Graduation

by Kanye West

Overview

Graduation's pre-leak talk wasn't as substantive as it was with Kanye West's first two albums. As with just about any other artist's third album, it had to be expected. The College Dropout was one of the most anticipated debuts of the early 2000s, while Late Registration had people wondering why Kanye would feel the need to work so extensively with multi-instrumentalist rock producer Jon Brion (the J Dilla of the chamberlin) and whether or not Kanye's hubristic tendencies would get the better of it. With Graduation, there was Takashi Murakami's artwork, a silly first-week sales competition with the decreasingly relevant 50 Cent, and chatter about synthesizers running wild. That was about it, but it all seemed loud and prevalent, due in part to a lack of high-profile rap albums released in 2007. Graduation is neither as bold nor as scattered as The College Dropout, and it's neither as extroverted nor as sonically rich as Late Registration. Kanye still makes up for his shortcomings as an MC and lyricist by remaining charmingly clumsy, frequently dealing nonsense through suspect rhyme schemes: "I never be picture-perfect Beyonce/Be light as Al B. or black as Chauncey/Remember him from Blackstreet, he was black as the street was/I never be laid-back as this beat was." The songs that are thematically distanced, introspective, and/or wary -- there are many of them -- are, in turn, made more palatable than insufferable. That his humor remains a constant is a crucial aspect of the album, especially considering that most other MCs would sound embittered and hostile if they were handling similar subjects, like haters new and old, being a braggart with a persistent underdog complex, getting wrapped up in spending and flaunting, and the many hassles of being a hedonist. Those who have admired Kanye as a sharp producer while detesting him as an inept MC might find the gleaming synth sprites, as heard most prominently throughout "Flashing Lights" and "Stronger," to be one of the most glaring deal-breakers in hip-hop history. Though the synthesizer use marks a clear, conscious diversion from Kanye's past productions, highlights like "I Wonder," "The Glory," and "Everything I Am" are deeply rooted in the Kanye of old, using nostalgia-inducing samples, elegant pianos and strings, and gospel choirs. So, no, he's not dreaming of fronting A Flock of Seagulls or joining Daft Punk. He's being his shrewd, occasionally foolish, and adventurous self. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	09/11/2007
Label:	Roc-A-Fella
UPC:	0602517412200
Rank:	185

Tracks

1. Good Morning
2. Champion
3. Stronger
4. I Wonder
5. Good Life
6. Can't Tell Me Nothing
7. Barry Bonds
8. Drunk and Hot Girls
9. Flashing Lights
10. Everything I Am
11. The Glory
12. Homecoming
13. Big Brother

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kanye West   Primary Artist,Vocals,Co-Producer
Chris Martin   Primary Artist,Primary Artist,Primary Artist,Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals,Vocals,Featured Artist
Mos Def   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals
DJ Premier   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Lil Wayne   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
T-Pain   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
John Mayer   Primary Artist,Vocals
Dwele   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Al Be Back   Primary Artist,Vocals
DJ Premiere   Primary Artist
Larry Gold   Conductor,String Conductor
Eric Gorfain   Violin
Jay-Z   Vocals
Jon Brion   Keyboards,Percussion
Alma Fernandez   Viola
Omar Edwards   Synthesizer Bass,Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes
Olga Konopelsky   Violin
Igor Szwec   Violin
Mike Dean   Guitar,Keyboards,Co-Producer
Eric Hudson   Multi Instruments
The Section Quartet   Strings
John Krovoza   Cello
A-Trak   Keyboards,Turntables
Andy Chatterly   Keyboards
Alexandra Leem   Viola
Emma Kummrow   Violin
Lloyd   Vocals
Tanya Herron   Vocals
Peter Nocella   Viola
Jehireh Williams   Vocals (Background)
Lamar "Mars" Edwards   Keyboards
Jennie Lorenzo   Cello
Section Quartet   Strings
John Legend   Vocals (Background)
Tony Williams   Vocals
Ne-Yo   Vocals (Background)
Daphne Chen   Violin
Leah Katz   Viola
Connie Mitchell   Vocals,Vocals
Darryl Beaton   Keyboards
Tim Resler   Bass
Chris Rob   Keyboards
Craig King   Keyboards
Lamar Edwards   Keyboards
Patrick "Plain Pat" Reynolds   Co-Producer
Jamaal Stanford Williams   Vocals (Background)
Vincent "Biggs" James   Guitar (Bass)
Andy Chatterley   Keyboards
Gloria Justen   Violin
Charles Parker   Violin
Gee Roberson   Co-Producer
Jeezy   Vocals,Featured Artist
Jalil Williams   Vocals (Background)
Luigi Mazzocchi   Violin
Alexandria Leen   Viola
Tim Ressler   Bass,Bass (Vocal)
Richard Dodd   Cello
The Wired Strings   Strings

