Shit Talk Kanye West’s Graduation Flunks
posted by on September 11 at 10:00 AM
No one is as impressed with Kanye West’s skills on the mic, boards, and stage as he is, which is why it’s so easy to hate him. Kanye has singlehandedly brought the self-love braggadocio game to a whole new level, but despite his constant, obnoxious self promotion, I really dug most of his first album, College Dropout.
Kanye seemed hungry. Tracks like “Through the Wire” and “Two Words” had a bit of grime on ‘em but were balanced out by the crisp production and radio-friendliness of “All Falls Down” and “Jesus Walks.” But if Kanye was hungry on Dropout, he was full, bloated and ready to burst by the time he dropped Late Registration.
While Dropout wasn’t necessarily a gritty street album, the overproduction and overload of retarded guests (Paul Wall? Adam Levine? Really?) on Late Registration makes Dropout look like 36 Chambers.
Today, Kanye’s Graduation drops. Heads up: everything that was wrong with Late Registration is ten times worse on Graduation. The gratuitous guest appearances (Lil’ Wayne, T-Pain, Chris Martin, ugh) don’t do much to distract from the album’s tinny beats (it should be required by law that hiphop albums have some fucking bass) and obnoxious hooks. Mos Def pops in for one of the worst tracks on the album (“Drunk and Hot Girls”—really, that’s the name of the song) and the once-great DJ Premier pulls a production assist on “Everything I Am,” but neither Mos nor Primo do anything to make their respective tracks stand out from the rest of the garbage on the album.
“So the album sucks, but what does it sound like?” you ask. Well, remember when David Bowie discovered synthesizers and did too much coke with Brian Eno in the ’80s? It sounds like that. Graduation is experimentation gone wrong. Kanye still samples the living crap out of everyone from Michael Jackson to Jay-Z, but those samples get trampled under the moon boots of Graduation’s overly synthetic techno hip-pop. And not in a lovable Afrika Bambaataa-sampling-Kraftwerk kind of way.
In Kanye’s defense, it doesn’t appear he was out to make anything other than an album for club rats, which is exactly what Graduation is: bouncy, forgettable, and overly hook-y. It’s frighteningly radio friendly, and I’ve even had trouble get the obnoxious Daft Punk-sampling hook from “Stronger” out of my head. Still, I don’t think I could sit through Graduation again without a fistful pills.
When I told Jonathan Zwickel how much I hated Graduation’s clicks and whistles, he told me I was just a hater who couldn’t deal with the new direction Kanye’s pushing hiphop. Maybe he’s right, but if this is where hiphop is going, let me off at the next stop.
what kind of fool objects to a guest appearance from lil wayne?
Let you off at the next stop?
We would but you were never on. Ask me how I can tell.
Can you please restrict your Stranger writing contributions to "sticking it to the man"? You're awesome when you do that.
You are just plain wrong. Leave it to Seattle to hate on guy who has an awe-inspring lust for life. Kanye is one of the few multitaskers left in modern popular music. He's an amazing producer, writer, and performer. So what if he's cocky? He earned it. The album is incredible, and it really is your loss.
Hip-hop sampling Daft Punk? I don't know, that's pretty cool.
Yeah, man, you're just straight up wrong. It's understandable, though. Whenever an artist does something really innovative there are always critics who can't understand it. I agree with #2, I don't think you understand the progression of hip-hop, and you'd probably be better suited not writing about it.
And this is just an aside, but what's wrong with saying an album "came out" or "was released"? What does "drop" even mean? I was hoping it would go away, but its use seems to be multiplying if anything.
Kanye is a crappy MC...yes, and in my opinion as a producer his best work has been for other artists...everything I've heard so far on this album is weak...
But did you have to go and bring Bowie's good name in to this? His work with Eno in the late 70's was quite groundbreaking really...not as accessible by any means as early 70's rock stuff...but hugely influential and stands up to the test of time
I hear ya on Kanye being overhyped and all, but lets make a better comparison...let's say :
Madonna's forgetable and oddly experimental mix of Politics and Not-Ready-For-The-Dancefloor beats album "American Life"
@ 2-
I do pretty well at sticking it to your mom too.
I dislike Maroon 5, but anyone who can make Adam Levine sound like Stevie Wonder is ok in my book.
