Kanye West

Kanye West arrived onto the recording scene with the College Dropout. This was after a number of years of being the go-to producer for the hip/hop scene's biggest names. It was going to be interesting to see if West had as much to say as he did in the sampling studios. He did. It was an incredibly popular debut. Funny at times, the album saved its best material for its more serious tracks. 'Jesus Walks' and 'Through the Wire' are the best examples of West's confident style.

Continuing from where the first album left off, 'Late Registration' was a brash, arrogant follow up. Its singles are stronger than the first record, 'Touch the Sky' and 'Gold-digger' are swaggeringly good summer tunes. The album did show that West isn't as interesting as he first seemed though as his bling-obsessed lyrics became tiresome.

Graduation was a return to form of sorts. It showcased nothing new but West's use of a sample was as good as ever - 'Stronger' is a great floor filler. 'Drunk and Hot Girls' suggested that West was become as misogynistic as the rappers he had laughed off in earlier records.

None of the previous records could have prepared anyone for the calamity that was 808s and Heartbreak. It's an inherently bleak rap record. A testament to West's misfortune in relationships. As West doesn't possess a singing voice he uses a piece of studio equipment to enhance his voice. It's a monumental disaster and needs to be swiftly followed up with a return to what West does best.