Kanye West Graduation Track by Track Review
1. Good Morning: this is the intro track. The multilayed beat is good stuff. Plus, I am already enjoying Kanye’s random refrences from Malcolm X to Deloreans. The Jay Z sample towards the end adds to the track. Song Grade: B
2. Champion: For some reason this song reminds a little of Touch The Sky from Late Registration. Lyrically the second verse is creative but the rest of it is merely ok. Song Grade: B-
3. Stronger: The daft punk sampling borderline techno track was one of the saviors of an awful summer for hip hop. A great song to listen to while on a run, bike ride, working out, or driving in the car. (At least that’s what people have told me in the case of the latter) In addition any song that rhymes Apollonia and Isotoners is great in my book. Song Grade A
4. I Wonder: I love the sample in the chorus and the slow word by word Kanye uses throughout the song. No real classic lines though. Song Grade B
5. Good Life: This is the obligatory second single for the radio. At times West’s lyrics are corny and I still find T Pain’s vocorder voice annoying. That being said, this is about as good as a radio friendly single featuring T Pain can be. It should be noted that Kanye quotes 50 in this song. Song Grade B
6. Can’t Tell Me Nothing: this is the Street Single. A classic line or 2 would have put this cut over the top, but unfortunately it does not have them. On the other hand the La La La La opening, the Young Jeezy Ad Libs and the chorus are pretty damn good. Song Grade B
7. Barry Bonds: This is not about the steroid popping son of Bobby, but a mixtape type boasting track featuring the ubiquitous beast Lil Wayne. Surprisingly, Wayne who has been hotter then Jocaby Ellsbury of late, does not come with a classic verse. (Kanye is nearly classic) Wayne’s verse does have a few funny lines though that references everyone from Reagan to Megan Good. The song has another strong beat. Song Grade A-
8. Drunk and Hot Girls: A fucking 5 minute magna opus classic. The concept for this song could have easily been made into a radio friendly single. Kanye instead slows down the beat and the rapping to create the atmosphere of the middle of the night as the clubs are winding down and most people have put back a few too many. Mos Def adds a great change up midway through with his sing song delivery about the “dangerous necessity” that is drunken hot girls and then the drums kick in. Amazing This is set to be the anthem for every single guy in the country for the foreseeable future. Song Grade A+
9. Flashing Lights: Really interesting musically. The mixture of the strings and the synthesizer piano is done right pretty. Lyrically, the song is a pretty good story track about dating a chick while your famous. The “hey Mona Lisa
come home cause you know you cant rome without Caesar” is Kanye at his creativly corny best. Song Grade B+
10. Everything I am: A nice mellow track where Kanye distinguishes himself from the rest of the rappers in the game. Song Grade B+
11. The Glory: This is one of the few times when Kanye uses the sped up samples that initially made him famous and it still works especially when the strings and drums kick in. Kanye pauses the music at times to add emphasis to lyrics which works. Lyrically he mostly talks about his motivation. I like how he pays homage to Biggie’s verse on Puffy’s song Victory by paraphrasing the Biggie’s “Any Mike” line with his line: “i guess after i live i wanna be compared to BIG
anyone big pun big l or noturious” Song Grade B+
12. Homecoming: This is a creative ode to West’s home city of Chicago in the guise of a story about a girl. Coldplay’s Chris Martin guests with a effervescent piano lick and a catchy chorus. Song Grade A-
13. Big Brother: The much talked about tribute to Jay Z. Initially I thought this would be would be one of the songs that are interesting the first few times I heard it, but then would get boring. This is not the case; The great backing beat and amazing soulful sample give the song repeated listening value. As does trying to pick up all the references to Jay Z songs in the lyrics. In addition, if you look beyond the fact the song is about Jay Z it could apply to any situation when you strive to be like someone else, but routinely come up just short. Song Grade A
14. Bittersweet Poetry: This is only available on Itunes I believe and features John Mayer. If this was not a bonus track, this would be a radio single. Along with Drunken Hot Girls this is my favorite track on the album. A great break up story track kinda of in the vain of Jay Z’s Soon You’ll Understand and Song Cry. Kanye even references Chris Rock in a similar way to the way Jay Z referenced Eddie Murphy in Girls Girls Girls. In case the question is ever on the SAT kids, don’t forget Jay Z is to Kanye West and Eddie Murphy is to Chris Rock. Song Grade A+
Overall Grade A: This album is set to compete with Tegan and Sara, Bright Eyes, and Rilo Kiley for my favorite album of the year. On a side note, I should mention that 50 albums also came out the same day. I have heard most of the 50 album and it is merely O.K. A lot of the tracks seem like rewrites of past songs but not as good. Still better then some of the southern ringtone rap that gets most of the radio play of late.
