Words by Patrick M.
Finally got around to listening to Graduation. Yes, I am late to the game, but TSS is so far ahead of everyone else that I’m still the cool kid on the block who got the album early. Thought it was another strong effort from Ye; right now I’m thinking 4.5 mics, with only the T-Pain joint holding it back from being non-stop fire.
While not my favorite track on the album (that’d still be “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.”) the one that got my gears moving was “Big Brother.” Kanye’s greatest strengths as an MC are that he speaks his mind and he’s very good at personalizing his raps. He doesn’t go for the cloak and dagger shit. So to hear him speak on his troubled relationship with his big brother/idol/sensei was fascinating to me as fan of both men and the work they’ve done together.
Some of Ye’s complaints come across as petty; I never thought I’d hear a rapper beef about who got to work with Coldplay first. But the song gets deep into the history of their relationship, from Kanye being scared to talk to Jay, to making history together with The Blueprint and Ye’s eventual rise out of Jay’s shadow. Kanye, whose boasting has always come off to me as the façade of a sensitive dude, gets points for bravery in airing some dirty laundry. But this isn’t a traditional rap beef; it’s a heartfelt essay on a complicated relationship. Kanye has legit issues with the way Jay has treated him (he had to buy tickets to MSG? That’s cold.), and makes him look bad by insinuating Jay’s cold shoulders came from jealousy of Kanye’s own success. Yet even as Ye lashes out, you can tell he is struggling to cope with criticizing someone who he would do anything for, and who he idolizes professionally and personally. The combination of reverence and antagonism makes for fascinating listening.
Kanye and Jay both got where they are through busting their ass, talent, and heavy doses of self-confidence; we aren’t dealing with the smallest egos here. Mentor-protégé relationships often get sticky and sometimes it ends like Obi Wan and Vader. Here’s hoping that after “Big Brother,” they can talk it out over a blunt and get back to making hot music together.
Just as an extra, the original track sampled for “Drunk & Hot Girls.”
Ghostface Killah – Fishscale – The Samples
Wit-E Beats Presents – Street Bangers Vol.24-2007
Kano-London_Town
Cupid-Time For A Change
Spider Loc – West Kept Secret (The Prequel)
Psycho Les – Psycho Therapy
Stereoside – So Long
VA-The_Collector_Series-Rare_Rnb_and_New_Jack_24-2007
Cyssero – The Ruler’s Back
Nine-Return_Of_The_Hardcore-Bootleg-2007
Kochece Presents Styles P – Do You Believe In Ghosts Vol. 7
VA-DJ_Green_Lantern-Sirius_Invasion-(Bootleg)-2007-
VA-DJ_Green_Lantern-Sirius_Invasion
VA-Tapemasters_Inc_Presents_Kanye_West_And_ Andre_3000-Youre_All_Welcome
VA-Tapemasters_Inc_And_DJ_Envy-Purple_Codeine_Pt_14
DJ_Drama_And_Lil_Wayne-Dedication_2
![[avatar]](http://p.uproxxcdn.com/global/images/default-avatar.jpg){kind=avatar}
It’s a 5 mic album to me, good life has grown on me actually.
good writing pat, i love flashing lights & i wonder too.. big brother really does touch me though i love it.. stadium staatuss
if you admire somebody, you should go head and tell em
people never get the flowers, while they can still smell em
Ahhh, my prayers have been answered! Good concise little review man. My sentiments exactly, that “Big Brother” track really revealed something to me about these two guys I’d never known before. I hope they can get back in the studio and start cranking out some heat for real, life is too short to dwell on past differences.
I love Goodlife! I guess it’s just a matter of personal preference though.
Solid album. 4 out of 5 mics.
I think “Good Life” is one of the better tracks on the album. It has a real good energy to it. I can see that being a big hit in concert.
4.5 indeed. And the Obi-Wan/Vader comment is as accurate as they come. Good Life= fire. FLAMES actually.
Truthfully all his albums could really get that 5 Mic nod, but I think “College Dropout” would have to be up first cuz if U analyze the amount of 5 Mic “songs” on there, then its a undisputed winner.
I’ve read some of the comments about Ye in the comments block and all I can say is they stem from a result of not listening. I thought we were past that arrogance/rub-me-the-wrong-way attitude since his debut cuz Ye has not only delivered on his own product but can put “The Blueprint” and “The Fix” on the list of his crown achievements also….
