I think Kanye West is an amazing producer. I don't think there are many people who would say he is not talented. The most common, and most valid, critique of Kanye is that he is an egomaniac who either can't rap or stopped trying long ago. Frankly, I think his egomania has produced some very conflicted tracks and its unabashed narcissism is really unparalleled in popular culture. This is all besides the point. Sometimes, it's easy to forget that Kanye crawled his way into stardom by being an amazing producer who is at least one step ahead of his peers. Check out this old Scarface track from 2002 (two years before Kanye debuted as a rapper). It's just a simple hip hop beat that has enough dynamism and layers to carry an-otherwise-horrendous chorus and some unremarkable rap.