Kanye West - Graduation

KANYE WEST IS THE TRUTH AND THE FUTURE GRADUATION IS ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS IN HIP HOP EVER AND IM DONE PEACE!!!

As I said before it is a strong CD and very strong for Kanye, but if you are judging on pure lyrical skill he doesn't have much of that. 50 album is better, but kanye's album is going in a new direction for hip-hop. it all depends on what you like, but in reality you need both of them in the game...they are the counters of each other...the yin and yang!

i jUzT THINk iTZ a BangiNG cD!
bUT i STIll gOT tHAT 50 cD 2

near classic. I may change that to classic after i listen to it more.

THIS IS A GREAT ALBUM AND A CLASSIC

ALL I HAVE 2 SAY IS THAT KANYE HAS DONE IT AGAIN
THA ALBUM IS FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hot

This is most definitely a classic album even with the hot and drunk girls track on it,lol. Production is tight and wordplay is creative.

Best album of da year dis whole thing is hot i bought 4 copies!!

This is crazy. I let some of my friends listen to it and they all love it. Its perfect for a long night drive.

this album was fiya period. kanye put alot work in2 dis 1.

My faviourite album at the present.

kanye is one of the top lyricists in tha game right now. nuff said. tha only thing i didnt like bout this album is the style he took. if u listen to the college dropout, and late registration one after the other, from the start to the end. then take a listen to graduation. u'll see the large difference in them. this is any prejudice towards the album for its topics cuz he does go more commercial in this album and ya'll knoe it. but i really dont like kanye like dat. he is still dope, but he needs to do wat he did before, and keep his cred. ppl puttin his album down alot, nd its still close to classic. he jus needs to bring that swagga and vintage vibe back.

Here goes the review:

GOOD MORNING (INTRO)

This track really sets the tone for the album. It is one of those intros where you are supposed to do on your third album. You know people have been fiendin’ for your new material and you setting the tone. The beat has everything to do with the feeling of the song also, as well as lyrics. This all speaks to the listener with a soul tie. Great intro to the album.

Favorite line: “You graduate when you make it up outta the streets”

CHAMPION

YES I DID! This track continues the energy as the CD begins. Got the Kanye swagga written all over it. Hot dance joint too. I expect this to be a single somewhere down the road. This a feel good track and a great blend of music and flow. It will definitely keep a listener interested. Love the references to Lauryn Hill, cuz you know we all be thinking bout how she been acting lately. I don’t know who’s on the song singing at the end, by ironically, it sounds a tad like Lauryn Hill….so I’m wondering if it is, consensual or Kanye doing what he wants to do and he’ll take the consequences when they come. It will be interesting when someone of significance asks this question. It may also be Connie Mitchell, who did most of the background vocals on the album, including the most notable “Oh, oh, oh, oh ,oh” from “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”.

Favorite: We was sorta like Will Smith and his son, in the movie, I ain’t talking bout the rich ones


STRONGER

We been hearing it, and hearing as part of the whole CD makes it even better. It’s a breath of fresh air forreal. Kanye West stepped up the game. Daft Punk all over the sample and production, and this is just another song that goes on the list of most memorable hip hop songs and epic pop songs period (Even though Kanye claims he‘s through with the pop stuff…lol). No doubt. The lyrical content I will say was a bit mediocre for Kanye’s standard, but his swag and the song as a whole makes up for it. This is like a “say anything” dance track, which clearly is a much better “say anything” dance track than most “say anything” dance tracks were hear on the radio. So I guess we can just call this “Crank Dat K-West”! LOL. The long extended version just is so ill, cuz it will have you almost crashing your car or getting crazy looks while dancing to it while stuck in traffic. High energy and intelligent lyrics make a song super ill. No doubt.

Favorite Line: “You know how long I been on ya? Since Prince was on Apollonia”

I WONDER

When the sample comes in, I get super excited. A nice chill vibe to it, and it definitely is setting a tone. When Kanye comes in spitting, you realize it’s a different type of track, and it’s basically a vibe record, and it’s ill. There is kind of like a dream type feeling to it. The drums and snares are mad ill. This is the first song on the album that reminds me of the production Ye did on Common’s “Finding Forever”. It’s definitely an addictive song and the entire thing runs smoothly. I equate this with a track like Celebration or something on Late Registration. This comparison is not because of a resemblance in sound, but just how the track is presented and the flow, etc. Hot track. A quality non-single track that is not at all filler.

Favorite Line: “Do you even remember what the issue is? You just trying to find where the tissue is…you can still be who you wish you is. It ain’t happen yet, and that’s what intuition is.”

