2010 belonged to Kanye West. He was the year's most creative, controversial, and entertaining figure—not only in hip-hop, but in pop culture, period. Next year, 'Ye will release Watch The Throne, a joint LP with Jay-Z. Half a decade ago, critics would have questioned his ability to rap alongside Hov for an entire abum, but 'Ye has come a long way from pushing miracle whips. There's no better proof than his musical output this year, where he rapped like a motherfucking monster on every song he was on. We love to hear the story of Kanye's ousting from society and return to triumph again and again, but let's take a moment to look back at the music itself instead of the narrative that goes along with it. The 25 Best Kanye West Verses of 2010 places the spotlight on all of the Chicago MC's lyrical onslaughts this year. No one man should have this many hot insane verses in less than 12 months, but Yeezy did. Keep reading to check out our countdown of the very best...
KushFu December 21st, 2010 at 02:20 PM
hand up taking shit yeah I get my pope on // jet life
Hase December 21st, 2010 at 02:22 PM
Good list, except for "Take One For The Team". Sounded like they weren't really trying on that track.
BUZZ A LICIOUS December 21st, 2010 at 02:55 PM
"I'm living in the future so the present is my past. My presence is a present, kiss my ass."
dmfslimm December 28th, 2010 at 02:10 PM
shit yeah, thats another dope line.
cm December 21st, 2010 at 03:16 PM
lupe said dont stop was made a couple years ago so technically it wasnt a reunion. 1
Fluff Daddy December 21st, 2010 at 03:34 PM
Damn why did yall spazz like this? I'm not gonna get any more work done today. Thanks Complex.
dmfslimm December 28th, 2010 at 02:06 PM
word.
yeah December 21st, 2010 at 03:57 PM
i guess if you only like "popular" rap i could see why you'd think kanye is a great mc
Intellignece December 21st, 2010 at 04:34 PM
LOL, this guy is a joke. Don't tell me you really think that Aesop Rock, MF Doom, Atmosphere, etc. are all better.
hellstrike December 23rd, 2010 at 12:26 AM
i do
sandwix December 30th, 2010 at 07:26 PM
you can't deny DOOM, but I hope you wouldn't put aesop rock in from of kanye. that dude has weird ass flow and he never says anything real. and the reason that kanye is "popular" is because he's so good. just because you like rappers that other people don't doesn't make them better.
Shap December 21st, 2010 at 04:31 PM
Sickkk list Complex and I totally agree on the Gorgeous verse being number 1 "cuz like a crip said i got way too many blues for any more bad news" is my favourite line
dmfslimm December 28th, 2010 at 02:11 PM
yep.
V December 21st, 2010 at 05:00 PM
Love the writing style! Great job!
tr December 21st, 2010 at 05:22 PM
Agree with Shap on that line.
WA December 21st, 2010 at 06:08 PM
That take one for the Team is a hot track but def not top 20!
michael December 21st, 2010 at 06:21 PM
"all of the lights" is actualy based upon one big metaphor to his music career. music being his daughter that was stripped from him because of the tayor swift incident he spent some time away and spent money and came back rap genius . com explains it all
AAANDY December 27th, 2010 at 04:27 PM
that's merely rap genius' opinion, i hate when people mistake interpretation for fact. no where does kanye state that the song is one giant metaphor.
Ber December 21st, 2010 at 07:04 PM
i'm so appalled, Spalding balled, balding donald trump, takin dollars from y'all
Barack Obama December 21st, 2010 at 07:21 PM
The black beetle line makes no sense. Cause a black beetle is a beetle and roaches are brown.
mike December 21st, 2010 at 09:22 PM
dude hes saying "whats a black beetle any ways a fuckin roach?" which means the black artists that are as good as the beetles dont get enough respect. they just look like roaches
Fluff Daddy December 22nd, 2010 at 10:33 AM
Holy shit... I didn't get that. Damn 'Ye...
Barack Obama December 22nd, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Oh shit I get it now. Swag you OUT! Fuck Steve Harvey.
deviant December 28th, 2010 at 12:14 PM
yeeea he's referring to being a black "beatle", as in the band. and what's a black beatle? a fuckin roach
the purple giver December 21st, 2010 at 09:53 PM
its about time someone else said it. kanye had the best verse on monster, even with nicki doing her lame voices
Alex December 21st, 2010 at 11:40 PM
"Soon as I got salad, i spent it all on dressing, French to be exact, that Balmain was impressive"
Brett December 22nd, 2010 at 06:44 AM
Thanks for this article, you hit the nail on the head with all of the results.
Hip Hop Site December 22nd, 2010 at 12:34 PM
That was a great list. He has been one of the main entertainment figures of the past few years.
Tom December 22nd, 2010 at 04:38 PM
It's "As I look down at my diamond encrusted piece". Not "As I look down at my diamond crush to piece". Still nice work!
KT December 22nd, 2010 at 06:33 PM
"Had used the main leathers" from Looking for Trouble should be "Hedi Slimane Leathers"
Youngmuggzy85 December 24th, 2010 at 01:14 AM
The only part I disagree with is "Devil in a New Dress." Rick Ross actually murdered that verse and track. He had to one-up 'Ye for what he did to "Maybach Music pt. II" But yeah this list is comprehensive and pretty accurate. Is Complex biased? Of Course, and with good reason, Kanye is the shit. Why deny it? To be fair they gave him his own Column back since like '03-'04 so you really have to give Complex Credit for being down with homie since day one. Regardless of How biased it is. I mean fuck --- the Bible is biased ain't it. But people still read it. Point proven.
yoprince December 24th, 2010 at 03:10 PM
Tell’em Plain Pat, ’Yo that track sucks!’/We ain’t dissin’ you between the position you play something for us to listen to. BOW BOW BOW!
Edward December 25th, 2010 at 01:58 PM
"Selita Ebanks/If you work with my people speak that Jourdan Dunn language/" Alright this one pisses me off because everyone gets this wrong. The line is "+Selita Ebanks+ said whoever +Mobb Deep+ can speak that +Jourdan Dunn+ Language". It's such a good hiphop reference that I hate the fact that it gets lost by people misquoting it.
PROMO December 26th, 2010 at 12:45 PM
you guys didn't include his verse from Rick Ross's "Live Fast, Die Young" off of Teflon Don??? HUGE FAIL. That was one of the top 5 verses of the year for ANY raper.
PROMO December 26th, 2010 at 12:49 PM
oops. missed that one somehow. my bad. should be higher though.
belz December 27th, 2010 at 04:17 PM
wowww.... he had 25 hot verses? he had.... one hot verse? this guy sucks nuts. hasn't been good since his verse on fucking "diamonds are forever" or some shit. terrible rapper, GOOD beatmaker. live with it.
dmfslimm December 28th, 2010 at 02:03 PM
the same people that try to blackball me forgot about two things, my black balls. best line out this whole list. thanks complex.
Chris23 December 28th, 2010 at 10:11 PM
This list should be called 25 verses that prove Kanye is a better artist than Lil Wayne..and i do think the verses on All Of The Lights meant something deeper than what was actually said be 'Ye, but until he says so its all speculation & interpretation.
kevinuitveen January 1st, 2011 at 11:30 AM
"Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud"
FrankTalk January 1st, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Nice list, can not believe "Chain Heavy" was left out though, either verse. Second verse of "All of the Lights" is almost my life. At least the character in question got to slap his girl to end up in that position. And while my son needs his father around, it will NOT be at the cost of shackin up with his nutty ass ma. Lastly, "Take One for the Team" is classic. I'll walk past a broad wearing that B&BW shit and shudder from flashbacks. Good work.