I say 4.5 mics too. “Drunk High Girls” just seems out of place. It would have been way better with a 3 stacks verse.
@ TC add the last two Common albums to that mix as well.
damn, im a huge Can fan, i can’t wait to hear the new album to her that Can sample. Good looks on that
that drunk & hot girls track is awful. I deleted it on my ipod lol, worst beat & rhyme type in ages ;/
good writing. kanye exposed a rivalry many, including myself, probably didn’t even know existed. some have said he was paying a little ‘too much homage’ to jay by doing a song like that, but it works for me… we got enough teflon mc’s out here. oh yeah, and the obi wan/vader analogy was on point.
NE Patriots!!! What?!?!
I feel like I’m missing the bus on “Drunk & Hot Girls”. I love “Good Life.” I argued it w/Pat the other day.
I think we touched on it before in the comments, but…”Big Brother”…I get the point, but it’s a little too Greek to me lol.
Yessir Milwaukee. Can’t forget about those.
And about this “Drunk & Hot Girls” song. Now every album he adds some silly shit and this one is comical but its catchy as hell. We got drunk as hell Labor Day weekend and guess what the catchphrase was….
When dealing with a credible All-Star, they’re not gonna just throw a song on their album without carefully thinking about it (i.e. Nas: “Who Killed It”) and this one is no exception. Play it in the right environment if U don’t like it… or betcha U’ll be singing along @ his concerts….
I love urry song on Graduation, straight up. I’d say Drunk and Hot Girls is possibly the worst of em, but not by far, and its still not bad….
Good Life is GREAT. I Also argued with Patrick about that song the other day.
Champion is my #1 joint on there. Also I Wonder, Flashing Lights and of course CTMN.
I agree that all 3 of Kanye’s joints are 5micable. Personally I like LR best, but that’s cuz I burned myself a copy with no skits. Straight 100% fire.
Good review Marmar….
I like Drunk and hot girls, it’s a little experimental. Everything I Am is my top joint, it sounds like it could have been from 94′.
For me “Homecoming” has been on repeat. to me there is just an honesty in Ye’s music that I can relate to.
Everything I Am was my shit last week.
ehh…ive listened 2 the album alot, and im not feelin it as much as u guys…its good, but i dont think its great. i think people are hypin it waaaay 2 much, callin it 5 mics…thats like sayin its on the level of Aquemeni…Blueprint…Illmatic…etc. i just dont see it comparing with those albums.
Eardrum > Graduation
Does anyone have Curb Your Enthusiasm season 6 new episode? :)
DEF JAM ARTIST
ROC-A-FELLA / G.O.O.D. MUSIC
Great Picture! Good.
Ye ! Good Fella !
Please some links
Jay-Z – Vol.1 & Vol. 3
– Street is watching
– Best of Both World
thx if u have this links
peace y’all
TSS
^^^^I agree with Dirk….Nuff SAID!
Sour grapes from Kanye West — again. Shut out last night (Sept. 9) at the MTV Video Music Awards, West threw a tantrum in front of media and crew backstage as the show was ending.
West, waiting for an elevator in a crowded hallway, began yelling about losing all five categories for which he was nominated.
“That’s two years in a row, man … give a black man a chance,” West said, stomping around his entourage and directing his comments at a reporter. “I’m trying hard man, I have the … number one record, man.”
West said he never will return to MTV.
The rapper was nominated for male artist of the year and video of the year for “Stronger.” This is the latest in a series of awards show outburst for West. Last year, he crashed the stage at the MTV Europe Awards after not winning for best video.
Drunk and Hot Girls isnt even really a song though, More of like Mos and Kanye in the studio goofing off and it makes it onto the album.
But like TC said, I was singing it to myself all weekend while out. Living next to Wrigley Field which is a breeding ground for a retarted collection of frat boys and bimbos who look like they were all created at a lab somewhere (by somewhere I mean the Big Ten school near you. Fuck the Big Ten,) means that will continue for the next six months or so. Thank you Kanye and Mos for making dealing with these peeps a little easier.
Most importantly, Weezy and Ye need to act quick to remake “Barry Bonds” as “Randy Moss” because the Pats are going to put a hurtin on the whole league. 19-0. Boston championship Triple Crown (Sawx, Pats and C’s.)
