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==Artwork==
==Artwork==
[[Image:Dropout Bear Grad.png|200px|thumb|left|Dropout Bear being pursued by a monsterous storm cloud within the album artwork of ''Graduation''.]]
Kanye collaborated with [[Japanese people|Japanese]] [[contemporary art]]ist [[Takashi Murakami]] for the art direction of ''Graduation'' as well as the cover art for it accompanying singles.<ref name=linernotes/> The album artwork expresses colorful, pastel imagery influenced by Murakami's affiliation with [[anime]] and [[manga]]. Its production process took place over the course of several weeks, with West constantly coming up with new ideas and emailing them to Murakami and his team.<ref>{{Cite web|authour=Lumpkin, Bernard; Stolz, Kim |title= Kanye West Album-Cover Artist Takashi Murakami Talks About Working With 'Ye, At His NYC Exhibit Opening|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584891/20080404/west_kanye.jhtml|work=MTV|publisher=MTV Networks |date=2008-04-04|accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref> Bringing the educational theme expressed by West's previous albums to a conclusion, the visual plotline of the images contained within the [[liner notes]] lead up to a graduation ceremony that takes places within a fictional college institution situated within a futuristic metropolis called Universe City.<ref name=Ready/> The story centers around "Dropout Bear", West's [[anthropomorphic]] [[teddy bear]] mascot.<ref>{{cite web |author=Heffernan, Virginia|title=Kanye on Keyboards|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/magazine/10wwln-medium-t.html?pagewanted=all|work=[[The New York Times]] |publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|date=2008-08-08 |accessdate=2009-03-17}}</ref> The illustrations chronicle Dropout Bear overcoming various obstacles in an effort to reach his college campus in time for his ceremony. The story begins on a rainy day with Dropout running out of his apartment to his car, modeled after a [[DeLorean time machine|DeLorean]]. When the car's engine dies, he is forced to find an alternative method of transportation. Dropout attempts to hail a cab but it speeds right past him, soaking him with puddle water, he then tries to get onto a metro rail but just misses it as it pulls away. With no other options, he is reduced to pursuing his goal on foot. As Dropout races down sidewalks populated with multi-eyed, living mushrooms, he is pursued by a monsterous rain cloud that attempts to swallows him whole. Eventually, Dropout Bear arrives at the university makes it to his graduation ceremony to stand before his fellow colleagues, a variety of anthopomorphic creatures like himself. The visual story concludes with Dropout Bear being catapulted from the university into the sky on the back cover.<ref name=linernotes/> The cover art for ''Graduation'' was cited as the fifth best album cover of the year by ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=Weekend Rock List: Best Album Covers of 2007 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/12/28/weekend-rock-list-best-album-covers-of-2007/|work=Rolling Stone|publisher=RealNetworks, Inc|date=2007-12-28 |accessdate=2009-03-26}}</ref> The designs of album artwork were later brought to life by Murakami the through the use of [[cel-shaded animation]] within a three-minute animated [[music video]] for "[[Good Morning (Kanye West song)|Good Morning]]".<ref>{{cite web|author= Dukes, Rahman; Reid, Shaheem; Richard, Yasmine|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/052107/|title=Mixtape Monday: Kanye West Glows In The Dark; Pharrell Brings The B-More Beats|work=MTV|publisher=MTV Networks |date=2007-05-21 |accessdate=2007-05-22}}</ref>