Graduation was Kanye's experiment to create his new definitive sound, respectable.
unfortunately, he left out his swinging cadences and progression even within individual songs.
typically, his lyricism doesn't cover his blindspots, but without his heater beats, those shortcomings were never more apparent.
@ 6
Gays "come out"
Convicts "get released"
Albums "drop"
Got it?
kthxbye
What happened to Zwickel's post on this subject?
@ Jonah #8
Cut the crap.
...and ew. My mom's really old.
I don't like this album that much either. but you my man sOuNd LiKe A h8R!!! especially when you shit on Late Registration- BOO THIS MAN!!!
I hate "Stronger" too, and I like Daft Punk. Ye definitely was definitely wearing his caterer clothes there.
But you're gonna dismiss "Everything I Am", one of the most beautiful hiphop songs since the classic Registration dropped?
AHHH SCOTT JORGENSON!!! I LOVE IT!!! IM ACTUALLY GONNA MURDER YOU!!!
"unfortunately, he left out his swinging cadences and progression even within individual songs.
typically, his lyricism doesn't cover his blindspots, but without his heater beats, those shortcomings were never more apparent. "
I totally agree. I've been listening to this off and on for the last few days, hoping that it might grow on me. I can respect an artist for going off in a new direction, even if I don't like the sound. However, when your albums become simpler and simpler with more repetition and less progressions... It comes across as lazy to me.
On top of that I'm having to read reviews claiming that he's an amazing lyricist, "top 5". He's far from worst lyricist, but he's FAR from best. Any appreciation I have for his lyrics is stomped by his lackluster delivery.
I love some of his production, both on his stuff and especially for others. This album has so far disappointed from every direction, it fell flat for me.
point/counterpoint:
http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/09/in_defense_of_graduation_1
I haven't heard Graduation yet, but re: Bowie and Eno doing coke in the '80s (!!??), I think you're dead wrong:
Q: You. Bowie. Cocaine. Sex? TS Saxon, via e-mail
Eno: Whenever I've worked with Bowie there have never been any drugs involved at all. And, no, I've never had sex with him. Sorry. I don't like drugs in the recording studio – they just mean everything takes five times longer to do.
http://music.hyperreal.org/artists/brian_eno/interviews/q178jul01.htm
point/SUPERcounterpoint:
http://raindrophustla.blogspot.com/2007/09/graduation-verdict.html
I had to disclose my bias for Kayne, I wish Jonah would've disclosed his bias against. Close-minded statements and inaccuracies aside, opinions are still opinions, and you know what they're like. If you like Kanye, you'll probably like, then love the album, if you don't, he's not gonna win you over. He's past the point in his career where he worries about converting the Jonahs of the world. Listen to who you want to listen to and don't let a blog dictate your taste.
Red's the only person talking about how the album "feels" pointy head scholars.
The album feels gppd to listen to. It's optomism is such a welcome sentiment. I dopn;t know if anyone;s noticed but things are kinda bleak. I needed this guy to make this "not so great" album.
HOW CAN YOU SAY GRADUATION FLUNKS THATS ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS EVER!!!
I don't where you heard that Graduation flunks every single song on the album is hot, get your facts straight or actually listen to the album before you start saying crazy stuff like that. Everyone who knows anything about music knows Kanye is one of the greatest rappers of alltime. Not one song on Graduation brags about how good he is if you actually listen to the lyrics. Mr. West has skills on the mic, boards, and stage. You would know that if you look on how many albums he sold and grammys he won you would know millions agree with me. His style is totally different from all the other weak rap that's out rapping about the same thing (cars, money, gangs, and guns) also known as dead hip-hop. The song Everything I Am which is on Graduation talks about how he was never following the path of a stereotype rapper, how the way he dressed, he talked, he walked, wasn't black enough to make anywhere in showbiz. The hook "Everything i'm not made me everything i am" and the verse where Kanye is saying "so say goodbye to the NAACP award
goodbye to the In-di-a Arie award
they'd rather give me the n***a-please award" is exactly what you are doing, giving Kanye the n***a-please award. Or how about "I know that people wouldn't usually rap this
but I got the facts to back this
just last year, Chicago had over 600 caskets
man, killin's some wack s***
oh, I forgot, 'cept for when n***a's is rappin'" Is that what you expect from rappers rappin about killing people. whoever says that Kanye West is wack doesn't know anything about rap. Kanye is keeping Hip-hop alive so NaS can change his album name to hip-hop is back.
