Review: Kanye West - Graduation

Written by Samir Siddiqui
Kanye West
Graduation
Roc-A-Fella Records/Island Def Jam
4/5 Stars

Seemingly in an endless rut over the past few years, mainstream hip-hop can
recently be characterized by a complete disregard for originality and
change, something that has plagued a genre known in the past for excellent
variety and a willingness to push lyrical and musical boundaries. But for
one of the mainstream’s most noteworthy artists, Kanye West, resorting to
played themes and chasing the sounds of top 40 radio is just not an option.
In contrast to his worthwhile production work on Common’s Finding Forever,
West had no plan to build on his past sounds for his own album, Graduation,
as he branches off from the sonic treatments of The College Dropout and Late
Registration to create a soundscape that ventures into un-chartered waters
for popular rap music. Seemingly fueled by the endless pressure to not only
provide an album on par with first two projects, but to also provide
evidence that popular hip-hop can be good hip-hop, West’s strong effort on
his new album resonates almost throughout.

For people that have heard the album, post your thoughts on Kanye’s latest work.

Kanye gets things going with safe sweeping melodies and light drum taps on
the introductory “Good Morning”, before moving into the uplifting
“Champion”; Kanye’s promise to deliver “anthems” for the people comes to
mind here, as the signature soul samples mix with well-placed synths to
compliment West’s reflective lines: “When it feels like livin’ is harder
than dyin’, for me givin’ up is way harder than tryin’/Lauryn Hill said her
heart was in Zion, I wish her heart was still in rhymin’/'Cause who the kids
‘gunna listen to, huh? I guess me, if it isn’t you.” The Daft-Punk sampling
hit “Stronger,” reworked with harder hitting drums and blaring techno
synths, the T-Pain assisted, “Good Life,” a sure-fire hit, high-pitched
synths and all, and the memorable, dark-toned “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” make
for three of the more catchy moments on Graduation, and are examples of
West’s ability to make songs both radio-ready and artistically well put
together.

Unfortunately for West, the following two songs make for two very low
moments on an otherwise excellent album- “Barry Bonds,” the annoying Lil
Wayne collabo, is unquestionably one of Ye’s worst tracks to date, with
corny (even for West) lines such as “I’m doing pretty good as far as genius’
go, and I’m doing pretty hood in my pink Polo…top 5 emcees, you ‘gotta
rewind me…my head’s so big, you can’t sit behind me.” Needless to say,
Weezy doesn’t fair much better. The following number, “Drunk & Hot Girls,”
is saved from disaster only by the captivating vocals of Mos Def (on the
singing tip), and pales in comparison to the Dwele collabo “Flashing
Lights,” which sounds like it’s name, skittering club-synths being the
production’s essence.

“Everything I Am,” although having the distinction of being the most subdued
beat on the album, might also be the album’s most effective, with Kanye and
DJ Premier combining fitting piano loops and low key scratches to match the
technically- simple introspection of Kanye. As with many of the cuts, West’s
rhymes are simplistic in nature, and his only average mic skills become more
apparent with a lack of guest rappers, but he holds his own on the album’s
final two tracks, which are also arguably, Graduation’s best. “Homecoming”
is benefited by a smooth Chris Martin hook and a well-penned second verse,
but “Big Brother” is definitely Ye’s best lyrical performance on Graduation,
as West’s ode to mentor Jay-Z chronicles the sibling-like relationship
between the two industry heavyweights in a personal, yet accessible manner
with honest bars like, “On that “Diamonds” remix, I swore I spazzed, then my
big brother came through and kicked my ass/Sibling rivalry, only I could
see, it was the pride in me, that was drivin’ me/At the Grammys, I said I
inspired me, but my big brother was who I always tried to be/When I kicked a
flow, it was like, pick and roll, ’cause even if he gave me the Roc, it’s
give and go.”

Never one to back down from musical challenge, Kanye West admitted that he
recorded Graduation in an attempt to silence the backlash he received after
dropping hugely successful Late Registration, and musically, West destroys
his competition, crafting a set of beats rarely matched in hip-hop music
today. If anything, it is Kanye’s un-amazing lyrical skills as a rapper that
continues to hold him back from mastering his craft, as much of Graduation
relies on potent subject matter to make up for relatively simple, at times
forced rhymes. But for an artist who was always a producer first, emcee
second, that is unlikely to change anytime soon, and overall, Graduation,
like Kanye’s other efforts, is a very strong album that is sure to please
West’s fans, and help Kanye make some new ones along the way as well.

Source: http://realtalkny.rawkus.com/2007/08/topic/artists/kanye/review-kanye-west-graduation/