Kanye collaborated with [[Japanese people|Japanese]] [[contemporary art]]ist [[Takashi Murakami]] to design the art direction of ''Graduation'' as well as the cover art for the album's accompanying singles.<ref>{{cite web |author=Martin, Francesca |title=Kanye West Mixes Manga and Music With the 'Warhol of Japan'|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2007/aug/01/art.popandrock|work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=2007-08-01 |accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref> The collaboration came about when West visited Murakami's [[Kaikai Kiki]] studio in [[Roppongi Hills]] during a brief trip to [[Tokyo, Japan]] in the midst of touring the year before.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kato, Akiko; Wilson, Wayne |title=カニエ・ウェストがカイカイキキにやってきた！Kanye West Visits the Studio!|url=http://www.kaikaikiki.co.jp/news/list/kanyewest_in_asaka/|work=[[Kaikai Kiki]]|publisher=Kaikai Kiki Co, Ltd |date= |accessdate=2008-11-21}}</ref> The album artwork expresses colorful, pastel imagery influenced by Murakami's affiliation with [[animé]] and [[manga]]. Its production process took place over the course of several weeks, with West constantly coming up with new ideas and emailing them to Murakami and his team.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Lumpkin, Bernard; Stolz, Kim |title= Kanye West Album-Cover Artist Takashi Murakami Talks About Working With 'Ye, At His NYC Exhibit Opening|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584891/20080404/west_kanye.jhtml|work=MTV|publisher=MTV Networks |date=2008-04-04|accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref> Bringing the educational theme expressed by West's previous albums to a close, the visual plotline of the images contained in the [[liner notes]] lead up to a graduation ceremony that takes places within a fictional college institution situated within a futuristic metropolis called Universe City.<ref name=Ready/> The story centers around "Dropout Bear", West's [[anthropomorphic]] [[teddy bear]] mascot.<ref>{{cite web |author=Heffernan, Virginia|title=Kanye on Keyboards|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/magazine/10wwln-medium-t.html?pagewanted=all|work=[[The New York Times]] |publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|date=2008-08-08 |accessdate=2009-03-17}}</ref> The illustrations chronicle Dropout Bear overcoming various obstacles in an effort to reach his college campus in time for his ceremony. The story begins on a rainy day with Dropout running out of his apartment to his car, modeled after a [[DeLorean time machine|DeLorean]]. When the car's engine dies, he is forced to find an alternative method of transporation. Dropout attempts to hail a cab but it speeds right past him, soaking him with puddle water, he then tries to get onto a metro rail but just misses it as it pulls away. With no other options, he is reduced to pursuing his goal on foot. As Dropout races down sidewalks populated with multi-eyed, living mushrooms, he is pursued by a monsterous rain cloud that attempts to swallows him whole. Eventually, Dropout Bear arrives at the university makes it to his graduation ceremony to stand before his fellow collegues, a variety of anthopomorphic creatures like himself. The visual story concludes with Dropout Bear being catapulted from the university into the sky on the back cover.<ref name=linernotes/> The cover art for ''Graduation'' was cited as the fifth best album cover of the year by ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=Weekend Rock List: Best Album Covers of 2007 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/12/28/weekend-rock-list-best-album-covers-of-2007/|work=Rolling Stone|publisher=RealNetworks, Inc|date=2007-12-28 |accessdate=2009-03-26}}</ref> The designs of album artwork were later brought to life by Murakami the through the use of [[cel-shaded animation]] in a three-minute animated [[music video]] for "[[Good Morning (Kanye West song)|Good Morning]]."<ref>{{cite web|author= Dukes, Rahman; Reid, Shaheem; Richard, Yasmine|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/052107/|title=Mixtape Monday: Kanye West Glows In The Dark; Pharrell Brings The B-More Beats|work=MTV|publisher=MTV Networks |date=2007-05-21 |accessdate=2007-05-22}}</ref>