2. Champion: For some reason this song reminds a little of Touch The Sky from Late Registration. Lyrically the second verse is creative but the rest of it is merely ok. Song Grade: B-
3. Stronger: The daft punk sampling borderline techno track was one of the saviors of an awful summer for hip hop. A great song to listen to while on a run, bike ride, working out, or driving in the car. (At least that’s what people have told me in the case of the latter) In addition any song that rhymes Apollonia and Isotoners is great in my book. Song Grade A
4. I Wonder: I love the sample in the chorus and the slow word by word Kanye uses throughout the song. No real classic lines though. Song Grade B
5. Good Life: This is the obligatory second single for the radio. At times West’s lyrics are corny and I still find T Pain’s vocorder voice annoying. That being said, this is about as good as a radio friendly single featuring T Pain can be. It should be noted that Kanye quotes 50 in this song. Song Grade B
6. Can’t Tell Me Nothing: this is the Street Single. A classic line or 2 would have put this cut over the top, but unfortunately it does not have them. On the other hand the La La La La opening, the Young Jeezy Ad Libs and the chorus are pretty damn good. Song Grade B
7. Barry Bonds: This is not about the steroid popping son of Bobby, but a mixtape type boasting track featuring the ubiquitous beast Lil Wayne. Surprisingly, Wayne who has been hotter then Jocaby Ellsbury of late, does not come with a classic verse. (Kanye is nearly classic) Wayne’s verse does have a few funny lines though that references everyone from Reagan to Megan Good. The song has another strong beat. Song Grade A-
8. Drunk and Hot Girls: A fucking 5 minute magna opus classic. The concept for this song could have easily been made into a radio friendly single. Kanye instead slows down the beat and the rapping to create the atmosphere of the middle of the night as the clubs are winding down and most people have put back a few too many. Mos Def adds a great change up midway through with his sing song delivery about the “dangerous necessity” that is drunken hot girls and then the drums kick in. Amazing This is set to be the anthem for every single guy in the country for the foreseeable future. Song Grade A+
9. Flashing Lights: Really interesting musically. The mixture of the strings and the synthesizer piano is done right pretty. Lyrically, the song is a pretty good story track about dating a chick while your famous. The “hey Mona Lisa
come home cause you know you cant rome without Caesar” is Kanye at his creativly corny best. Song Grade B+
10. Everything I am: A nice mellow track where Kanye distinguishes himself from the rest of the rappers in the game. Song Grade B+
11. The Glory: This is one of the few times when Kanye uses the sped up samples that initially made him famous and it still works especially when the strings and drums kick in. Kanye pauses the music at times to add emphasis to lyrics which works. Lyrically he mostly talks about his motivation. I like how he pays homage to Biggie’s verse on Puffy’s song Victory by paraphrasing the Biggie’s “Any Mike” line with his line: “i guess after i live i wanna be compared to BIG
anyone big pun big l or noturious” Song Grade B+
12. Homecoming: This is a creative ode to West’s home city of Chicago in the guise of a story about a girl. Coldplay’s Chris Martin guests with a effervescent piano lick and a catchy chorus. Song Grade A-
13. Big Brother: The much talked about tribute to Jay Z. Initially I thought this would be would be one of the songs that are interesting the first few times I heard it, but then would get boring. This is not the case; The great backing beat and amazing soulful sample give the song repeated listening value. As does trying to pick up all the references to Jay Z songs in the lyrics. In addition, if you look beyond the fact the song is about Jay Z it could apply to any situation when you strive to be like someone else, but routinely come up just short. Song Grade A
14. Bittersweet Poetry: This is only available on Itunes I believe and features John Mayer. If this was not a bonus track, this would be a radio single. Along with Drunken Hot Girls this is my favorite track on the album. A great break up story track kinda of in the vain of Jay Z’s Soon You’ll Understand and Song Cry. Kanye even references Chris Rock in a similar way to the way Jay Z referenced Eddie Murphy in Girls Girls Girls. In case the question is ever on the SAT kids, don’t forget Jay Z is to Kanye West and Eddie Murphy is to Chris Rock. Song Grade A+
Overall Grade A: This album is set to compete with Tegan and Sara, Bright Eyes, and Rilo Kiley for my favorite album of the year. On a side note, I should mention that 50 albums also came out the same day. I have heard most of the 50 album and it is merely O.K. A lot of the tracks seem like rewrites of past songs but not as good. Still better then some of the southern ringtone rap that gets most of the radio play of late.
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