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40 essential Kanye West tracks for his 40th birthday

What is there to say about Kanye West on his birthday that hasn't already been said? He's a musical genius, an innovator, endlessly controversial, and inarguably one of the most important rappers of the past decade. So for his 40th birthday, we've selected 40 of his most essential tracks in tribute. Listen and enjoy. 

Oh, but maybe wear headphones if you're at work, or if kids are around. There's going to be some profanity here.

 
1 of 40

We Don't Care

We Don't Care
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Yeezy Season 3

"We Don't Care" is criminally underrated. The first song off of his debut "The College Dropout" is a catchy and sardonic classic. Listen here.

 
2 of 40

Gold Digger

Gold Digger
Jeff Kravitz / Getty Images

Sure, Kanye kills on "Gold Digger", but it's made even better by Jamie Foxx's Ray Charles impression. Watch the video here.

 
3 of 40

Clique

Clique
Johnny Nunez/WireImage

This classic from "Watch the Throne" is necessary for nights out on the town with friends. Ain't nobody fresher. Listen here.

 
4 of 40

Can't Tell Me Nothing

Can't Tell Me Nothing
Bennett Raglin/WireImage

Oddly, "Graduation" has become a somewhat underrated and forgotten album for Kanye. That's a shame, because it's full of hits like "Can't Tell Me Nothing" -- one of the best pump-up jams ever. Listen here.

 
5 of 40

Love Lockdown

Love Lockdown
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Kanye West has flirted with electronic R&B elements in his music for years, and "Love Lockdown" is a perfect and essential example of this. Listen right here.

 
6 of 40

New Slaves

New Slaves
Samir Hussein/Redferns via Getty Images

"Yeezus" represented a tonal shift for Kanye, one that began his evolution into the rapper we know today. "New Slaves" is a product of this darker, more political, more biting tone. Listen here.

 
7 of 40

Stronger

Stronger
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Interestingly enough, Daft Punk actually collaborated with Kanye West on this track -- he didn't just sample their hit "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger". Watch the anime-inspired video here.

 
8 of 40

Through The Wire

Through The Wire
Lester Cohen/WireImage

For my money, this is one of the best songs Kanye has ever written. Sure, everyone knows that he wrote and performed the song after being in a near-fatal accident with his jaw wired shut, but that doesn't make it any less impressive. Listen here.

 
9 of 40

Ultralight Beam

Ultralight Beam
PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images

"The Life of Pablo" will go down as one of Kanye West's best albums, alongside "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," and it's on the strength of amazing collaborations like "Ultralight Beam." Listen to it here.

 
10 of 40

Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1

Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Surface Magazine

We're gonna stay with "Life of Pablo" for a little bit. "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1" is alternately touching and hilarious in the way that only Kanye West can be. Listen to it here

 
11 of 40

Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2

Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for People.com

"Pt. 2" is a much more personal song than the song before it -- and that's a good thing. Much like the rest of "Life of Pablo" (and Kanye's recent work) it delves into his psyche in an incredibly interesting way. You can listen here.

 
12 of 40

Touch The Sky

Touch The Sky
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Now for something completely different. A decade ago, this was Kanye's bread and butter: great lyrics over awesome, horn-filled beats. Listen here.

 
13 of 40

I Am A God

I Am A God
OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images

Not only is "I Am A God" one of the best tracks on "Yeezus," it's also the only song I can think of offhand that lists God himself as a featured artist. Listen for yourself here.

 
14 of 40

Power

Power
Jeff Kravitz/MTV1415/FilmMagic

I dare you to listen to this song without feeling like you can punch a hole through a brick wall. It's impossible. See for yourself by listening here.

 
15 of 40

Heartless

Heartless
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Not only is "Heartless" an absolute jam, but the cartoony video for the track is amazing as well. Watch it here.

 
16 of 40

Dark Fantasy

Dark Fantasy
Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for (RED)

Don't worry, we're going to have more tracks from "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" on here, but "Dark Fantasy" deserves special mention, just because it occasionally gets outshined by songs like "Power", "All of the Lights", and "Runaway", but it's an amazing song in its own right. Watch the video here.

 
17 of 40

Heard 'Em Say

Heard 'Em Say
Brad Barket/Getty Images

A bitingly political and scathing collaboration between Adam Levine and Kanye West? What's not to like? Listen to the song (and watch the wonderful animated video) here.

 
18 of 40

Black Skinhead

Black Skinhead
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

"Black Skinhead" might have one of the best, most heartpounding, driving beats that Kanye West has ever written -- appropriate for such an intense song. Listen to it here.

 
19 of 40

All Falls Down

All Falls Down
Rick Kern/Getty Images for Samsung

Kanye West had been rapping about his own shortcomings since "College Dropout", and "All Falls Down" is a perfect example of his pathos-heavy work. Listen to it here.

 
20 of 40

Bound 2

Bound 2
Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

62 million YouTube viewers can't be wrong. Even if you don't like the song that much, the music video for "Bound 2" is an absolute must-watch, especially if you enjoy watching people make out on motorcycles. Check it out here.

