Kanye West-Graduation... One Year Later

[WhoSaidThat?]

Let's discuss it's greatness.

P.S. Has a rap album ever gotten it's own "One Year Later" Thread before?

[Getup and Dance]

To me this is the worst Kanye album, also there are so much better hip hop albums.

[WhoSaidThat?]

Yeah, it's certainly his worst. But that's not saying much. I honestly can't remember the last time I didn't skip Drunk and Hot Girls. I think it was Marchish

[iDavid]

Yeah, it's certainly his worst. But that's not saying much. I honestly can't remember the last time I didn't skip Drunk and Hot Girls. I think it was Marchish


i agree... except i started skipping it long before.

[dysorexia]

I can't stomach him. He played a local venue here, too bad it didn't get firebombed.

[gonfreaks]

I really loved the album when it came out, one of the few rap artists I listen to. Flashing Lights is still one of his best songs.

[WFUJerseyJon]

Love Kanye, but Lupe is better.

[WhoSaidThat?]

Love Kanye, but Lupe is better.
I can see how one would think that. I love Lupe.

[ThisIsNotDan]

ugh this album isn't that great. it has it's moments though

[bobby runs]

I like a few songs but overall it just isn't up to Kanye standards. Still better than most rap albums coming out. Even the worst song on this album is better than 50% of hit singles.

[Regards]

Bad compared to his first.

[TMS2787]

I can't believe that it's a year already. I remember buying the album before work and listening to it non-stop for a while. I think it's a great album but like has been said many, many times it is his worst.

[J Me]

way too poppy and techno-ish at times. it has its moments though. late registration destroys it though

[micahistheballs]

I really like it. This album was what got me listening to hip hop again so that's something.

He'll never be as good an emcee as Jay-Z or whoever else, but his music is so much better than everyone else's it seems.

[TakeLotsWithAlcohol]

I hate how he forces rhymes but his shit is still better than any popular "hip hop/rap" out today.

[WhoSaidThat?]

I love all the people saying "at least he's better than a lot of all the other rappers out there" and barely anyone acknowledging him being a good rapper on his own merits.

[TakeLotsWithAlcohol]

I love all the people saying "at least he's better than a lot of all the other rappers out there" and barely anyone acknowledging him being a good rapper on his own merits.


"never did this before, that's what the virgin said
we've been generally warned, that's what the surgeon said
god talk to me now this is an emergency"

This is what I'm talking about forcing lyrics, "emergensay" is how he says it. Also, it's not a surgeon giving a warning, it's warned by the Surgeon General. He doesn't understand the concept of Surgeon General but he has to have a rhyme. I like the song but the forcing of lyrics is ridiculous.

"klondike" and "blond dyke" too.

That's the only problems I have with him, the fact that he forces lyrics.

[boxingwithstars]

i still say college dropout was his best album to date

[_jonas]

Based on Love Lockdown, I'm stoked that Kanye seems to be taking new risks for th next album.

[AdamTheGreat]

I never got into drunk and hot girls.

Or barry bonds

[EchoPark]

I enjoy the first 6 songs on Graduation a lot but I dont listen to anything after that.

[bradyreier]

I really like it. This album was what got me listening to hip hop again so that's something.

He'll never be as good an emcee as Jay-Z or whoever else, but his music is so much better than everyone else's it seems.
I totally agree with you there. It's been a while since I've listened to this album, but I do like it. Perhaps I'll throw it on now.

[Genuma]

Awesome?

[mattybobviously]

Nothing special. :shrug:

[absolutecrunk]

Worst choruses in the history of hip-hop.

[dat scene kid]

"never did this before, that's what the virgin said
we've been generally warned, that's what the surgeon said
god talk to me now this is an emergency"

This is what I'm talking about forcing lyrics, "emergensay" is how he says it. Also, it's not a surgeon giving a warning, it's warned by the Surgeon General. He doesn't understand the concept of Surgeon General but he has to have a rhyme. I like the song but the forcing of lyrics is ridiculous.