HOW CAN YOU SAY GRADUATION FLUNKS THATS ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS EVER!!!
I don't where you heard that Graduation flunks every single song on the album is hot, get your facts straight or actually listen to the album before you start saying crazy stuff like that. Everyone who knows anything about music knows Kanye is one of the greatest rappers of alltime. Not one song on Graduation brags about how good he is if you actually listen to the lyrics. Mr. West has skills on the mic, boards, and stage. You would know that if you look on how many albums he sold and grammys he won you would know millions agree with me. His style is totally different from all the other weak rap that's out rapping about the same thing (cars, money, gangs, and guns) also known as dead hip-hop. The song Everything I Am which is on Graduation talks about how he was never following the path of a stereotype rapper, how the way he dressed, he talked, he walked, wasn't black enough to make anywhere in showbiz. The hook "Everything i'm not made me everything i am" and the verse where Kanye is saying "so say goodbye to the NAACP award
goodbye to the In-di-a Arie award
they'd rather give me the n***a-please award" is exactly what you are doing, giving Kanye the n***a-please award. Or how about "I know that people wouldn't usually rap this
but I got the facts to back this
just last year, Chicago had over 600 caskets
man, killin's some wack s***
oh, I forgot, 'cept for when n***a's is rappin'" Is that what you expect from rappers rappin about killing people. whoever says that Kanye West is wack doesn't know anything about rap. Kanye is keeping Hip-hop alive so NaS can change his album name to hip-hop is back.
HOW CAN YOU SAY GRADUATION FLUNKS THATS ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS EVER!!!
I don't where you heard that Graduation flunks every single song on the album is hot, get your facts straight or actually listen to the album before you start saying crazy stuff like that. Everyone who knows anything about music knows Kanye is one of the greatest rappers of alltime. Not one song on Graduation brags about how good he is if you actually listen to the lyrics. Mr. West has skills on the mic, boards, and stage. You would know that if you look on how many albums he sold and grammys he won you would know millions agree with me. His style is totally different from all the other weak rap that's out rapping about the same thing (cars, money, gangs, and guns) also known as dead hip-hop. The song Everything I Am which is on Graduation talks about how he was never following the path of a stereotype rapper, how the way he dressed, he talked, he walked, wasn't black enough to make anywhere in showbiz. The hook "Everything i'm not made me everything i am" and the verse where Kanye is saying "so say goodbye to the NAACP award
goodbye to the In-di-a Arie award
they'd rather give me the n***a-please award" is exactly what you are doing, giving Kanye the n***a-please award. Or how about "I know that people wouldn't usually rap this
but I got the facts to back this
just last year, Chicago had over 600 caskets
man, killin's some wack s***
oh, I forgot, 'cept for when n***a's is rappin'" Is that what you expect from rappers rappin about killing people. whoever says that Kanye West is wack doesn't know anything about rap. Kanye is keeping Hip-hop alive so NaS can change his album name to hip-hop is back.
PLEASE STOP COMMENTING TO THIS FOOL, GRADUATION IS A GREAT ALBUM, THIS DUDE MUST BE IN LOVE WITH FIFTY CENT OR SOMETHING, HE'S A CLOWN, A JOKE, JUST LAUGH AT HIM AND MOVE ON!!
What album were you listening to? Or were you listening at all? As mentioned above by countless people, this is a fantastic album and should be picked up by all who enjoy K. West and those who need an introduction to him....
Big Deal if he's arrogant and cocky?? He definitely has earned the right to be!
Are you carzy...? Every track on Graduation is fire. You cant hate on him because he changing the game. He better than all these other rappers simply because he not doing his thing the traditional way.
Lar has chimed in... now there's an opinion on the subject I can actually respect.
Graduation is as bloated as Gay-ye's ego. The review was spot-on! He is an overrated untalented hack and you fans are all clueless. Like 99% of all popular music today, West is musically, lyrically and vocally inferior. He would not have had a chance in the 1970s--the last decade music was music!
Ok Ok. I've definately got the reason to why this guy is such a hater. We all know that Kanye is a very self-centered human being. And maybe rightly so listening to some of the music he has made. maybe not to some people. but that's just opinion. BUT MY MAN, please do not come on here and bash Kanye West because YOU ARE A GEORGE BUSH FAN. Bitchass.
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