 
21 of 40

Famous

Famous
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Speaking of music videos, Kanye West's video for "Famous" is one of the most controversial ones ever made, featuring body doubles for Donald Trump, Taylor Swift, Bill Cosby, and others nude in a bed with West himself. The video is very, VERY explicit, so maybe don't watch if you're at work or around kids, but it's essential viewing for any Kanye fan. Watch it here.

 
22 of 40

Monster

Monster
Kevin Mazur/MTV1415/WireImage

It's likely that at least two of your favorite artists appear on "Monster": it features Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Bon Iver for good measure. Listen here.

 
23 of 40

Homecoming

Homecoming
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

"And they say Chi-city!" Homecoming is an amazing song, and a heartfelt tribute to Chicago, the city Kanye calls home. It's the Windy City's version of "Empire State of Mind" -- and it's ten times better. Watch the video here.

 
24 of 40

Jesus Walks

Jesus Walks
Andrew Benge/Redferns via Getty Images

Kanye West was so far ahead of his time -- "Jesus Walks" was released in 2004, and it's incredibly intense and political, sandwiched between more positive songs on "The College Dropout". Listen here.

 
25 of 40

The New Workout Plan

The New Workout Plan
Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

It's hard to know exactly where Kanye West was going with this one -- was the blatant misogyny on this track an ironic dig at a patriarchal society, or not? Either way, it's a classic track from "College Dropout", with a bright and vibrant video to boot. Watch it here.

 
26 of 40

Saint Pablo

Saint Pablo
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

"Saint Pablo" almost plays as Kanye West's own eulogy, describing his struggles, debts, controversies, and mental health. Listen to it here.

 
27 of 40

Ni**as In Paris

Ni**as In Paris
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for adidas

Don't let Kanye West get in his zone -- or maybe do, if you want him to cut a banger with Jay-Z. Listen to it here, though be aware that the video has a bunch of flashing lights for those of you that might be sensitive to that.

 
28 of 40

Lost In The World

Lost In The World
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for The Meadows

"Lost in the World" might be one of the most beautiful songs Kanye West has ever written, and when you add Bon Iver to the mix, the song becomes an instant classic. Watch the video here.

 
29 of 40

Runaway

Runaway
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

"Runaway" might have one of the best hooks in modern rap. That piano line is instantly recognizable, catchy, and wonderful. Plus, the video is great. Watch it here.

 
30 of 40

Good Morning

Good Morning
Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Not only is the song itself great, but the video for "Good Morning" is a technicolor dreamscape full of late-'90s 3d flair. Watch it here.

 
31 of 40

American Boy

American Boy
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Sure, Estelle steals the show on this song, but it's still a classic Kanye track. Watch the video here.

 
32 of 40

Blame Game

Blame Game
Scott Dudelson/FilmMagic

What a beautiful, heartbreaking track, complete with piano and cello accompaniment, and vocals from John Legend. Listen to it here.

 
33 of 40

The Cool

The Cool
Photo by Daniel Knighton/WireImage

This one doesn't really count, but it is still essential because it displays Kanye West's proficiency as a producer. "The Cool" is a Lupe Fiasco song -- Kanye West isn't even on it -- but his production work is masterful and dark. Listen to the song here.

 
34 of 40

E.T.

E.T.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for the DAILY FRONT ROW

Yep, Kanye West had a song on Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream." It's weird in a wonderful way -- would you expect anything less? Watch the video here.

 
35 of 40

Flashing Lights

Flashing Lights
Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images For MTV

"Graduation" was full of hits, but few were as ubiquitous as "Flashing Lights," Kanye's ode to fame. Listen here.

 
36 of 40

FML

FML
Scott Dudelson/FilmMagic

"FML" here stands for "For My Lady," appropriate for this song, a tribute to Kim Kardashian -- featuring a bit of help from The Weeknd on the hook. Listen here.

 
37 of 40

Breathe In Breathe Out

Breathe In Breathe Out
Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc

"Breathe In Breathe Out" is Kanye West's take on dirty south rap, and he brought Ludacris along to help him out with the song. Listen to it here.

 
38 of 40

FourFiveSeconds

FourFiveSeconds
Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Rihanna, Paul McCartney, and Kanye West did a song together. And yes, it's as amazing as you'd think it would be, playing to each of their strengths. Listen to it here.

 
39 of 40

Get By

Get By
Johnny Nunez/WireImage

You may not have heard of the remix of Talib Kweli's classic "Get By," but it features Mos Def, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, and Jay-Z. It's necessary listening, and Kanye steals the show. Listen to it here.

 
40 of 40

Good Life

Good Life
Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Roc Nation

Now throw your hands up in the sky for Kanye West's 40th anniversary. "Good Life" is one of the few Kanye West songs that are unflinchingly and unapologetically positive, featuring T-Pain on autotuned vocals. Listen here.

Sam Greszes is unlockable by beating the game on Very Hard difficulty without losing a life. You must then defeat him to unlock him for Arcade and Versus modes. You can follow him on Twitter @samgreszeseses, and check out his podcast with David Rappoccio here. He also hosts weekly twitch streams at twitch.tv/robotsfightingdinosaurs.

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