"klondike" and "blond dyke" too.

That's the only problems I have with him, the fact that he forces lyrics.

I think that's a bit nit picky. Especially the bit about the Surgeon's General Warning. Every time I hear that line it still makes sense to me

That being said I just popped this on a couple of days ago. It's a really good collection of songs. Its hits (Champion, The Glory, Homecoming, Stronger) are big hits. The misses (Barry Bonds, Drunken Hot Girls) are big misses. Overall I think its an incredibly strong release.

[micahistheballs]

I totally agree with you there. It's been a while since I've listened to this album, but I do like it. Perhaps I'll throw it on now.
Since we have similar taste for the most part, what other hip hop do you think I should look into?

[Ouch]

as a person, asshole

as a rapper-producer, awesome

Graduation? sucked in comparison to his other efforts.

[_jonas]

People with egos, underrated.

His ego is his mojo

[bradyreier]

Since we have similar taste for the most part, what other hip hop do you think I should look into?
I guess some hip-hop I've been listening to lately would include:

Talib Kweli - Quality
Black Star - Black Star
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
The Roots - Phrenology
and I'm always listening to basically all of 2Pac's albums.

Hope there's something off that list you haven't heard yet that you can check out.

What have you been listening to lately?

[micahistheballs]

I guess some hip-hop I've been listening to lately would include:

Talib Kweli - Quality
Black Star - Black Star
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
The Roots - Phrenology
and I'm always listening to basically all of 2Pac's albums.

Hope there's something off that list you haven't heard yet that you can check out.

What have you been listening to lately?
A lot of Kanye West, Jay-Z's the Blueprint when it comes to hip hop, but in general...

Sufjan Stevens- the Avalanche
the Mars Volta's entire discography
the National- Virginia EP
Man Man- Rabbit Habits
Lovedrug- The Sucker Punch Show
Foxy Shazam- Introducing
Fleet Foxes
and of course the regular flow of Radiohead, mewithoutYou, and Dylan

[bradyreier]

A lot of Kanye West, Jay-Z's the Blueprint when it comes to hip hop, but in general...

Sufjan Stevens- the Avalanche
the Mars Volta's entire discography
the National- Virginia EP
Man Man- Rabbit Habits
Lovedrug- The Sucker Punch Show
Foxy Shazam- Introducing
Fleet Foxes
and of course the regular flow of Radiohead, mewithoutYou, and Dylan
The Blueprint is one of my all-time favorite hip-hop albums - just a classic. I've been meaning to check out Fleet Foxes for a while, but just keep forgetting. I'll have to give 'em a listen soon. Have you heard Blitzen Trapper's new album yet?

[absolutecrunk]

I think that's a bit nit picky. Especially the bit about the Surgeon's General Warning. Every time I hear that line it still makes sense to me

That being said I just popped this on a couple of days ago. It's a really good collection of songs. Its hits (Champion, The Glory, Homecoming, Stronger) are big hits. The misses (Barry Bonds, Drunken Hot Girls) are big misses. Overall I think its an incredibly strong release.
lol it makes sense to you because you have it wrong, too

surgeon general's warning =/= surgeon's general warning

[micahistheballs]

The Blueprint is one of my all-time favorite hip-hop albums - just a classic. I've been meaning to check out Fleet Foxes for a while, but just keep forgetting. I'll have to give 'em a listen soon. Have you heard Blitzen Trapper's new album yet?
I listened to them on MySpace and enjoyed it. I keep meaning to give it a download at some point. I'm very excited for the new Copeland record as well.

[cscwell107]

I loved graduation but I do agree that drunk and hot girls deserved to be skipped everytime and that it was weaker than college dropout and late registration but it was still a great album.

[Circa1628]

I think this is a great album, I am nervous for his next album though because I am not a fan of the new song

[Richard Maxim]

Love Kanye, but Lupe is better.


