2008 Woodie Awards
Kanye's latest: a rap masterpiece
Review: Kanye West "Graduation"
Jamie Reed
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Entertainment
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(5 out of 5 stars)
When I found out that Kanye West and 50 Cent would be releasing albums on the same day, my heart pitter-pattered with anticipation. I don't usually have gangster rap CDs blasting through my car speakers, but I have no problem "getting down" with 50 Cent or better yet, my homeboy, Kanye.
I raced to purchase the album on the Sept. 11 release date, with my cousin, a hardcore 50 Cent fan, trailing close behind. Ever since 50 Cent announced that if Kanye beat him in record sales he'd quit recording solo albums, my cousin was adamant that if I was going to purchase Kanye's "Graduation" album, she was going to cancel out my contribution by buying 50's "Curtis" CD.
The time I spent waiting for Mr. West's third and latest release to hit stores was not in vain; in fact, it was well worth the wait.
The fact that West started out as a producer before making it big as a hip-hop hero definitely helped make "Graduation" a success. The tracks are impeccably produced, and the stark differences between one track and the next will leave the listener constantly guessing, but consistently pleased. Whether you're listening to the synthesizer-heavy "Stronger" (which was sampled from Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger") or the smooth piano tinkering in tracks such as "I Wonder" or "Homecoming," the songs come off as explicitly hip-hop, but a touch of jazz, classic or techno manages to always shine through.
West's lyrical content on "Graduation" gives another reason for applause. Unlike the rhymes of many rap or hip-hop moguls, 50 Cent included, West's lyrics actually have something to say. Listeners can agree that yeah, some thought was probably put into this.
A shining star on the album is the song, "Everything I Am." On the track, West compares himself to other music industry favorites, from Queen Latifah to Beyonce: "I never rock a mink coat in the winter like Killa Cam, or rock some mink boots in the summer time like Will.i.am." Maybe the lyric tugged at the animal rights activist in me, but either way, I liked it.
When I found out that Kanye West and 50 Cent would be releasing albums on the same day, my heart pitter-pattered with anticipation. I don't usually have gangster rap CDs blasting through my car speakers, but I have no problem "getting down" with 50 Cent or better yet, my homeboy, Kanye.
I raced to purchase the album on the Sept. 11 release date, with my cousin, a hardcore 50 Cent fan, trailing close behind. Ever since 50 Cent announced that if Kanye beat him in record sales he'd quit recording solo albums, my cousin was adamant that if I was going to purchase Kanye's "Graduation" album, she was going to cancel out my contribution by buying 50's "Curtis" CD.
The time I spent waiting for Mr. West's third and latest release to hit stores was not in vain; in fact, it was well worth the wait.
The fact that West started out as a producer before making it big as a hip-hop hero definitely helped make "Graduation" a success. The tracks are impeccably produced, and the stark differences between one track and the next will leave the listener constantly guessing, but consistently pleased. Whether you're listening to the synthesizer-heavy "Stronger" (which was sampled from Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger") or the smooth piano tinkering in tracks such as "I Wonder" or "Homecoming," the songs come off as explicitly hip-hop, but a touch of jazz, classic or techno manages to always shine through.
West's lyrical content on "Graduation" gives another reason for applause. Unlike the rhymes of many rap or hip-hop moguls, 50 Cent included, West's lyrics actually have something to say. Listeners can agree that yeah, some thought was probably put into this.
A shining star on the album is the song, "Everything I Am." On the track, West compares himself to other music industry favorites, from Queen Latifah to Beyonce: "I never rock a mink coat in the winter like Killa Cam, or rock some mink boots in the summer time like Will.i.am." Maybe the lyric tugged at the animal rights activist in me, but either way, I liked it.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Elizabeth Gasperich
posted 9/20/07 @ 6:17 PM EST
Well done, Jamie. You know that I, too, share a love for Kanye's music and this article really did his new album justice. Thanks for writing!
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