2008 Woodie Awards
Review On Kanye West's "Graduation"
Bianca Bruno
Bianca Bruno
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Bianca Bruno
Staff Writer
924162433@gsc.edu
With a Japanese created cartoon cover and an electronically charged single, Kanye West's new album, "Graduation" has already set itself apart from the celebrity rapper's last three albums.
The third album has a lot of weight to uphold with two Grammy winning albums under West's belt. "Graduation" meets it's expectations with collaborations ranging from Mos Def to Chris Martin of Coldplay. West even claims that the new album, "is a come back for me." That may well be for the man himself, but has the fame of being an international producer and artist gone to his head? Or even worse has it changed his music?
The first single, "Stronger", chanting rap mixed comprehensively with Daft Punk, is a clear attention getter. It's a down tempo beat with a techno riff lingering under the chorus, "That that don't kill me, can only make me stronger". This song came as a surprise to me. Compared to previous singles like "Gold Digger" and "Through the Wire", "Stronger" is more mainstream sounding. A club hit for sure.
The follow up singles "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "Good Life" are both average opposite tempos. "Good Life", an upbeat collaboration with T-Pain, is not about a rapper's good life but it is a reminder that the best things in life are free. "Can't Tell Me Nothing," has a gospel feel with a deep down tempo and a sweet voice undertone. The song serves as a journal entry to the rapper, who raps about past mistakes and current fallacies about the rapper.
The rest of the album ranges from flop to hot. A few certain winners in my book would be "Homecoming" and "Drunk and Hot Girls". The title of the latter seemed unappealing at first glance, but lyrically the titles makes sense. The song features Mos Def and a sonically depressing tempo. The song maintains the listeners interest with a strong and fast bridge leading to a stretched out chorus. The song is one of the few on the album that revives West's well known sense of humor. "Homecoming", a hyped up theme for any Chicago native is a ballad of sorts to the windy city and the rapper's memories there. The song features Chris Martin in the chorus and a lead beat by a piano. It is a crowd pleaser with a block party feel to it.
After listening to the album and studying the lyrics, it's safe to say that Kanye West's fame has changed his mind and music, but not necessarily for the better. What's worse is he has to live up to the hype of releaser 50 Cent whose album also came out on Sept. 11, 2007. It's no surprise the media pulled the rap feud card on the two rappers. New age rap comedian Kanye West versus ghetto machine head 50 Cent. The difference is Fiddy raps about himself as sex-symbol and a rap millionaire superstar. West touches on real issues in his life such as his dispute with Jay-Z, which is featured on the album closer, "Big Brother".
"Graduation" is West's first attempt to mix seriousness with street. The album varies with soul plugs in "The Glory" and electronic hooks in "Flashing Lights". So it's unique I'll give him that but the entertainment value is low. Preaching rap in "Barry Bonds", a song about the values of a hit song with Lil Wayne, proves the rapper as his own self-doubt.
Staff Writer
924162433@gsc.edu
With a Japanese created cartoon cover and an electronically charged single, Kanye West's new album, "Graduation" has already set itself apart from the celebrity rapper's last three albums.
The third album has a lot of weight to uphold with two Grammy winning albums under West's belt. "Graduation" meets it's expectations with collaborations ranging from Mos Def to Chris Martin of Coldplay. West even claims that the new album, "is a come back for me." That may well be for the man himself, but has the fame of being an international producer and artist gone to his head? Or even worse has it changed his music?
The first single, "Stronger", chanting rap mixed comprehensively with Daft Punk, is a clear attention getter. It's a down tempo beat with a techno riff lingering under the chorus, "That that don't kill me, can only make me stronger". This song came as a surprise to me. Compared to previous singles like "Gold Digger" and "Through the Wire", "Stronger" is more mainstream sounding. A club hit for sure.
The follow up singles "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "Good Life" are both average opposite tempos. "Good Life", an upbeat collaboration with T-Pain, is not about a rapper's good life but it is a reminder that the best things in life are free. "Can't Tell Me Nothing," has a gospel feel with a deep down tempo and a sweet voice undertone. The song serves as a journal entry to the rapper, who raps about past mistakes and current fallacies about the rapper.
The rest of the album ranges from flop to hot. A few certain winners in my book would be "Homecoming" and "Drunk and Hot Girls". The title of the latter seemed unappealing at first glance, but lyrically the titles makes sense. The song features Mos Def and a sonically depressing tempo. The song maintains the listeners interest with a strong and fast bridge leading to a stretched out chorus. The song is one of the few on the album that revives West's well known sense of humor. "Homecoming", a hyped up theme for any Chicago native is a ballad of sorts to the windy city and the rapper's memories there. The song features Chris Martin in the chorus and a lead beat by a piano. It is a crowd pleaser with a block party feel to it.
After listening to the album and studying the lyrics, it's safe to say that Kanye West's fame has changed his mind and music, but not necessarily for the better. What's worse is he has to live up to the hype of releaser 50 Cent whose album also came out on Sept. 11, 2007. It's no surprise the media pulled the rap feud card on the two rappers. New age rap comedian Kanye West versus ghetto machine head 50 Cent. The difference is Fiddy raps about himself as sex-symbol and a rap millionaire superstar. West touches on real issues in his life such as his dispute with Jay-Z, which is featured on the album closer, "Big Brother".
"Graduation" is West's first attempt to mix seriousness with street. The album varies with soul plugs in "The Glory" and electronic hooks in "Flashing Lights". So it's unique I'll give him that but the entertainment value is low. Preaching rap in "Barry Bonds", a song about the values of a hit song with Lil Wayne, proves the rapper as his own self-doubt.
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