The 50 Best Kanye West Songs Ever

32. Good Life

Release Date: October 2, 2007

Album: Graduation

Writer(s): Kanye West, Faheem Najm, James Ingram, Quincy James, Aldrin Davis

Producer(s): West, DJ Toomp

Notable Lyric:

“Yo, it’s got to be cause I’m seasoned

Haters give me them salty looks, Lawry’s

50 told me, go ‘head, switch the style up

And if they hate then let ’em hate and watch the money pile up

The good life”

Long before Kanye learned to be conflicted about his celebrity status, he recorded Graduation.

The final album of the opening trilogy of his discography, Graduation featured a whole lot of songs that made it seem like Kanye was finally reaching something like maturity.

These were songs that made it seem like Kanye had finally turned an ear toward music that was not only clever and fun, but also anthemic. The whole album’s sonic theme was consciously meant to be in line with the arena rock he experienced while briefly on tour with U2 in 2006.

“Good Life” fits into this theme nicely. The track’s opening vocals seem to be broadcast from a bullhorn or PA system. The verses that follow are full of optimism, meaning there’s no trace of irony in the song’s title.

After listening to virtually every album that follows Graduation, it’s comforting to come back to tracks like “Good Life” and remember that Kanye was once capable of singing with something like joy.

Next: 31. All Falls Down