Graduation (Explicit Version) (2007)

Artist: Kanye West
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Product Summary
Label: Universal Music Group
UPC: 00602517412200
Release Date: 9/11/2007
Buy.com Sku: 205135700
Item#: M3RJWH
Buy.com Sales Rank: 26050
Format:  CD

Song Listing

Disc 1
Song TitleSample
1. Good Morning ~ Kanye West
2. Champion ~ Kanye West
3. Stronger ~ Kanye West
4. I Wonder ~ Kanye West
5. Good Life - (with T-Pain) ~ Kanye West
6. Can't Tell Me Nothing ~ Kanye West
7. Barry Bonds - (with Lil Wayne) ~ Kanye West
8. Drunk And Hot Girls - (with Mos Def) ~ Kanye West
9. Flashing Lights - (with Dwele) ~ Kanye West
10. Everything I Am - (with DJ Premier) ~ Kanye West
11. Glory, The ~ Kanye West
12. Homecoming - (with Chris Martin) ~ Kanye West
13. Big Brother ~ Kanye West

(P) 2007 Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC
(C) 2007 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd./Kanye West/Mascotte Holdings, LLC.

Given the remarkable critical and commercial success of 2005's Late Registration, Kanye West's rich, rewarding Graduation. Ever savvy, West flouts those expectations by delivering a record that delivers curveballs while staying true to his sharply sculpted, commercially minded m.o. West's rapping, never his greatest strength, is still entertaining. He delivers witty, smart, sometimes absurd rhymes (he seems to take more lyrical chances on Graduation) that fit nicely with the overall feel of his tracks.

As usual, it's West's productions that stand out. While there are examples of his style-defining use of classic R&B samples and background choirs (as on the feel-good highlight "I Wonder"), West streamlines his sound to center on synth-driven lines, giving many of the tracks a retro-electro new wave feel. "Stronger," for example, another standout, is powered by a vocoder-drenched vocal sample, which implies that West might have been listening to more Kraftwerk than Motown to get hyped. The overall results make for a fun, inventive album that offers proof that West still has tricks up his sleeve.
 

Album Notes and Credits

Notes & Personnel Info
Personnel: Connie Mitchell, Tanya Herron (vocals); Young Jeezy (rap vocals); Mike Dean (guitars); Gloria Justen, Luigi Mazzocchi, Eric Gorfain, Igor Szwec, Daphne Chen, Emma Kummrow, Olga Konopelsky, Charles Parker (violin); Alexandra Leem, Peter Nocella, Leah Katz, Alma Fernandez (viola); Richard Dodd, John Krovoza (cello); Wired Strings (strings); Omar Edwards (Fender Rhodes piano); La Mar 'Mars' Edwards, Andy Chatterly, Darryl Beaton, Jon Brion, Chris Rob (keyboards); Tim Resler, Vincent 'Biggs' James (bass guitar); Timbaland (programming); Jehireh Williams, Jalil Williams, John Legend, Ne-Yo (background vocals); Eric Hudson, Tony 'Penafire' Williams, Jay-Z, Jennie Lorenzo, Section Quartet.
Additional personnel: Chris Martin (vocals); DJ Premier (scratches); Dwele, Lil Wayne, Mos Def, T-Pain.
Given the remarkable critical and commercial success of 2005's LATE REGISTRATION, Kanye West's rich, rewarding sophomore release, expectations were high for 2007's GRADUATION. Ever savvy, West flouts those expectations by delivering a record that delivers curveballs while staying true to his sharply sculpted, commercially minded m.o. West's rapping, never his greatest strength, is still entertaining. He delivers witty, smart, sometimes absurd rhymes (he seems to take more lyrical chances on GRADUATION) that fit nicely with the overall feel of his tracks.
As usual, it's West's productions that stand out. While there are examples of his style-defining use of classic R&B samples and background choirs (as on the feel-good highlight "I Wonder"), West streamlines his sound to center on synth-driven lines, giving many of the tracks a retro-electro new wave feel. "Stronger," for example, another standout, is powered by a vocoder-drenched vocal sample courtesy of French dance superstars Daft Punk, which finds West again more comfortable in hip-hop's uncharted waters. The overall results make for a fun, inventive album that offers proof that West still has tricks up his sleeve.

Producer: Nottz; Tommy D; Toomp; Mike Dean; Kanye West; Jon Brion

Engineer: Bram Tobey; Jason Agel; Jared Robbins; Kengo Sakura; Andy Marcinkowski; Matty Green; Anthony Palazzole; Nate Hertweck; Dale Parsons

 
Entertainment Reviews
Kanye West - Graduation - CD Review
By: Ravi Vora - Blogcritics.org Reviews
Published on: 9/12/2007 12:29 AM
Each song has its own beat that has been lovingly taken, and rapped over by Kanye's sarcastic and slightly pungent voice, as he tells stories of his life and relationships. However, there is no tie that makes Graduation a collection of songs that tell a story together. Instead, there are hits and misses thrown together on this soon-to-be popular album....read the full review