I don't know about that, i do have to say that late registration is one of the better hip hop albums of this generation. the cool was kinda weak, only had a FEW great songs.

[MetroPanic!Girl]

I like kanye!

[captainamazing4]

i actually really like this album, even though its probably his weakest

[WFUJerseyJon]

I don't know about that, i do have to say that late registration is one of the better hip hop albums of this generation. the cool was kinda weak, only had a FEW great songs.

Hey I love Kanye, I would put him at #2 right now of "this generation". I just prefer Lupe, I think he has a better flow and more potential. Kanye is definitely a better producer, but as far as rapping talent goes I gotta give the nod to Lupe. Any I think the cool had many GREAT songs.

[Richard Maxim]

Hey I love Kanye, I would put him at #2 right now of "this generation". I just prefer Lupe, I think he has a better flow and more potential. Kanye is definitely a better producer, but as far as rapping talent goes I gotta give the nod to Lupe. Any I think the cool had many GREAT songs.


i have to disagree on the many great songs, its hard for any artist much less lupe to put out 15+ solid tracks. Everything i agree with, kanye's better though.

[Osto]

My favorite Kanye record.

[cashowyourteeth]

Love Chris Martin on Homecoming.

[Jake Denning]

Such a dope album.

[bernie16wb]

It gave Daft Punk some recognition which is good.

It might have made people think Kanye made the Daft Punk bits, bad.

It gave an incredible douche a lot of fame and money, bad.

[behappy123]

It gave Daft Punk some recognition which is good.

It might have made people think Kanye made the Daft Punk bits, bad.

It gave an incredible douche a lot of fame and money, bad.
ahahha I can't believe at one point in time I was actually a super fan. Circa grade 11-to 1st year Univeristy.
I liked Graduation because it was still distinctly Kanye and going on the same theme, I don't liked 808's and heartbreaks.

[SSLYBY]

Definitely not his worse album. (Now) Lol.

Late Registration > College Dropout > Graduation > 808's

[behappy123]

Definitely not his worse album. (Now) Lol.

Late Registration > College Dropout > Graduation > 808's
Agreed. At one point in time, I was obsessed with late registration.

[dsd is too high]

I couldn't believe the first time I heard "Stronger" with the Daft Punk hook being an old school Daft fan.

Am I really the only person who likes "Drunk And Hot Girls"? That song's my shit! So Zoney.

[behappy123]

I couldn't believe the first time I heard "Stronger" with the Daft Punk hook being an old school Daft fan.

Am I really the only person who likes "Drunk And Hot Girls"? That song's my shit! So Zoney.
The sample of the lady in the song is actually saying something else, idk what though.

[dsd is too high]

The sample of the lady in the song is actually saying something else, idk what though.
As opposed to saying what?

[behappy123]

As opposed to saying what?
Oh sorry. ahhaha. She is saying "drunk and hot girls" Actually she's not, but that what it sounds like. Kanye even said that in an interview.

[dsd is too high]

Oh nice. lol

[hockeyguitar99]

For me Kanye discog looks like this:

Late Registration > or = (depending on mood) The College Dropout > 808s > Graduation

Really enjoy them all though.

[fadedmemories]

Not his best work, but certainly better than most hip-hop out there

[Robototron]

This is his best album because it's most fun, and he was basically just ripping off 07 Electro-House and Eurocrunk the whole time (courtesy of A-Trak, of course). I mean, c'mon, guys:

Stronger
Good Life
Flashing Lights

What other Yeezy album comes close to those three songs alone? Such a shitty rapper, but what awesome production.

[fran.182]

808s & Heartbreak > Graduation > Late Registration > The College Dropout.

[fadedmemories]

808s & Heartbreak > Graduation > Late Registration > The College Dropout.
Why oh why?

[boxingwithstars]

my second favorite album of his. i was listening to College Dropout on the drive home yesterday, and that's definitely still my favorite.

College Dropout > Graduation > Late Reg > 808's