Graduation - Kanye West

This album Kanye lets loose his creativity and made something truly original, despite the sampling. Mr. West’s production talents shine in this musical triumph. No two songs alike and there isn’t another song out there that resembles anything Kanye has put out. The entire album is solid and each song has playback value.

When Kanye was just coming up through the ranks of Roc-A-Fella, someone once labeled him as the guy who “makes classics,” and this rings especially true with Graduation. If College Dropout made him the prodigy, and Late Registration made him a champion, then Graduation made him a legend.

On the opening track, “Good Morning,” Kanye brings that critical eye on higher education, a topic almost no rappers even mentioned just a few years ago:

Some people graduate, but we still stupid
They tell you read this, eat this, don’t look around
Just peep this, preach us, teach us, Jesus
Okay, look up now, they done stole your streetness

Regardless of how it is perceived of his criticism, Kanye spoke of an alternative to street life. Or what about his joyous celebration track with T-Pain, “Good Life”? An official summertime classic.

Kanye’s consistency creating great music, most of which is a much needed break from main stream thugism. He does still talk about money, women, cars and other superficial things, but his overall message is leaps and bounds over most people who put up his numbers (eh-hem, Curtis).

And don’t miss his revealing and self-exploratory song “Big Brother” where he dissects his relationship with mentor and Def Jam CEO Jay-Z. This album is one you cannot afford to miss.