The Five Best Uses of Kanye West Songs In Movies

Kanye West recently offered his musical talents for the Deadpool movie franchise. The rapper, singer, songwriter took to twitter to make his offer and Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds responded that he’d consider it for Deadpool 3. It’s not the first time West’s iconic tunes have been used in movies. In fact, his music has been featured in several films and trailers over the years. Here are the best uses of Kanye West songs in movies.

Black Skinhead – The Wolf of Wall Street

For a song that starts with the line “For my theme song”, it was meant to be used in a movie trailer. It’s radical and powerful. It’s the perfect song for the trailer of “The Wolf of Wall Street“, Martin Scorsese’s 2013 black comedy about stockbroker Jordan Belfort. The movie is the true story of a man who was the epitome of Wall Street corruption. Portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio Belfort’s high life eventually led to his downfall. West ends the song with “So follow me up cause this s***’s about to go (down); I’m doing 500, I’m outta control (now)” and “If I knew what I knew in the past; I would’ve been blacked out on your ass”. Scorsese is well known for using poignant music scores in his films.

Heartless – The Girl on the Train

Kanye West’s melodic pained Heartless is appropriately used in the trailer for “The Girl on the Train”. In this 2016 mystery thriller, it’s difficult to know who the good guy is and who the bad guy is. Emily Blunt plays Rachel Watson, a divorced alcoholic who rides the train everyday viewing the lives of what she believes to be happy suburbanites. One couple includes her ex-husband Tom and his new wife. The other is their neighbors who appear to be living the perfect life. Rachel observes the wife kissing another man. Soon after the wife disappears and is later found dead. Rachel was on her way to confront this woman when she has a blackout and must piece together what happened to help the detectives.

No Church For the Wild – The Great Gatsby

No Church For the Wild, Kanye West’s collaboration with Jay Z, is used in “The Great Gatsby”. The 2013 Leonardo DiCaprio movie is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel about mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. No Church For the Wild is a fitting song for the movie’s take on pop culture and the extravagances of the “roaring ’20’s”. The song is about drugs, sin, extravagance, kings and gods. Gatsby tries to woo the love of his life by showing off his extravagant lifestyle and parties at his North Long Island estate. Like the song says: “When we die the money we can’t keep”.

Jesus Walks – Jarhead

Kanye West’s Jesus Walks talks about war on terrorism, racism and ourselves. The song is appropriately used in the 2005 film “Jarhead” based on US Marine Anthony Swofford’s 2003 memoir. The movie was directed by Sam Mendes. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Swofford who struggles through the boredom of training and a demotion. Swofford would eventually become a sniper and his troop is sent to the Saudia Arabia and Kuait border in Operation Desert Shield. When the war is over, every man has to deal with the effects of the war on their lives and themselves.

Can’t Tell Me Nothing – The Hangover (and more from Hangover)

Kanye West is the king of “The Hangover” trilogy soundtracks. His music is featured in each of the hit movies following the wolf pack and their misadventures. In the first movie, Kanye West’s song “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” is featured as the guys head to Las Vegas for the Bachelor Party. The line “Wait ’til I Get My Money Right” is appropriate as Allen talks about how much money he can make counting cards and given the fact the guys have to find the money they owe Mr. Chow. Kanye’s song “Stronger” plays as the guys board the airplane for their airplane to Thailand in the movie’s sequel. The lyrics “Harder, better, faster, stronger” are certainly appropriate. The wolf pack is back. The second “Hangover” also features Kanye West’s song “Monster” when the guys are sitting around the bonfire on the beach. The “beasts” will overdo it again. Finally, in the third “Hangover” movie, Kanye West’s Dark Fantasy plays as the guys get ready for Allen’s wedding. The lines “The plan was to drink until the pain’s over; But what’s worse? The pain or the hangover?” wraps up the theme of the entire trilogy.