September 8, 2007 - Saturday 
Graduation Day for Kanye West
By Kas
As I sit here contemplating the state of Hip Hop and listening to Kanye West's junior effort "Graduation"… Yo, I can't help but smile.
In the last few months, mainstream Hip Hop has witnessed solid albums dropped from Common, Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monch. Now we have an offering from the big dog of mainstream-conscious-neo-Hip Hop-backpackerism.
At first glance, I think: "Damn, what is the deal with these sissy ass album covers? First Common and now Kanye… WTF?" Makes you wonder what is really good over there at Good Music.
But that is neither here nor there…
Have you ever listened to a Hip Hop album and every song you think: "damn so-n-so would have sounded really dope on that song…"??????????????????
Well, this is mos def that album.
What is so frustrating about Graduation is that it is a really meth album. But, Kanye just can't rap!
Usually, you want to hear an album without a dozen guest spots. Graduation is not that kind of album. Lyrically, he just lacks the skill to drop a classic Hip Hop album without a little help from his friends.
That being said, his friends are absent on Graduation day and it's just him walking across the stage to get his diploma (where the fuck is Common??????). Between his new fascination with lesbians (more then one reference made to them… LOL), personal venting, and the normal money, clothes, and hoes all a nigga knows… He really thinks he is a "top 5" Emcee. Well, Graduation just confirms the fact that he is not.
I can't front though, he does make a damn good effort and there are some lyrical bright spots. Records like "Everything I Am", "The Glory", "Bittersweet Poetry", and "Big Brother" have solid lyrical performances. What comes through in Kanye's lyrics is how honest he is. That is his appeal or "swagger" if you will, to the mainstream. His simplistic rhyme schemes and "…though I have a shit load of money… I'm still a normal nigga and going through the same shit as you…" candor, seems to captivate people… I guess…
As for the production…. SOLID! He has reinvented his sound on this one. His use of synthes on Graduation is something I haven't heard from him before like this. He really tried to be creative and that is respectable in this Hip Hop day and time. "Flashing Lights", "Stronger", and "I Wonder" are songs that he really seemed to go outside the box and reach for a new type of sound. He also has his commercial single type records "Stronger", "Good Life" (WOW!), "Champion" and maybe "Bittersweet Poetry" featuring John Mayer. But he does get back to his patented soul sample driven sound on records like "Everything I Am" and "The Glory."
Here is the play by play:
1. Good Morning
Kas says: Basically an intro to the album… The beat is laid back with a sonar echo snare and a Jay-Z sample at the end. Simple track… He says dumb shit like "You got D's muthaphucka D's Rosie Perez" ***shakes head***
2. Champion
Kas says: Nice record… Looped Steely Dan sample (damn he paid for that shit)… Points for good subject matter… "Lauryn Hill said her heart was in Zion… I wish her heart still was in rhyming"… Say word…
3. Stronger
Kas says: You already know… But this stupid ass song is starting to grow on me… 1000000000000 times a day on the radio… I know all the words…
4. I Wonder
Kas says: Nice song… Catchy Labi Siffre sample… Good subject matter… One of the only songs where he let's his production skills take over without him saying to much dumb shit… "Trade it all for a husband and some kids; you ever wonder what it all really means… You ever wonder if you'll find your dreams?"
5. Good Life (Feat. T-Pain)
Kas says: Heat rock… More then likely the next single off the album… Nice use of the M.J. P.Y.T. sample…. I don't care what y'all say about T-Pain… Everything he sings on is a hit… He is like this Hip Hop generations Nate Dogg… LOL… Now throw yo hands up in the sky!!!!!!!!!
6. Can't Tell Me Nothing
Kas says: Toomp was a beast on the beat… Lyrics are garbage and the remix is worst with Jeezy sayin' "Yeeeeaaaaahhhh" 200 times…
7. Barry Bonds (Feat. Lil Wayne)
Kas says: Wack… Wackest shit on the album… Again, the beat is meth… But how can you get on record and say….