==Release and reception==
==Release and reception==
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In its second week on the ''Billboard'' 200, ''Graduation'' slid to number two with the release of [[Reba McEntire]]'s ''[[Reba: Duets]]'', selling 226,000 copies while maintaining its dominance over ''Curtis'', which sold 143,000.<ref>{{cite web |author= Hasty, Katie|title= Reba Outmuscles Kanye, 50 To Score First No. 1|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003646687|date=2007-09-26 |accessdate=2007-09-28|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> The next week, with the releases of over forty new albums, ''Graduation'' dropped three spaces to number five and registered 133,300, reaching a cumulative total of 1.3 million copies by October 3.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hasty, Katie |title= Rascal Flatts Races To No. 1 In Debut-Heavy Week|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003650421|date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2007-10-13|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> Selling 92,400 units, the album descended two spots the following week to reach number seven.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hasty, Katie |title=Springsteen Is Boss Of Album Chart With 'Magic'|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003656214|date=2007-10-10 |accessdate=2007-10-13|work=[[Billboard.biz]]|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> During its fourth week on the chart, ''Graduation'' experienced a slight rebound and rose from number seven to six on October 17, selling 71,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |author=Cohen, Jonathan |title= Kid Rock Rolls To No. 1 Album Chart Debut|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003659257|date=2007-10-17 |accessdate=2007-10-19|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> The following week, the album began to descend once more, selling an estimated 54,000 copies and dropping three places to reach the ninth position on October 24.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hasty, Katie |title= Springsteen Returns To No. 1 In Slow Sales Week|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003662234|date= 2007-10-24|accessdate=2007-10-28|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> ''Graduation'' became West's third consecutive studio album to sell over two million units in the United States and has since been certified 2&times; Platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] <ref name=riaa>{{cite web|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=kanye&format=ALBUM&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum|date=2008-12-12|accessdate=2008-12-12|work=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> Exactly one year after the fact, as of September 12, 2008, Nielsen Soundscan reported that ''Graduation'' had grossed over 2,166,000 copies in the United States, securing its eclipse over ''Curtis'' which sold over 1,336,000 copies and had since been surpassed by [[Kenny Chesney]]'s ''[[Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates]]'' which sold over 1,424,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |author=Caulfield, Keith|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003849640| title=Ask Billboard: Kanye West, 50 Cent and Kenny Chesney, UK artists, Rock Charts|work= Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|date=2008-09-12|accessdate=2008-09-12}}</ref>
In its second week on the ''Billboard'' 200, ''Graduation'' slid to number two with the release of [[Reba McEntire]]'s ''[[Reba: Duets]]'', selling 226,000 copies while maintaining its dominance over ''Curtis'', which sold 143,000.<ref>{{cite web |author= Hasty, Katie|title= Reba Outmuscles Kanye, 50 To Score First No. 1|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003646687|date=2007-09-26 |accessdate=2007-09-28|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> The next week, with the releases of over forty new albums, ''Graduation'' dropped three spaces to number five and registered 133,300, reaching a cumulative total of 1.3 million copies by October 3.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hasty, Katie |title= Rascal Flatts Races To No. 1 In Debut-Heavy Week|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003650421|date=2007-10-03 |accessdate=2007-10-13|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> Selling 92,400 units, the album descended two spots the following week to reach number seven.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hasty, Katie |title=Springsteen Is Boss Of Album Chart With 'Magic'|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003656214|date=2007-10-10 |accessdate=2007-10-13|work=[[Billboard.biz]]|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> During its fourth week on the chart, ''Graduation'' experienced a slight rebound and rose from number seven to six on October 17, selling 71,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |author=Cohen, Jonathan |title= Kid Rock Rolls To No. 1 Album Chart Debut|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003659257|date=2007-10-17 |accessdate=2007-10-19|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> The following week, the album began to descend once more, selling an estimated 54,000 copies and dropping three places to reach the ninth position on October 24.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hasty, Katie |title= Springsteen Returns To No. 1 In Slow Sales Week|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003662234|date= 2007-10-24|accessdate=2007-10-28|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> ''Graduation'' became West's third consecutive studio album to sell over two million units in the United States and has since been certified 2&times; Platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] <ref name=riaa>{{cite web|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=kanye&format=ALBUM&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum|date=2008-12-12|accessdate=2008-12-12|work=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}}</ref> Exactly one year after the fact, as of September 12, 2008, Nielsen Soundscan reported that ''Graduation'' had grossed over 2,166,000 copies in the United States, securing its eclipse over ''Curtis'' which sold over 1,336,000 copies and had since been surpassed by [[Kenny Chesney]]'s ''[[Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates]]'' which sold over 1,424,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |author=Caulfield, Keith|url=http://www.billboardmagazine.com/bbcom/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003849640| title=Ask Billboard: Kanye West, 50 Cent and Kenny Chesney, UK artists, Rock Charts|work= Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|date=2008-09-12|accessdate=2008-09-12}}</ref>

