Kanye West's 50 Best Beats for Other Artists (Complex)

[Almostlity]

Today, Kanye West is known for his work as the starring act and main attraction. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that Kanye became a megastar by coming through the backdoor as a producer. A decade ago, Kanye wasn’t full-time rhyming yet. Instead, he was making a name for himself by crafting soul-heavy beats for classic like Jay-Z's The Blueprint and Scarface's The Fix.

Shortly after, 'Ye began his epic run as a solo artist, producing the large majority of his own material. It's from that catalog that we've witnessed many of Kanye's best productions, including era-defining instrumentals like "Stronger" and "All of the Lights." But 'Ye has still always found time to cook up a banger for another artist. The same process that put him on the map helps keep him relevant as one of hip-hop's best beatsmiths.

With Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music compilation, Cruel Summer, officially out tomorrow, it's a good time to consider all of the work he's put in to get here. We're taking a look back at the days when he was a producer for hire, working with artists like Beanie Sigel, Monica, and Nas. Of course, 'Ye produced a bunch of hits after his superstar status was cemented, too. We've taken it all into account.

These are Kanye West's 50 best beats for other artists.

Click here for the list

[DƎRDYPK]

he didn't make those, he has ghost producers!!!111

[Almostlity]

Gotta take a small L here but i didn't know he made 'The Cool'.. no wonder it's so dope

[OMEGA]

For me:

#1 Get By
#2 Already Home
#3 Takeover

[KillahBee]

That's a quality list, you forget how much Kanye used to produce for other artists 5-6 years ago as it's a rarity nowadays

Stand Up is still a fucking anthem!

Forever by Cam'ron should be on there somewhere, though

[SoldierShady]

For me:

Diamonds from Sierra Leone (no one can fucking touch that beat)
Touch it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZXVD5gUf4I
Overnight Celebrity (timeless)
Chi Town - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v4p7ZNBy1s