Technical Credits

Felix Pappalardi   Composer
Duke Reid   Composer
Edwin Birdsong   Composer
James Ingram   Composer
Warryn Campbell   Composer,Producer
Donald Fagen   Composer
Larry Gold   Arranger,String Arrangements
Jaki Liebezeit   Composer
Greg Koller   Engineer,Recording
Eric "Vietnam" Sadler   Composer
Davis   Composer
Walter Becker   Composer
John Mayer   Composer
Patrick Reynolds   Producer
Jon Brion   Producer,Additional Production
Lil Wayne   Composer
Omar Edwards   Synthesizer Programming,Bass Programming
Kanye West   Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Prince Phillip Mitchell   Composer
Bernie Taupin   Composer
Quincy Jones   Composer
Mike Dean   Mixing,Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer,String Arrangements,Additional Production
Jason Agel   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Anthony Kilhoffer   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Mixing Engineer
George Clinton   Composer
Eric Hudson   Composer,Musician,Producer
Damo Suzuki   Composer
A. Williams   Composer
Timbaland   Programming,Drum Programming
Tommy D   Producer
Manny Marroquin   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Kengo Sakura   Recording,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo   Composer
Dwayne Carter   Composer
Holger Czukay   Composer
Irmin Schmidt   Composer
Labi Siffre   Composer
Dale Parsons   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Andy Marcinkowski   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Nate Hertweck   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Bruce Buechner   Engineer,Recording
Elton John   Composer
W. Maragh   Composer
Tony Williams   Composer
Nottz   Engineer,Producer,Recording
A. Davis   Composer,Composer
J. Ventura   Composer
Laura Nyro   Composer
Hank Shocklee   Composer
DJ Premier   Composer
DJ Toomp   Producer
Vlado Meller   Mastering
Connie Mitchell   Composer,Composer
Matty Green   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Bram Tobey   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Andrew Dawson   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Mixing Engineer
I. Schmidt   Composer
M. Karoli   Composer
Paul Sheehy   Engineer,Recording
Ewart Beckford   Composer
Toomp   Producer
Carlton Ridenhour   Composer
Tony Rey   Engineer,Recording
Reid   Composer
Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua   Executive Producer
Hype Williams   Composer
Dante Smith   Composer
John Stephens   Composer
Takashi Murakami   Artwork
Plain Pat   Drum Programming
Rosie Danvers   Arranger,String Arrangements
Kenji Suzuki   Composer
Carol Corless   Package Production
Al Be Back   Producer
Chris Martin   Composer,Composer,Composer
Norman Landsberg   Composer
Leslie Weinstein   Composer
William Maragh   Composer
Tracey Waples   Marketing
Sandra Campbell   Project Coordinator
Patrick "Plain Pat" Reynolds   A&R,Producer
Michael Karoli   Composer
Jared Robbins   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Darryl Sloan   Engineer,Recording
Terese Joseph   A&R
Kazuhiro Mizuno   Design
Al Brancch   Marketing
Seiji Sekine   Engineer,Recording
Nottz Raw   Engineer
Faheem Najm   Composer
Dominick Lamb   Composer
Richard Reitz   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
John Ventura   Composer
Arthur "Duke" Reid   Composer
Gee Roberson   Producer
Thomas Banghalter   Composer
TommyD   Producer
Albert Daniels   Composer,Producer
E. Beckford   Composer
Holger Schuering   Composer
Anthony Palazzole   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
K. Suzuki   Composer
Brian "All Day" Miller   Producer
Lauro Nyro   Composer
Walter Carter   Composer
Antony Williams   Composer
Jason T. Miller   Composer,Producer
Sean Cooper   Sound Design
Jason Miller   Producer
Brian Miller   Producer
Aldrin Davis   Composer
Thomas Bangalter   Composer
Antonio Reid   Composer