Battle of the Baby Ballads: How Kanye West's "Only One" and Jay Z's "Glory" Stack Up

Who's musical dedication is better?

By Seija Rankin Jan 30, 2015 6:37 PMTags
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There's a major rivalry in the rap world, and it doesn't have anything to do with East Coast versus West Coast. 

Nope, we're talking about a baby battle. Since the beginning of time (or approximately June 2013), North West and Blue Ivy Carter have been fighting for the crown of Most Baller Baby. Things have been neck and neck for awhile. First Blue Ivy received a diamond-encrusted barbie doll for her first birthday. Then Kidchella happened. Blue Ivy and Beyoncé wore matching Timbalands. North wore baby Balmain. 

NEWS: Kanye West and North make our hearts melt in "Only One" 

Neither Blue Ivy's parents nor North's parents have made any attempt to hide their affection for their daughters from the world. Jay Z kicked it all off with his tribute song "Glory," released the weekend of Blue's birth. Not only did it declare his love and devotion for Baby Blue, but it made her a world-record holder as the youngest person ever to appear in the Billboard Top 200. Now that's love.

But then, never to be outdone, Kanye West dropped "Only One," dedicated to North, last month. Since we naturally can't let this probably-imaginary feud go un-debated, we decided to have a true showdown of tribute songs. It's Blue Ivy versus North, and only one can come out the winner. Ready, set, go.

Baby Cameos: Blue Ivy's newborn cries play in the background of "Glory," but to be honest, every baby sounds exactly the same to us. Meanwhile, Nori is basically the star of the entire "Only One" video. 

Point Nori. 

Timing: "Glory" miraculously debuted the same weekend as Blue's birth, which means that someone had to make serious haste in the recording studio. It took Kanye a whopping 18 months to release "Only One."

Point Blue.

Religious Subtext: "Only One" has a few allusions to a higher power, starting out with the phrase "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep," and goes on to compare Kim and Nori to angels sent from heaven. But Jay Z's song is called "Glory."

Point Blue.

Famous Collaborators: "Glory" was produced by Pharrell, while "Only One" was created with Paul McCartney. Sorry Pharrell, but Sir Paul wins every time.

Point Nori.

Poignant Family Issues: "Only One," was inspired by the sorrow of Kanye's mother never getting to meet her granddaughter, and "Glory" chronicles both Beyoncé's miscarriage struggles and Jay's estrangement from his father. Are you sufficiently depressed? We're calling this a wash, since it's too hard to choose sides with tragedies. 

Parental Bragging: In "Glory," Jay calls Blue "my greatest creation," a "younger, faster, smarter, me," and the "most beautifulest thing in the world," among other compliments. Meanwhile, for the first time in history, Kanye is actually reserved and not egotistical at all. 

Point Blue.

Tearjerker-ness: When we listen to "Glory," we think "Huh, that's sweet." When we listen to "Only One," we straight-up cry.

Point Nori.

Final Tally: Blue Ivy Carter 3, North West 3. This thing's a tie, y'all, and it looks like the feud lives another day.