Kanye says: "…how you gonna say I aint no lo-head, cuz my dior got me more my dough head? Im insulted...you should go'head...and bow so hard till yo knees hit yo forhead…" ***WHAT?***
Wayne says: "…and me i'm Mr. Weezy baby...yea i'm so bright not shady, my teeth and my ice so white like shady…" ***Shakes head***
8. Drunk & Hot Girls (Feat. Mos Def)
Kas says: Aight… I'm torn on this one… When I first listened to it, I was like "WTF?"… But after listening to it a few times… I feel what Mos and him are sayin' on this record… I dig the whole concept of the record and it is real talk… LOL… But the beat is like some Eminem shit… Garbage… Mos tries to save it with his singing… You'll be singing the hook after listening to it a few times though… Stupid ass song… Skippable….
9. Flashing Lights (Feat. Dwele)
Kas says: Beat is crazy… Wish Dwele would have just sung on the whole song… Kanye again saying dumb shit about some girl: "…Feeling like Katrina with no fema…. Like Martin with no Gina…" LMAO
10. Everything I Am (Feat. Dj Premier)
Kas says: Nothing but methamphetamine on this one… Simple beat and well placed cuts from Premo, make for the highlight of the album… Dope lyrics and beat… He really addresses all his "haters" on this record… You can tell he has his ear to the street **cough** I mean the net… Yo!!! Also, he says that Common passed on the beat at the beginning of the song… Wow! I would have loved to hear him over it… Let's hope for a remix…
11. The Glory
Kas says: Classic Kanye… Sped up "Save the Country" Laura Nyro sample, killer drums, strings, soulful singing chorus, arrogant ass lyrics, and his second reference to lesbians…
12. Homecoming (Feat. Chris Martin)
Kas says: **Scratches head** I don't know… Just sounds like something was missing on this one… Nice keys and Martin's hook is cool… I just don't know… Kanye is again on some female reminisce type shit at first… Then he switches it up midway through the second verse… I think… ??? Really, who knows what the fuck he was talking about… It had something to do with Chi Town though…
13. Big Brother
Kas says: Again Dj Toomp is a beast on the beat… Kanye's ode to Jay-Z… A little corny, but he pulls it off nicely… Telling about how Jay put him on…
14. Bittersweet Poetry (Feat. John Mayer) (Bonus Track)
Kas says: Nice record… Just because people can relate to it… This real talk and honesty on this record… Can't front on personal drama records…
15. Can't Tell Me Nothing Remix (Feat. Young Jeezy)(Bonus Track)
Kas says: Def Jam remix… Jeezy with all his "Yeeeaaahhh"…
16. Good Night (Feat. Mos Def & Al Be) (UK & Japan Bonus Track)
Kas says: Nice little tune… Dub reggae type beat… Mos comes with the sing song hook that is catchy as hell and Ye's verses are simple and smooth… Nothing to write home about…
If you ain't heard "Good Night" … Cop it here:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/34784673872579/
(Good look to Gotty and dem over @ http://smokingsection.rawkus.com for the link)
I refuse to get into all the 50 vs. Ye bullshit that is going on… It is all marketing… Ye even quoted 50 on "Good Life" sayin':
"50 told me go head switch the style up
And if they hate then let 'em hate
And watch the money pile up, the good life"
So, they are mos def working together to pile up some money…. I ain't mad at them all… Because at the end of the day, It's good to see two African American brothers doing good…
So I will just say this…
For all you Kanye fans out there, it will be worth the $12 - $15 or $20+ for the import. I know some "Ye" fans were turned off by "Stronger"… Give the album a chance, it will grow on you. For heads like myself… I don't know… It will get some run in the ipod and I'll be waiting on the instrumental version to drop…
On a scale of 1-5
Kas's Verdict: 3.5 **On the strength of the production**
Peace
Kas
Send all hate mail to:
kill.that.negro.now@gmail.com
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