The goodlife does nothing to make that album great. kanye west could have used t-pian in a way that goes beyond an artist plies, rkelly, or any other southren rapper.It was way too easy to expect t-pian singing on a song with that subject matter they could have collaborated on something a little bit more special even though the beat is hot. Kanye needed club bangers but nothing on graduation except for big brother is better or on the level of his more insightful tracks such as spacehip, roses, diamonds are forever or even jesus walks. It’s a good album but very safe production wise compared to his previous albums. too busy worried about being better then curtis instead of being his true self.
^Wow Monique! That’s a hard statement… you got me thinking though because i believe this was Talibs best album ever! Now i haven’t heard the final product of the Ye’s album(buying it tomorrow) I have heard the leak(should’ve waited,couldn’t) and I don’t like Good Life only because of T-Pain but love the PYT sample and at the same time I’m not too fond of Talibs Gospel song(forgot the name)… so until I hear the final product… imma wait to give you a co-sign but damn that’s a good comparison…
Man can I get a 50 review????
See what everybody think about that…
Gottty,Pat…Somebody…
Seems there’s just a one sided party going on here.
Shit I got tired of seeing Ye’ lastnight on thet VMA’S..And he still crying?How about 50 not even getting a triple threat nomination?..He has RECORD LABEL, CLOTHING LINE,and he a RAPPER…Never even knew Ye had a clothing line…
If U Can Put “The Torture Papers” of The Army of the Pharaohs!
Thx in Advance, because … DANGER, This is in not an exercice !!! Somophore !!!
ComeBack !!! Army of the Pharaohs
present “Ritual of Battle” (september 25)
Leader:
The General ‘Vinnie Paz’ (of Jedi Mind Tricks)
Soldiers: Outerspace, Esoteric, Celph Titled, Chief Kamachi, Reef The Lost Cauze, Ill Bill & Jus Allah (some productions).
^Man that just goes to show 50 is washed up with his “Beef” antics… I heard the 50 album I’ll give him better beats/production but it’s the same ole thing to me… maybe the bullet in the jaw slur is getting old to me but 50 aint hitting like he did with his 1st album and now his sales comes from all the dis records he puts out… i’m personally tired of that gimmick dawg… switch it up do something new? That’s just me…
4.5 mics?
You high?
MTV is a joke anyway. An award from them don’t mean shit really.
I think Kanye did take a risk production wise with Drunk and Hot Girls. I remember being blown away by the production of Late Registration but I think Kanye did take a risk on this one by not using Jon Brion to help produce most of the album.
I KNOW I’m in a minority on this, but I really don’t want to to hear Mos Def or Talib rapping as individuals. As a group I think they can be great, but as solo artist they kind of just ehhh. There both good for singles here and there, but have made lackluster solo albums. Talib’s first one was cool, but that’s about it.
4 mics
its good but its no Late Registration or College Dropout.
i feel Kanye talks to much about himself but feels too short
^I agree with not wanting to hear Talib for 60+ minutes. Ear Drum is cool but I ain’t as big on it as some people are.
MTV is a joke and all, but to lose to Rhianna would have pissed me off too. That “Umbrilla” vid was god-awful.
C-Love,
yes,
and Yes,
and god damn it “The Good Life” may be growing on. I’m pretty sure I just sang along to T-Pain.
1 spin and now Ye’s burned copy is my coaster for my corona. :)
Can’t believe I have NO intrest in listening to that 50 album. “I Get Money” is jamming like a fool, but I just don’t want to listen.
man i thought that 50 album was gonna be a banger until i heard it. only songs worth listening to on curtis: all of me, curtis 187, movin on up, i’ll still kill, touch the sky, the eminem and dre collabos are trash this time around.
thx for the fishscale samples
curtis 187… piff
If you Put College Dropout and Late Registration, Next to The Graduation…
No, this album does not Deserve a 5 mic status. his production on this album wasn’t better, and MOST DEFINITELY, his flow and lyrics were not even close to being better. i think you are loosely handing that label of a classic out and shit already. It’s nowhere near being a classic.
Like the production from this even compared to what he did for Common even shows that the shit was lacking.
Not saying that it was terrible. but much less than what I would hope for.
“It’s a good album but very safe production wise compared to his previous albums. too busy worried about being better then curtis instead of being his true self.”
1) you do understand that 50 and Ye are friends.
