Because I Have Nothing Else to Write About

Post N006

Sep 27, 2024

Why not share my five all-time favorite Kanye West songs? This will probably make the majority of you very upset, but here it goes:

Coming in at number 5 - Jesus Lord Pt. 2

No, this is not a joke. This song might be the most slept-on in his discography. Let me explain. “Jesus Lord” is a song off Ye’s 10th album, Donda, released in 2021. Judging from the title, we know this album is dedicated to Ye’s late mother. As we all know, he and his mother were extremely close, and when she passed, his career drastically changed.

When Donda first started to roll out, we heard early versions of songs like "No Child Left Behind," "Jail," "Moon," and "24." All these songs are spiritually driven, with synths, choirs, and verses about God. Besides the Jay-Z feature, we didn’t hear much about Donda herself. And once the entire album was released, it didn’t entirely feel like this album was for her.

If we look at the 32-track album as a whole, we are only reminded of Donda in about seven of those songs. One of them is "Donda Chant," another two are "Praise God" and the title track "Donda," which have snippets of a speech Donda gave during her time as a professor. To get to the point, these songs aren’t really about her. It just leaves me confused and frustrated. Why would Ye make an album dedicated to his late mother, yet the listener is only reminded of her a few times while listening? The only track in the entire album where Ye explicitly mentions his mother and the impact she had on him is "Jesus Lord." Yes, you could make an exception for "Never Abandon Your Family," but in Ye’s verse, he doesn’t directly address her.

Ok, back to "Jesus Lord." What Ye talks about in this song is truly powerful. Here’s a part of his verse that has brought me to tears a few times:

“Sittin' by myself, I'm just thinkin'
About all I've been through, I wish I was dreamin' (Jesus)
Man, it's hard to be an angel when you surrounded by demons (Lord)
I watched so many people leave, I see them change by the season, that's mama's seasonin'
God got you, the devil's watchin', he just peekin' in
I know I made a promise that I'd never let the reaper in (Jesus)
But lately, I've been losin' all my deepest friends (Lord)
And lately, I've been swimmin' on the deepest end
It's just drugs, it ain't no hugs, it ain't no love there
You been down so much, you don't even know what's upstairs (Jesus)
Suicidal thoughts got you wonderin' what's up there (Lord)
And while they introduce a party, they say it's up there”

...

“Mama, you was the life of the party
I swear you brought life to the party
When you lost your life, it took the life out the party (Jesus)”

It feels like it’s been forever since Ye has been this vulnerable and retrospective. Such heavy topics surrounding mental health haven’t been discussed since Kids See Ghosts (a perfect album). It’s refreshing to hear a verse from him that seems thought out and meaningful, especially as we’re living through the Vultures era, where it feels like all his lines are being phoned in. So, in summary, based on how the rest of the album (Donda) feels, it’s nice to hear some significant lyrics, especially when they’re about how the death of his mother affected him.

We have to put some respect on the Dark Prince himself, Gesaffelstein, for making this heavenly beat. The luring synth and thumping drums sends you on your way to the gates of heaven. Every verse on this 12-minute track makes it feel like 3 minutes. Jay Electronica? Talking about Rothschilds and highlighting the things politicians like the Clintons and Bush did? Yeah, it’s perfect. Then The LOX features. Look, I wasn’t aware of The LOX before this feature happened, but they ALL kill it. Sheek talks about the struggles that come with fame, Jadakiss refers to the late DMX, and Styles closes it out by discussing death. I’m not saying “Free Hoover,” but this track just moves me, and with all the subjects touched on in this song, it forces itself into this tier list.

Ok, that was a lot. I promise the rest will be quick. I just know I had to defend myself the most for this pick. The rest should be more agreeable.

Number 4 - Saint Pablo

This song continues to prove its relevance every time Ye is featured in a headline. His lyricism, paired with a Sampha feature, makes it an all-time classic.

“The media said it was outlandish spendin'
The media said he's way out of control
I just feel like I'm the only one not pretendin'
I'm not out of control, I'm just not in they control”

No need to discuss further.

Number 3 - We Major

Bet you weren’t expecting that one. Can I talk my shit again?

I remember sitting at the lunch table in junior or senior year with Alan and Kanan as we discussed Ye’s music. I think we were debating his best tracks, and they mentioned "We Major." I had never known this song existed at the time, and they called me crazy. I get it now—I was living under a rock. That Really Doe chorus, Nas verse, and Ye finishing the song by talking his shit. Shoutout to Tony Williams and Jon Brion because he’s on the keys right now. I think it’s a song almost any Ye fan can enjoy, but maybe putting in the top 5 is a hot take.

Number 2 - Slow Jamz

Yeah, I’m not gonna lie, I had "Get Em High" in the #2 spot originally. And I told myself I wasn’t going to let Jamie Foxx be the deciding factor between these two songs... but I’m letting Jamie Foxx be the deciding factor. It’s not just Jamie working his magic on the chorus. The Twista verse?! No one can do it faster than him. And that outro where sweet Jamie and Tracie Spencer go bar for bar just sends you to another decade.

I will say I prefer Ye’s verse on "Get Em High," but Common and Kweli just don’t match his energy.

For the record, deciding between "Two Words," "Slow Jamz," and "Get Em High" was painful. He’s the goat.

Number 1 - Devil In a New Dress

Yeah, there’s nothing I need to say here. This song is like Thanos—it’s inevitable.

“The way you look should be a sin, you my sensation”

Who starts a song like that?

I don’t need to explain myself with this pick. Just go listen to the song and you’ll know why it’s his best song of all time.

So yeah, that’s it. Hope this was a fun one to read.

Jesus Lord Pt. 2
Saint Pablo
We Major
Slow Jamz
Devil In a New Dress