With 13 albums in his discography, all critically acclaimed with a unique theme and sound for each, there is no denying Kanye West’s music is superior. It is easy to find multiple Kanye fans who all love the same artist, but who enjoy the music for different reasons. However, there are some albums that are spoken more highly of than others thanks to their unique sound or status throughout time. 

#5 Ye

With “Ye” being one of the shorter and most recent albums in this list, Kanye manages to put this album in the top five, despite the fact it contains just seven songs. This album is easily Kanye at his most experimental for hip-hop and it works in every aspect possible. “Ye” clearly demonstrates Kanye’s ability not just as a rapper, but as a producer as well. With tracks such as “All Mine” and “Violent Crimes”,” Ye” has to be the album to use to introduce non-hip-hop fans to his discography. His high-quality production, 10/10, features artists such as Kid Cudi, and PARTYNEXTDOOR, as well as short runtime, making it one of his most consumable albums in his discography.

#4 “The College Dropout”

“The College Dropout” was Kanye’s debut album, and probably one of the greatest debut albums in hip-hop history. The album was released in 2004 after he was initially signed to Roc-A-Fella, and Kanye worked on the album for four years. “The College Dropout” is an album with 21 tracks, setting in at an hour and 16 minutes long – many of these pieces can be considered some of Kanye’s most iconic, including “Never Let me Down”, which features Jay-Z, as well as “All Falls Down”, featuring Syleena Johnson. Despite being his debut album it became iconic from the start, selling 441,000 copies first week, a goal of which many current rappers can only dream of. Even 20 years down the line, the album has become one of the most influential rap debuts ever, truly kicking off Kanye’s career as an artist.

#3 – “MBDTF”

“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” was released after the controversy at the 2009 MTV Music Awards, during which time Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech and implied the VMA award she received should have been given to Beyonce. Yet Ye somehow managed to return to the music industry after isolation – and the fact he was universally hated in the field. “MBDTF” managed to revive his career and for good reason: this album pushes his lyrical and visual boundaries and blends the experience into one as Kanye combines the complexities of fame and love with his personal struggles and combines them with production mastery. From the all too known “Runaway”, in which Ye states that the track is one of his “Greatest Sonic Landscapes”, to one the most – if not the most – iconic songs in his discography, “Power”, every song is a clear narrative that gets enhanced from features such as Rick Ross and Bon Iver.

#2 – “TLOP”

“The Life of Pablo” is Kanye at his most chaotic, and how fitting, as the album was released in 2016, at which point Kanye’s social media presence was at an all-time high. What sets “The Life of Pablo” apart from everything else in his discography is its unpredictability. This is an album that stays in constant motion, going top speed and leaving no room for breathing, refusing to be confined to a single genre. It is a blend of rap, R&B, and electronic elements, mixed with the high production that is expected from Kanye, making this one of his most layered albums ever. “The Life of Pablo” is a mesmerizing portrait of the artist himself, and his ability in creating such a unique sound through his vocals and production. Tracks like “Ultralight Beam”, “No More Parties in LA”, and “Saint Pablo” are what gets listeners hooked. Plus, Kanye’s “Life of Pablo” tour became the greatest concert experience of all time, with a floating platform and multiple listening parties leading up to its release. 

#1 – “Graduation”

“Graduation” became the album that pushed Kanye from a great artist to one the biggest names in entertainment. It is a chapter in West’s artistic growth and willingness to grow as an artist/person.  Everything about this album has aged like a fine piece of art and became iconic with its art style, album cover, music, features, concerts, and the list goes on with it being arguably the influential album for the current generation of rappers. Even non-music enjoyers have heard some songs from the album, as many remain all over the internet today. Arguably, the most well-known track is “Stronger”, his first Diamond record, reaching sales of 10,000,000, though other classics like “Good Life” with T-Pain are must-listens. It makes sense for “Graduation” to stand as the best album from his discography because the album represents the pursuit of perfection, and it is obtained.