I always try to recognize the hip-hop greats that came before us, pay homage to the classic albums that played a role in shaping modern music into what it is today, and express my adoration for said artist and albums. As I look through that lens, I have the honor to write about Kanye West's "Graduation" which dropped eight years ago today. The classic album (widely deemed as Ye's best) is filled with groundbreaking sounds, flawless sampling, iconic raps forever existing in pop culture, beautiful artwork and the list goes on.
On the surface it's easy to see why "Graduation" is so great to just about anyone. It's astonishing music to the purest definition. "Graduation" is absolutely gorgeous sonically and conceptually but it's when you get underneath each word, each designer beat and each song meaning that you begin to understand why Kanye West is a genius. He takes music and pushes it as far as it can go at that time and pushes it a little further so it becomes Mr. West's sound, one that no one can replicate. Take "Stronger" for example. No one before Kanye was bridging that gap between genres to blur the formulaic sound that hip-hop had at the time. And that's true for every song on the album. Each one threw something new at you when you listened to it and they still do to this day. They all played a part in ripping down the traditional hip-hop sound and broadening what classifies as hip-hop. It doesn't matter what part of this album I decide to pick out, it all plays a part in why it's so great and why a lot of music today sounds like it does. "Graduation" plays a role in everyone's music today whether you realize it or not. From Jon Bellion's "Munny Right" and his video for "Luxury" (which is awfully similar to the visuals for "Good Morning") to Logic, J. Cole and even Ye's big brother, Jay Z, all borrowed a line or two from the Chicago-raised artist.
Kanye West will always push music to her limits. He did that with "Graduation" and that's why it's flawless and timeless. Even if you don't agree, there's at least one song you like off of it. Admit it. I just know that the Steely Dan sample on "Champion" had you hooked and you can't deny "I Wonder" as one of the best songs you've ever heard. "Graduation" is without a doubt one of the top ten albums of all time for me, hip-hop or otherwise. I don't know where we'd be musically if we didn't have this masterpiece. So, please, let's thank Yeezus that we do.
Listen to the album in full below.
Photo Cred: time.com/genius.com
Gif Cred: tumblr.com
(Video Cred: YouTube.com)
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