===Critical response===
===Critical response===
''Graduation'' received generally favorable reviews from [[music critic]]s, earning a rating of 79 out of 100 on [[Metacritic]].<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/westkanye/graduation Kanye West: Graduation (2007): Reviews]. Metacritic. Accessed October 1, 2007.</ref> In a review of the album, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that, "None of the beats clobber you as immediately as "[[Jesus Walks]]" or "[[Gold Digger]]," but most of them improve on every listen: This is an album that you first like... As a lyricist, West will never possess the pure cool or formal mastery of his mentor [[Jay-Z]], but he's grown as a writer. (See the off-kilter, dreamlike "I Wonder".) And given the lousy year [[hip hop music|hip-hop]] has had, the music needs his spazzed-out, neurotic creativity more than ever. As for the rest of you rappers: Try harder."<ref name=Brackett>{{cite web |author= Brackett, Nathan |title= Graduation : Kanye West : Review |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16233118/review/16256602/graduation |work=Rolling Stone|publisher=RealNetworks, Inc|date=2007-09-04 |accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' gave a favorable review in which it described the album as a logical step in the musical progression that West intiated on his debut. On its general review of the album, it described ''Graduation'' as, "An impressively creative hip-hop album that will hopefully inspire West's peers to try new sonic avenues."<ref name=Crosely/> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' noted that "West's vocal mediocrity wouldn't be so glaring if the production were more of a diversion. There are no truly tragic compositions on ''Graduation''—though the droning "Drunk and Hot Girls" could have been half as irritating at twice the speed—but most of the music just seems uninspired."<ref>Neil Drumming (September 7, 2007). [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20055056,00.html Music Review&nbsp;– Graduation]. ''Entertainment Weekly''. Accessed September 8, 2007.</ref> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the album a favorable review, claiming that "West is at his best".<ref>Greg Kot (August 31, 2007). [http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2007/08/graduation-day-.html 'Graduation' day arrives: Kanye West exploits his growing pains]. ''Chicago Tribune''. Accessed October 1, 2007.</ref> Music critic [[Robert Christgau]] wrote of the album:
''Graduation'' received generally favorable reviews from [[music critic]]s, earning a rating of 79 out of 100 on [[Metacritic]].<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/westkanye/graduation Kanye West: Graduation (2007): Reviews]. Metacritic. Accessed October 1, 2007.</ref> In a review of the album, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that, "None of the beats clobber you as immediately as "[[Jesus Walks]]" or "[[Gold Digger]]," but most of them improve on every listen: This is an album that you first like... As a lyricist, West will never possess the pure cool or formal mastery of his mentor [[Jay-Z]], but he's grown as a writer. (See the off-kilter, dreamlike "I Wonder".) And given the lousy year [[hip hop music|hip-hop]] has had, the music needs his spazzed-out, neurotic creativity more than ever. As for the rest of you rappers: Try harder."<ref name=Brackett>{{cite web |author= Brackett, Nathan |title= Graduation : Kanye West : Review |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16233118/review/16256602/graduation |work=Rolling Stone|publisher=RealNetworks, Inc|date=2007-09-04 |accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' gave a favorable review in which it described the album as a logical step in the musical progression that West intiated on his debut. On its general review of the album, it described ''Graduation'' as, "An impressively creative hip-hop album that will hopefully inspire West's peers to try new sonic avenues."<ref name=Crosely/> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' noted that "West's vocal mediocrity wouldn't be so glaring if the production were more of a diversion. There are no truly tragic compositions on ''Graduation''—though the droning "Drunk and Hot Girls" could have been half as irritating at twice the speed—but most of the music just seems uninspired."<ref>Neil Drumming (September 7, 2007). [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20055056,00.html Music Review&nbsp;– Graduation]. ''Entertainment Weekly''. Accessed September 8, 2007.</ref> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the album a favorable review, claiming that "West is at his best".<ref>Greg Kot (August 31, 2007). [http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2007/08/graduation-day-.html 'Graduation' day arrives: Kanye West exploits his growing pains]. ''Chicago Tribune''. Accessed October 1, 2007.</ref> Music critic [[Robert Christgau]] wrote of the album:
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*Producer: Kanye West
*Producer: Kanye West
*Additional vocals: Al Be Back, Mos Def
*Additional vocals: Al Be Back, Mos Def
*Samples: "Nuff Man A Dead" by [[Supercat]], "Wake The Town" by [[U-Roy]], "Omaha Stylee" by [[311]]</small>
*Samples: "Nuff Man A Dead" by [[Supercat]], "Wake The Town" by [[U-Roy]]</small>
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Revision as of 22:47, 14 September 2009