GOOD LIFE

FEEL GOOD MUSIC! The “PYT” sample is very evident when the song first come on. And no doubt, I think this is the best song T.Pain has ever touched. He didn’t even use as much of the fake voice effect. This definitely is a great single and should get people on that has been hating or not even feeling Kanye. Plus, can 50 Cent say anymore stuff about Kanye….I don’t think so. Not only did Kanye never come back at 50, but in this song, twice he references to 50 in a influential way. Come on now. Wordplay is definitely ill. This song Kanye sounds the most comfortable on. The synth is ridiculous. That was the doing of Toomp I know. The song is definitely mad ill. The screwed parts is something new for Ye too. The whole track is definitely the best option for the post-CD release single. I must say to that the video for this is super innovative. It’s like the hip hop version of Justice’s “D.A.N.C.E” video. As far as that concept, I think when Ye did it, it was just yelling “You Make Me Better!”. LOL. Ironically, Ne-Yo does background vocals on this song as well. Interesting.

Favorite Line: Yo, it’s got to be cuz I’m seasoned, haters give me them salty looks, Lowry’s!



CAN’T TELL ME NOTHING

The song where the hood couldn’t hate on. It was for us. Jeezy in the background and you addicted. “I’m on TV talking like it’s just you and me.” I’m sure he’s referencing to the Bush/Katrina controversy. Basically, this whole song is Kanye being real. Real talk. Truthfully. Nobody does this but him. He being true on a track. We can see directly into his life and he’s laying it out. The track is definitely ill, and Connie’s vocals in the background definitely make the track. Toomp snapped hardest on this track than all the tracks he helped produce on the album.

Favorite Line: Don’t ever fix your lips like collagen, and say something where you gon end up apologizing (I like how Kanye didn’t care to even try to pronounce the “z” in that word. LOL)

BARRY BONDS

When I first heard this track, I thought it was pretty wack. Now it’s grew on me. It’s not a super epic track or nothing, but it’s still better than most music out. Is it filler…possibly. But I’d say it’s a decent track, but the wackest Lil Wayne verse I’ve ever heard “I shall hate them, whoops I mean have them”, and he said this twice. C’mon now. If you have a track with Kanye and Lil Wayne, you except epic status. But as you listen more and more, you feel it and can listen to it all day. The swagga factor is definitely up for both emcees and this makes up for any lacking that track has in other spots in m opinion. This wasn’t that, but it’s a track that will grow on you until Lil Wayne’s verse. LOL

Favorite Line: But my head so big, you can’t sit behind me

DRUNK AND HOT GIRLS

Possibly my least favorite track on the CD. I wasn’t feeling it at first. Though in other reviews I see it received critical acclaim, I actually liked the Mos Def singing. Once again, it was something different. The sample was definitely pretty ill though. It’s something you can vibe with it. I’m sure this will be a hit overseas, but America fans won’t get on this as much as the other songs from the album. This is kinda like a eclectic track. Some cats will think Kanye was tripping on this one. I felt he stepped out on a limb with this one that “they” might not feel, but I’m going to do it anyways. Also, for some reason the girl he’s talking about sounds like Amy Winehouse. LOL.

Favorite Line: All of Mos Def’s singing lyrics

FLASHING LIGHTS

One of the hottest songs on here. Anything Dwele touches is usually gold. This has that grown and sexy vibe to it, so I don’t expect many people my age to feel it. I do though. Has a Timbaland (new style) to it. The synth is that deal. This is like futuristic hip hop. People will definitely hate on this track. The hook is just addictive. The blend is so ill. This would be a joint you’d play on the way or in the club on a Sat. night club. This should be a single too. I hope so. Dwele, Dwele, Dwele!

Favorite Line: Hey Mona Lisa, come home, you know you can’t Rome without Caesar.




EVERYTHING I AM

Here We Go Again! Back to the soul basics that we know Kanye for. He was being really real on this track. Addressing actual things that went on and what cats were saying. Reminded me of the “Dumb It Down’ track Lupe Fiasco just released. It was addressing some of the statements that you’d heard actual people around you say or express about him as an artist. This was a good dose of reality and reference to the real people and fans. Everything I’m Not made me everything I am. All about individualism. This was like a song to go along with the statement on the SMACK DVD responding to Beanie Siegel about when you play that tough guy role, it’s a lot of different stuff you cannot do in the game. Being so real on this, talking about how cats love to talk about killing in music and we feed off it, but when it happens in real life, it’s nothing to get hype about. Feel me? Feel him? THIS IS REAL HIP HOP! Beanie Siegel better recognize.

Favorite Line: Killing’s some wack sh*t, oh I forgot, ’cept for when niggas is rapping!

