I hate to admit it, but I'm actually kinda disappointed at this Graduation album. I mean its straight, but there's nothing really THAT special about it. There's really no track on here that blows me away like majority of the tracks on The College Dropout or Late Registration did. Okay, well first off there is only 13 songs and that had me like WTF when I saw it because The College Dropout had 15 and Late Registration had 16 (both numbers without the skits of course...hell this album doesn't even have skits! Weird). Once I got past that and pressed play it was pretty lackluster and really just made me wanna go listen to Late Registration.
On top of that, Graduation featured two possible worse for Kanye albums: 1. Drunk And Hot Girls was terrible and possibly the worst song featured on a Kanye album 2. Lil Wayne's verse on Barry Bonds was terrible and possibly the worst verse featured on a Kanye album lol (people think I'm "hatin" on Lil Wayne, but he's really just not that hot anymore, sorry). Oh yeah, and what the hell was up with Homecoming??? Those were the same damn lyrics from Home with John Legend and that shit has been on the net since around the time College Dropout dropped. Quite frankly, I liked the original better, I mean Chris Martin did his thing but John Legend KILLED that shit and the beat isn't as soulful.
I dunno maybe I'm just being a bad fan and had too high of expectations... who knows but its time to give this shit a 2nd listen, peace.
AFTER THE 2nd LISTEN...
Okay, after the 2nd listen I felt a little more connected to the music, but that's pretty much the only difference. I'm still not blown away [like I expected to be] like when I heard Late Registration, The Black Album, or The Eminem Show (a few albums that I loved instantly). Drunk And Hot Girls was still awful (aside from Mos Def's part, but he didn't even rap), Lil Wayne's verse was still trash (he sounds WAY out of his league on the song, and album in general), no DeRay skits was just awkward, and I'm still indifferent about Ye recycling Home for Homecoming. Personally, I think The Glory should of been the last song, Drunk And Hot Girls shouldn't have made the album (or have even been made for that matter lol), and Barry Bonds could've been replaced by a new Kanye/Hov or Kanye/Nas collabo. Oh well, hopefully it'll grow on me more because I'm still gonna cop it to support good music since it is better than every other album this year besides Finding Forever.
4/5
August 30, 2007
Kanye West - Graduation (Review)
June 18, 2007
...And the Album Of The Year goes to...Kanye West!
Just look at the tracklisting for the Graduation:
1. Time To Leave (Intro)
2. Up In It (featuring John Legend and Miri Ben-Ari)
3. SKIT #1
4. Make Me Over
5. Homecoming (featuring Chris Martin)
6. Another Time Too Soon (featuring Jay-Z)
7. Can't Tell Me Nothing (featuring Young Jeezy)
8. Egotistical (featuring Akon)
9. SKIT #2
10. Stronger
11. Street Scene (featuring Common and Eminem)
12. Learn The Insides
13. Into The Fall
14. Top Of The World (featuring MYSTERY GUEST and Ne-Yo)
15. A Way To Get Through
16. Bottom
17. Stay Strapped (featuring The Game)
18. SKIT #3
19. ??? (featuring MYSTERY GUEST)
20. Voices Linger
21. Bittersweet (featuring John Mayer) [Bonus Track]
I dunno wassup with the "MYSTERY GUEST" thing (ESP when we can already see Jay, Em, & Game are on there) but im sure it must be big...c'mon its Kanye! Can't wait til this shit drops its gonna be OVER!
