz

Main Producer: Hit-Boy

Additional Producers: Kanye West, Anthony Kilhoffer, Noah Goldstein

Album: Cruel Summer

Label: G.O.O.D./Def Jam

The past, present, and future of Def Jam joined forces on "Clique," Kanye West's Cruel Summer posse cut. And who better than Hit-Boy to compose its accompanying backdrop, which featured groovy, chill synth, haunting chords on the hook, and booming drums that matched this momentous occasion. —Edwin Ortiz