THE GLORY

This beat is back to the basics “College Dropout” Kanye West. Welcome back. It’s was a nice reminder. Another real song. Something Kanye would just say to you in a conversation. LOL. The wordplay is very nice. He ain’t trying to hide the fact he is big headed and arrogant. Everybody who trying to hate and act like they don’t like em know they do, and that’s what he’s saying here. LOL. It’s actually quite funny.

Favorite Quote: It’s easy, the hood love to listen to Jeezy and Weezy, and oh yeah, Yeezy!

HOMECOMING (FEAT. CHRIS MARTIN)

First off, if I’d compare the Kanye/Chris Martin Collab with the Jay/Chris Martin collab, BEACH CHAIR takes the cake. But that’s not even the issue right now. I didn’t like this song. Or let me rephrase that. It would have been one of my favorites, but when I heard the verses, it automatically lost points. Maybe it is because I have a bias against it before Kanye’s lyrics are just recycled from a very great, soulful track called “Home” featuring John Legend that showed up on one of his mixtapes about three or four years ago that was so much better than this track. So off top, I wasn’t feeling this one. Chris Martin’s part was pretty good, and if Ye had of spit some of his new lyrics to this, I’m sure it would have been a ill vibe. But simply because he used some recycled lyrics from a song that was heavily rotated in the mixtape circuit, I just wasn’t feeling it…as much. Still liked it and Kanye West is still that deal. So for many, this will be an instant favorite, and for those who know the original joint, this will just have to grow on you and you’ll learn to love it as much as the first time listeners.

BIG BROTHER

Big Brother was the realest track on the CD. I love how the story is told and presented and I really feel this was the best ending to an album. We get to be taken back 7 years or so and see into the journey of Kanye West becoming part of Rocafella and “Getting Out of His Dreams” and take the path and journey of the real life stuff that went on. He laid it all out on the table, real, for everyone to see and hear. There was no clichés involved. It was a track where he spilt his heart out. I felt it was really good because we were able to find out some behind the scenes information about some of the events going on during certain times in their career that we didn’t even know about. I was personally interested in hearing how Jay was first not embracing Kanye as a rapper and other things like that. How he summed it up, showing much respect in a dedication track was just classic and this will go down in history as an epic hip hop song period. Arguably the best song from Kanye West ever. The DJ Toomp production was nuts mania and this was one of the main reasons the song was so epic sounding and memorable.

FAVORITE LINE: When I kick a flow, it was like pick and roll, cuz even if he give me the rocs, it's give and go

Let me hear y’all opinions! Holla back

http://www.myspace.com/michaelhannah

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Another Excellent Review MH..... U def. good at this Fam....


Like Icarus before him, Kanye may have flown too close to the Sun for his own good...

The album starts strongly with 'Good Morning', a simple and soulful beat providing a backdrop for the 30 year-old to drop jewels..... – one immediately notices how tightly the songs are sequenced together, with 'Champion' launching as soon as the opener stops. The short song proves Kanye's evolution as an incredibly charismatic rapper...

Te mega-hit 'Stronger' starting things off, complete with updated drums provided by Timbaland especially for the album – the difference is subtle, but welcome...
'I Wonder' - Loosely documenting the miscommunication between himself and pretty much everyone, it contains enough buzz-lines and Shakespearian open text to hook in the listener ("Do you even remember what the issue is?")..

'Good Life' complete with T-Pain – the song's heart is in the right place...'Can't Tell Me Nothing', which manages to succeed on every count Beat, verses, chorus – it's all classic stuff...
'Barry Bonds' – featuring an under-par Lil Wayne, Kanye comes off a much more attractive proposition...'Flashing Lights' is a stunning synth-driven highlight.HiT...


'Everything I Am' – for some reason, Common passed on this soulful beat (as Kanye states in the first few bars). His loss is Mr West's gain, and combined with some ever-fabulous scratching from the legendary DJ Premier, it proves to be poignantly successful. Another song that was originally slated for release on Common's latest LP, 'The Glory' is a solid shit-talking opus and more in keeping with the sped-up samples of Kanye's past.

He has taken a risk in every aspect of this album: no skits, a more electronic sound, a smaller selection of songs, fewer guest rappers. It is commendable...

He's Graduated,& with flying colors....

Waaay betta than his earlier stuff. Lovin' tha Good Life with my nigga T-Pain in it.

this album is legendary...i can play this whole cd anytime dont care how old it is

Nebody dat kan win producer of the year and lyricist of the year at da same awardz show da same year iz da truf

This was the Album that got me hooked to hip hop! this shet was the bomb. To me every track was perfection. Mr. West Is in the building!

craziness! introduced me to kanye and since then i have listened to College Dropout and Late Registration and tho i think those are still better this will still always be a classic to me

Favourtie Album of all time!

you ended up wrong, complex magazine voted this album the album of the decade. It truly is, aswell the best album of the decade, hard to compete with such a great