Untitled

Graduation is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released on September 11, 2007. The title of the album follows the college theme of Kanye West's previous two studio albums, The College Dropout and Late Registration. The album artwork was designed by Takashi Murakami. Graduation, which was nominated for Grammy Album of the Year, has received three Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album, thereby making West the only artist other than Eminem to win three Best Rap Album Grammys. The album has sold over 2,000,000 copies in the U.S. up to October 2008.[1]

Conception

Background

Graduation is the third and final installment of Kanye West's planned tetralogy of education-themed studio albums, which was subsequently discontinued due to the events surrounding the conception of his fourth album, 808s & Heartbreak. The album demonstrates yet another distinctive evolution in West's musical style and approach to production. After spending the previous year touring the world with Dublin rock band U2 on their Vertigo Tour, Kanye felt inspired to compose anthemic rap songs that could operate more efficiently in large arenas.[2] To accomplish this "stadium-status" endeavor, West incorporated synthesizer into his hip hop production, which also finds him utilizing slower tempos, experimenting with electronic music and influenced by music of the 1980s.[3] In addition to U2, West drew musical inspiration from arena rock bands such as The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin in terms of melody and chord progression.[3][4] Additionally, West further expanded his musical palette by abstaining himself from his customary R&B/soul samples and utilizing more a more ecletic variety of interpolations from music genres encompassing pop rock, disco, electronica, prog-rock, and dub. For much of the album, West adopted a dilatory, exuberant rap flow in emulation of Bono's operatic vocal stylings.[2]

Recording

West began working on Graduation immediately after the release of his second studio album Late Registration. By late September 2005, he had already completed three songs for the album, which he intended to contain a total of twelve tracks.[5] Around the time of the recording of the studio album, West listened to some of his favorite alternative rock bands, including The Killers, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, and Keane for ideas on making his music more stadium-friendly.[6] It was around the time of the filming of the music video for "Stronger" that the album started taking definite form, whereas prior West had been "aimlessly making songs". The sci-fi imagery of the Hype Williams-directed video inspired West to take his music in a more futuristic direction.[7] After the filming of the video, which begun before West had even written the song's second verse, he went back to redo and re-record various portions of "Stronger", watching films like Total Recall for ideas.[7] The album sees the return of multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion, who had played a key role as co-execute producer on Late Registration, for the track "Drunk and Hot Girls."[8] Although he originally intended to make Graduation devoid of guest rappers, West decided to include ___ Lil Wayne on the track "Barry Bonds."[9] At the time, the two had been collaborating, with West working on the production of Tha Carter III.[10] The beat of "The Glory" was originally conceived for West's G.O.O.D. Music associate, close friend, a fellow Chicagoan MC Common, whose seventh studio album Finding Forever was being produced and recorded by West simultaneously with Graduation.[10][11] As was the case with their previous albums, certain tracks West originally crafted for Finding Forever that Common passed on subsequently ended up on his own album.[12] "Everything I Am" was yet another song made for Common that he passed on, a fact which West addresses within the song's intro.[10] In January 2007 interview with Billboard, West revealed that he had collaborated with Coldplay lead vocalist Chris Martin on "Homecoming", and that the song was might be released as lead single of Graduation.[8] Though "Bittersweet Poetry" appears as a bonus track on the album, the recording had actually been one of the very first tracks made for Late Registration.[13] After seeing the 2004 biographical film Ray together, Kanye and John Mayer decided to collaborate on a recording and immediately went back to the studio to compose a song called "Bittersweet". The two had previously worked side-by-side while creating "Go!", the third single for Common's album, which had come about when Mayor went to visit West at The Record Plant in Los Angeles.[14][15]

Music and lyrics

In comparison to previous albums, which were largely driven by observational commentary on matters pertaining to social welfare, Graduation is more introspective/intimate in nature and addresses more personal affairs.[3] West stated that he wanted to make inspirational music and placed more focus on individual experience in an attempt to create "people's theme songs."[2] Dismayed that the messages contained within his complex lyricism was frequently lost on listeners and didn't carry well during live performances, West made the decision to use more simplistic rhyme schemes for his verses on the album and concentrated on speaking volumes with sparser wording.[2]

Artwork

Dropout Bear being pursued by a monsterous storm cloud within the album artwork of Graduation.

Kanye collaborated with Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami to design the art direction of Graduation as well as the cover art for the album's accompanying singles.[16] The collaboration came about when West visited Murakami's Kaikai Kiki studio in Roppongi Hills during a brief trip to Tokyo, Japan in the midst of touring the year before.[17] The album artwork expresses colorful, pastel imagery influenced by Murakami's affiliation with animé and manga. Its production process took place over the course of several weeks, with West constantly coming up with new ideas and emailing them to Murakami and his team.[18] Bringing the educational theme expressed by West's previous albums to a close, the visual plotline of the images contained in the liner notes lead up to a graduation ceremony that takes places within a fictional college institution situated within a futuristic metropolis called Universe City.[10] The story centers around "Dropout Bear", West's anthropomorphic teddy bear mascot.[19] The illustrations chronicle Dropout Bear overcoming various obstacles in an effort to reach his college campus in time for his ceremony. The story begins on a rainy day with Dropout running out of his apartment to his car, modeled after a DeLorean. When the car's engine dies, he is forced to find an alternative method of transporation. Dropout attempts to hail a cab but it speeds right past him, soaking him with puddle water, he then tries to get onto a metro rail but just misses it as it pulls away. With no other options, he is reduced to pursuing his goal on foot. As Dropout races down sidewalks populated with multi-eyed, living mushrooms, he is pursued by a monsterous rain cloud that attempts to swallows him whole. Eventually, Dropout Bear arrives at the university makes it to his graduation ceremony to stand before his fellow collegues, a variety of anthopomorphic creatures like himself. The visual story concludes with Dropout Bear being catapulted from the university into the sky on the back cover.[20] The cover art for Graduation was cited as the fifth best album cover of the year by Rolling Stone.[21] The designs of album artwork were later brought to life by Murakami the through the use of cel-shaded animation in a three-minute animated music video for "Good Morning."[22]

