Kanye West - Graduation

Graduation is the 3rd installment in the Kanye West series of ground breaking albums, targeting every school kid, from those that have dropped out (Debut Album, College Dropout), to those late registrants (sophmore album Late Registration), to those that have gone on and completed school (current album Graduation). Though technically this earmarks a junior year, West's approach to crafting this album was very much senior. Kanye teams up with veterans Daft Punk and Edwin Birdsong on "Stronger"- Graduation's forthcoming single; as well as enlisting a little help from current chart topper T-Pain on "Good Life". Chris Martin of Coldplay appears on a track called "HomeComing" as well. Kanye has continued to prove his understanding and appreciation for a wide array of music and musical influences. What makes GRADUATION so special? Like most Kanye titles, his fearlessness and blindness to inhibiting boundaries, coupled with his fan driven core competence is evidence that he knows exactly what people yearn for...great music, perspective, and a voice to be heard. Album Description

He did it again!

The entire CD has good music to vibe to. If you are looking for something to ride to or to get crunk to, this is it. Kanye always brings us the real side of him and that's why I appreciate his music. And for sure if I had to chose between Kanye and 50 - it's Kanye HANDS DOWN!

ShaniReviews
Keepin' It Tight
Mocha Chocolate: Taste A Piece of Ecstasy February 17, 2008

Something More

What Kanye West has done with this album, Graduation, is give us the third part of a concept album. His previous albums were, despite their incredible quality, the first and middle acts for this, the conclusion. West is trying to take hip-hop into a place its never been before, with a sound and image its never had before. Flashing Lights, the highlight of the album, layers the standard drum patterns with string arrangements popular on Late Registration with a Euro-dance synthesizer sound which results in an incredibly layered song that only gets better the more you listen.
True, no song on this album is as introspective or political as "Jesus Walks," "All Falls Down," "Family Business," "Roses," "Crack Music" or "Hey Mama," none of the songs are supposed to be. At first, West's disappointment and frustration with America are all he can see (The College Dropout), but then he grows up a bit, and starts to ask questions about things around him and expands his sound (Late Registration) and by 2007, he has again grow up enough to recognize problems and ask questions, but doesn't try and answer those questions and has matured, allowing him to relax a bit and making him music more accessible.
Considering also the sheer quantity of music he's made outside of his own records, its amazing to listen to all three albums together. Graduation is an amazing listen, and it will be fun and interesting to see where West goes after this, now that he feels his education is complete. January 26, 2008

Human Promise Vs. Human Fact

Kanye West is a genius. Not only does he flow with a barbed wit, he is able to take a variety of forms to add to his hip-hop, rap base.

His latest C.D. `Graduation' picks up where `Late Registration' left off. His theme demonstrates the difference between our dreams and life's disappointing realities. Slicker than his last outing, Kanye's titles tell much of the story, but his lyrics nail the subject matter thoroughly. Even the artwork tells his audience volumes. Not as punchy as `Late Registration's "Sierra Leone" or "Gold Digger," he manages to get ethereal for the opener "Good Morning," "I Wonder," and "Flashing Lights" which add formidable rap to the traditional pop mix. His humor is in finest form on "Barry Bonds," with a stinging anti-glamour rap that goes off in several directions but ends up at a certain destination. There's resiliency added to the mix with "Stronger" which is only familiar for its cliché refrain: "That that don't kill me, can only make me stronger." In my opinion, "Champion," with its native rhythms and synthesizers is the most outstanding track.

Between sweet sounds, perceptively sharp lyrics, Kanye has finished his trilogy on a good note. "Big Brother" is both a celebration and a protest against the trappings that put him on top. Even obtaining one's goals has its downside, too.

As for the rest of us we have to hold onto our dreams and try to bridge the gap so aptly stated by one of the best and biggest wise guys recording today. GO KANYE! January 22, 2008

Graduation by Kanye West

I really enjoy listening to this CD, I am glad I purchased it. The price was great also and it was delivered before Christmas. Thanks Amazon. January 12, 2008

Mister K. West has reached the limit of graduating

This deserves much credibility and alot of honor not since Kanye's mom Dr. Donda West passed (RIP), while listening to this album and following the previous two CDs that been grammy-certified, I felt this was it this time no interludes, no surprises. All we need is the music. He'll lead you thru getting "Stronger" and following and living "The Good Life", hitting more home runs as "Barry Bonds" and to the reach of being a "Big Brother". Every song is still Qualified Genius-ology. No where compared or matched. The album will lead you thru the journey of them all: John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Aretha, Michael Jackson, Duke Ellington, James Brown, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Earth Wind and Fire, Sly and the Family Stone, Boz Scaggs, and thru the use of film and tv score work of Henry Mancini, James Horner, John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Lalo Schifrin, Georgio Moroder.

January 2, 2008

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