Kanye West’s 7 Best Collaborations: Relive Yeezus’ Best Moments Assisting Rihanna, T.I. & More

Kathy Iandoli | June 13, 2013 5:52 am

When accessorizing, it’s typically en vogue to pair a decent outfit with an extremely expensive accessory. That’s the same function of having Kanye West as a feature on a track. Yeezy adds the necessary something needed to upgrade any hit single. The Chicago-bred rapping-producing-ranting wunderkind spent his early days playing the assist for none other than his now-peer Jay-Z. While that could have arguably been Kanye’s collaborative ceiling, he has since gone on to work with some of rap’s heavyweights while forging a career of his own. Of course Kanye’s musical trajectory isn’t without a little randomness.

Collaborations-wise, Yeezy tends to pick and choose who to work with based on a vibe, not a status. Remember his track “I Still Love H.E.R.” with Asian rap outfit Teriyaki Boyz? Sometimes the tracks he jumps on raise several eyebrows; other times they’re expected — especially when a verse by the Yeezus MC can take a song to the next level. Here are seven of Kanye West’s best collaborative moments. From the super well-known to the hyper-underground, Kanye West knows how to show up for an occasion. Check out hip-hop’s favorite accessory below.

Kid Sister featuring Kanye West, “Pro Nails” (2007): A few historical points to consider: both Kid Sister and Kanye hail from Chicago, plus DJ A-Trak (Kid Sister’s ex-boyfriend) was West’s old DJ. Neither of that played into ‘Ye choosing to jump on Kid Sis’ ode to nail salons. Apparently Kanye loved the song so much he just added his own verse. Kid Sister was clearly thrilled (evidenced by Yeezy in the video and making it her single). If only Chief Keef were as grateful when Kanye added a verse to “I Don’t Like.”