 
Compilation Appearances
Paid In Full (Explicit Version)
Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse (Clean Version)
Quality (Explicit Version)
Blueprint 2.1 (Explicit Version) (Bonus Tracks)
Blueprint 2.1 (Clean Version) (Bonus Tracks)
Rest Is History (Explicit Version)
Damita Jo (Explicit Version)
Neighborhood Watch (Explicit Version)
Detroit Deli (Explicit Version)
Kiss Of Death (Explicit Version)
Kiss Of Death [edited]
Take 'em To The Cleaners
Source Hip Hop Hits: vol 8 (Explicit Version)
Source Hip Hop Hits: Volume 8
Get Lifted
Confessions (Special Edition)
Kamikaze (Explicit Version)
Hip Hop Hits: vol 9 (Explicit Version)
Hip Hop Hits: vol 9 (censored)
Purple Haze (Explicit Version)
D.o.d. (clean) (w/ Bonus DVD) (Limited Edition)
Chitlin Circuit
Get Lifted (DualDisc)
Be (Explicit Version)
Brother From Another (Explicit Version)
D.o.d. 0205 (Explicit Version)
Brother From Another
Peoples Champ (Explicit Version)
Fabric Live 22
D O D (chopped & Screwed) (Explicit Version)
Hip Hop Violinist (Explicit Version)
Hip Hop Violinst
In My Mind (Explicit Version)
In My Mind (Clean Edition)
Unpredictable (Explicit Version)
Hidden Beach Recordings presents: Unwrapped Vol. 4
Listennn The Album (Explicit Version)
Most Known Unknown(Bonus Tracks)
Entourage (Explicit Version)
Fistfull Of Dollars
Infamy(Explicit Version)
Mtv My Block: Chicago (Explicit Version)
Doctor's Advocate(Explicit Version)
Doctor's Advocate (Cln)
Gospel According To Patti Labelle
More Fish(Explicit Version)
More Fish (Cln)
Hip Hop Is Dead (Explicit Version)
Hip Hop Is Dead (Cln)
Professional Part 3(Explicit Version)
Professional Part 3 (Cln)
Don't Quit Your Day Job(Explicit Version)
Noreality(Explicit Version)
Finding Forever
Finding Forever(Explicit Version)
Eardrum
Chicago Lp
2008 Grammy Nominees
Now That's What I Call Music Vol 27
City Of Dope
Fabriclive 38
I'm So Hood
Shine
Pro Nails Ep
Exclusive (forever Edition)(Bonus Tracks)(w/ Bonus DVD)
Best Of Syleena Johnson
Best Of Brandy
Total Dance 2008 Vol 2
Paper Trail (Explicit Version)
Paper Trail
We Global
We Global(Explicit Version)
Universal Mind Control (Explicit Version)
In A Perfect World
Invincible Summer
Evolver
Death Of Adam
The Best Of NOW That's What I Call Music - 10th Anniversary Edition
Now That's What I Call Music 29
Thr33 Ringz
Thr33 Ringz(Explicit Version)
Yes We Can: Voices Of A Grassroots Movement
Danseplus 208
Muchdance 2008
Ghostdeini The Great(Explicit Version)
Ultra Dance 10
2009 Grammy Nominees
Total Club Hits 2
Spirit Of Apollo
Love Vs Money(Explicit Version)
Love Vs Money
Now That's What I Call Music 30
Deeper Than Rap(Explicit Version)
Deeper Than Rap
True To The Game
Deeper Than Rap(Limited Edition)(Explicit Version)
Atlantic Records: Time Capsule (Limited Edition)
Total Club Hits 3
Loss 4 Wordz
We Run New York
Good Morning Good Night:dawn
Now That's What I Call Club Hits
Man On The Moon:End Of Day (Explicit Version)
Man On The Moon:End Of Day
Blueprint 3(Explicit Version)
Blueprint 3
Def Jam Recordings: 25th Anniversary Box Set
Ultraviolet(Explicit Version)
Ultraviolet(Explicit Version)
Ultra 2010
Now 32

 
Associated Artists and Works
The Kanye West Tribute: Indie Translations of the ~ Various Artists
Smooth Sax Tribute To Kanye West ~ Various Artists

 
Technical Info
Release Date : 09/11/2007
Original Release Date : 2007
Catalog ID : B-000954102
Label : Def Jam (USA)
Number of Discs : 1
Runtime : 52m : 50s
Studio/Live : Studio
Mono/Stereo : Stereo
SPAR Code : n/a
UPC : 00602517412200

 
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.90)
- 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "This is an album that you first like ,then love....He's grown as a writer....The music needs his spazzed out, neurotic creativity more than ever."

Rolling Stone (p.108)
- Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Top Albums of the Year 2007" -- "[T]he year's most high-impact work..."

Spin (p.114)
- 4 stars out of 5 -- "West's third album is mesmerizing and alienating, like all the purest forms of pop culture. Its music is a rush of designer adrenaline..."

Q (p.95)
- 3 stars out of 5 -- "Musically, West is still capable of the inspirational. The cocktail piano of opening track 'I Wonder' soon gives way to the towering layers of '80s synthesizers that characterise the whole album."

  
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