2) kanye already has said, and said before he got pushed to 9/11, that his sales aren’t what he relies on. the quality of his music has/is/will always be better than 50′s.
3) played it safe? are you retarded. theres nothing safe about abandoning your set style to go towards a synth based sound.
I don’t mind sounding like a crazed fan boy cause Kon is the truth, plain and simple.
Why ain’t nobody mention “Good Morning?” that one’s an absolute monster. When he brings in the Jay sample and you think you’re getting the obligatory Jay verse, but then ‘Ye takes it back? Brilliant. That fits more into the Vader/Obi Wan analogy you mentioned. Like ah here’s my mentor, but I don’t even need him to make this song a banger. Great piece! (but I like Good Life)
“Look at the valedictorian/ scared of the future while I hop into the Delorean”
the only people truly cashing in on these albums are the stockholders and the board of directors over at vivendi universal. i would argue that kanye makes most of his money on touring, guest appearances, producing for other artists, and selling merchandise (t-shirts, posters, etc.). touring is what brings in the big bucks. thats why dude is always over in sweden or indonesia or some shit. curtis probably makes most of his cheese on endorsements, vitamin water, his record label, and clothing line rather than just albums. just a thought, because i think there’s a lot of people that really played in to the kanye/50 beef, when the two guys probably don’t even really know each other, and this whole shit was just some marketing scheme cooked up by their label. they’re on the same label. how could it not be?
Half-A-Mil (Underground rapper)
R.I.P MAN
Rapper Half-A-Mil of Brooklyn is dead. on his appartement in Albany Projects. Murder. OK OK ! U know !
BUT ;;;
Half-A-Mil albums: “Million” et “Da Hustle Dont Stop”,label Warlock Records.
ARE GOOD ??? !
So Please … News !
In career H a M has feat with The Firm, AZ, NAS, Just Blaze, Trackmasters, Kool G. rap, Capone-N-Noreaga and …
Before this tragedy, Half-A-Mil worked on his third album!
If U Have Links !! THX IN AD
PEACE YALL
ANDRE YOUNG “DETOX baby, is coming !”
HiphOp liVes !
2.0.0.8
The revolution ???
^ I disagree. Me receive quality music as fans, so that’s payment enough, at least for me. In a time where we all agree that quality is lacking, for us to even be agrueing over whether Ye dropped a classic means a win for us.
Mil
present
Mil Ruff Draft, J Dilla
(2007)
Rmx LYRICAL ALBUM
Original
J dilla Beats
R.I.P JAY DEE !
free download here myspace.com/boukamil.
Mil : http://www.mil-music.com/.
“Everything I Am was my shit last week.”
===========================================
C’mon Gotty, is it only worth one week?!!! “Everything I Am” is the hottest track on the album IMO. It should’ve been at the end of the album to finish it off in classic Kanye style. It reminds me of “Late” which was my favorite joint on Late Registration.
4.5 mics I do agree; just barely though. I agree, Drunk and Hot Girls could use a 3000 verse to toughen it up a bit, but all together, it doesn’t fit with the scheme of the other songs on the album.
I think Late Registration was the best of the 3 albums, but you gotta remember with as many hot joints as it had, its pretty hard to beat.
Kanye didn’t dissappoint. Period.
I think ‘Good Life’ is one of the best tracks on the album. It definitely needed the boost of energy that song gives it.
I’d agree with those sayin ‘Drunk and hot girls’ doesnt fit also.
That FishSchale Instrumentals link was defective, anyone have a diff. link? I was excited about that.
I’m one of the biggest kanye west fan’s and probably heard more of his music then most people. D.J. toomp who did alot of the keys on graduation is a beast so I’m not slamming the production. However using t-pain like how everybody else uses him is not typical kanye. you can take kanye verse’s off of goodlife and put anybody on it & it would create that sound. It was to be expected; the gift in Kanye’s music is the unexpected & the extra ordinanry.Goodlife is an regular song that’s built for the radio. The production on drunk and hot girls is what makes it move for me. The string’s during mos def verse are beautiful. What grown and single man hasn’t been on the prowl for some drunk and hot girls! that’s what makes it relavent. Goodlife isn’t terrible but it aint special either.
[b]THANX ALOT FOT THE SING SWAN SONG, I’VE BEEN LOOKIN 4 THIS EVERYWHERE!! i NEED ORIGINAL GLORY SAMPLE – LAURA NYRO – SAVE THE COUNTY, CAN YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, PLEASE ??
