BUMMER: NO STREAM OF THIS TRACK. THE FILE IS TOO LARGE. STREAM IT HERE.

NUMBER 7: “BLAME GAME” - KANYE WEST ft. JOHN LEGEND - FROM THE MY DARK TWISTED FANTASY LP ON ROC-A-FELLA RECORDS

This isn’t what a Kanye West track that samples Aphex Twin is supposed to sound like. I guess you could be disappointed: hearing ‘Ye do something with “Windowlicker” or “4” would have been pretty cool. Or the hipper choice certainly would have been “Xtal”. I mean, if Andy Samberg already sampled a song then it’s probably off limits, right?

Well, of course not. Kanye’s been letting samples play bit parts on tracks where most producers would be happy enough letting the clever crate digging stand on its own since “Through the Wire”. Now at his most maximalist phase of his career, the hipster headline of “Kanye West Samples Richard D.” is almost an afterthought by the time Chris Rock finishes his track ending comedy routine. Instead, you’re thinking about those warm strings, those perfectly timed cymbal splashes, that rolling militant snare, or, most of all, that second verse where Kanye chops and screws his own voice and tosses it from ear to ear and back again. For me, that second verse was the highlight of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy; a self-referential culmination of everything that’s worked for Kanye over the years and an appropriation of his one misstep. Hell, forget the “Avril 14th” sample, before the end of that verse Kanye samples himself.

BONUS: Need I mention the G.O.O.D. Friday’s series?

2010 Top 10:

7) “Blame Game” - Kanye West ft. John Legend

8) “Tightrope” - Janelle Monae ft. Big Boi

9) “Desire Lines” - Deerhunter

10) “Your Sweet Boom” - Jamie Lidell