I ACTUALLY REALLY LIKED T-PAIN TRACK ON GRADUATION, CAN’T AGREE WITH YOU, THAT’S A HOT JOINT AND I RATE THIS ALBUM 5/5, SAME AS ULTIMATE VICTORY[/B]
DID I MENTION THAT BOTH MOS DEF TRACKS ARE STR8 FIRE??!!
Seems there’s just a one sided party going on here.
=========
Enh…we don’t claim to be unbiased lol. But don’t worry, there’s some coverage of Fif coming.
CD > Graduation > LR
But each has it’s strengths
Can’t believe I have NO intrest in listening to that 50 album. “I Get Money” is jamming like a fool, but I just don’t want to listen.
========
I feel your pain. That beat is murder…but it hasn’t pushed me to listen just yet.
C’mon Gotty, is it only worth one week?!!!
=========
nah I’m come back to it. It just doesn’t match my current mood. I’ve been listening to some old Green Latern tapes currently.
I think ‘Good Life’ is one of the best tracks on the album. It definitely needed the boost of energy that song gives it.
============
It’s one of the few w/true energy.
@reggietears
I hear what you saying, but to me there’s more honesty in Ye’s lyrics which puts it over the top for me. Also what’s wrong with it being regular and built for the radio? That song is better than 90% of the stuff on radio. I respect your opinion, just saying why I disagree.
50s album is waaaaaaaaaack.
187 Curtis is the only decent track. (its a banger)
I’ve always thought he was better as a producer than a rapper, but I actually like “Graduation”. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s a classic or as good as it’s being hyped to be, but it’s nice. IF I was going to partake in this whole “50 Cent: Curtis” and “Kanye West: Graduation” bafoonery, I’d waste my money on Graduation (despite the fact he’s a crier, a whiner, and seemingly full of himself; which as one of the posters pointed out: I believe is a coverup for how insecure he really is).
And while everyone is criticizing the track “Good Life”, I actually enjoy it. I think it breaks up the consistency of the album in a good way. It’s something you could put in and ride to simply because the knock of the track. It’s a fun record. *shrug*
2 monday night football games…
the nfl must have read my emails…
UGK, Ice Water, & SAS all had better albums than Kanye imo.
i got the shit smacked out of me saturday night for sayin “ladaladada thats how the fuck you sound!!! you drunk and UGLY GIRL!!!!” some bitch that was throwin a tantrum about how noone was paying attention to her.
any body looking forward to a remix or response record from jay…anybody?
shiiiiiiiiitttttttttt..
“we go through too much bullshit, just to mess with these drunk and hot girls…”
how does that not speak out to y’all. I know i’ve felt that enough times!
I’ve had both “Graduation” & “Curtis” for a couple of weeks now & I’m not blown away by either, I’ve heard more potent work from both Fiddy & ‘ye.Of the two, “Graduation” is slightly the better join’t, just based on rhymes & beats.”Curtis” has a few gems like the Akon joint, but there’s way too much pop-crossover filler. Kanye’s stepped the lyrics up, but I just don’t feel this one like I felt “Late Registration”
ok ok…
1) Good Looks Rafi Raf for the mix.. looking forward to it…
2) Dre is a straight up f&^%$# liar!!.. Detox my a$$!!
3) Ye’s album is very good but not 5 mics people… awesome tracks on there but I don’t think it was better than College Dropout…definite buy
4) Big Brother a.k.a Lick Jay’s Butthole Clean
that’s all folks!!
On the album sales tip, I seem to remember Kanye sayin’ with the sample clearance publishing fees he doesn’t really get much back moneywise, but he takes the hit for the cause of good music. When you think about all the steely dan sample lawsuits. You know Champion cost him a pretty penny. They hate rappers. Michael Jackson samples can’t be cheap either.
Must be why Just Blaze switched from speeding up supertramp songs to hiring full blown orchestras.
If there’s any justice, Curtis Mayfield got more cash from “Touch the Sky” than either of em.
Y’all need to check the new video over at http://www.illdoctrine.com/ Jay Smooth is on point!
I wasn’t a fan of college dropout at all… late reg and graduation of def bangers
Drunk & Hot Girls is the only downfall to the cd in my opinion, Barry Bonds is growing on me ,everything else is solid
word! And I think T-pain is kinda wack