Release and reception

Release

On May 11, 2007, it was announced that the release date for Graduation was set to be September 18, 2007.[10] Following the release of the album's lead single "Can't Tell Me Nothing", West released a free mixtape under the same name onto the internet in promotion of the album on May 27.[23] The mixtape featured preview clips of certain songs that would later appear on Graduation and showcased various artists signed onto West's G.O.O.D. Music label as well as collaborations with other unaffiliated musicians.[24] It also contained the debut single "Us Placers", the first song made by Child Rebel Soldier, a new supergroup Kanye that had formed with Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams.[23] At the end of May, Island Def Jam pushed the album's release date up to an unspecified late August date, a decision West first announced on the introductory track of his Can't Tell Me Nothing mixtape.[25] On July 19, the release date of Graduation was changed once more and moved to September 11, 2007, the same U.S. release date as New York rapper 50 Cent's Curtis and country singer Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates.[26] When first presented with the proposal of his label moving Graduation's release date yet again as well as the idea of a sales race between him and 50 Cent, West initially expressed his indifference towards the thought, saying, "When I heard that thing about the debate, I thought that was the stupidest thing. When my album drops and 50's album drops, you're gonna get a lot of good music at the same time."[27] However, then Def Jam president and CEO Jay-Z welcomed the competition, feeling that it would be productive for hip hop and the date became permanent.[28] Three months prior to the September 11 release date, West extended his gratitude towards 50 Cent for the enthusiasm and excitement that the friendly competition produced. Though confident that he would emerge victorious, Kanye stated that he would be perfectly fine with losing to 50 Cent, saying that he'd rather, "be #2 on that day rather than come out and be #1 on a day nobody cares about."[29] A month later, on August 10, 50 Cent stated during an interview with SOHH that he would end his career as a solo artist if Graduation sold more copies than Curtis in the United States.[30] However, he later retracted his statement within an MTV interview due to contract agreements with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.[31] Kanye and 50 Cent later joined each other onstage to provide a surprise performance before an audience of over 20,000 people for a show held on August 22 in Madison Square Garden during Ciara and T.I.'s Screamfest '07 tour.[32] On August 28, 2007, West hosted an album listening session for Graduation at New World Stages in New York City, where he explained his influences and aspirations for the album and played songs over clips from a variety of futuristic sci-fi films, including Tron, Akira, 2046, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.[2] In a survery conducted by Billboard, results displayed that an estimated 44% of readers predicted that Graduation would sell more units over 50 Cent and Kenny Chesney.[33] Sales projections for first week scans based on early store sales reports indicated towards the 575,000–700,000 range for Graduation, while Curtis was projected in the 500,000–600,000 range.[34]

Commerical performance

On the very day of its release, Graduation sold over 437,000 copies and by the end of its first week, the album had grossed a total of over 957, 000 copies in the United States alone.[35] Graduation became West's third consecutive studio album to top the Billboard 200 and also debuted at number one on the album charts in the United Kingdom as well as Canada.[36][37] It was within the very same week that "Stronger" topped the Billboard Hot 100, giving West his third number-one single.[38] Upon its release, Graduation achieved the highest first week sales week for any album in 2007, topping Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight, which sold 625,000 units. The album was also West's highest first sales week to date, surpassing the 860,000 opening week of his previous album Late Registration. It registered the best first-week sales totals of any record released within the last two years, with the last being West's own Late Registration.[39] Additionally, Graduation became ranked as the fifteenth highest sales week for an album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991, as well as the highest sales week at the time of its release for an album since 50 Cent's The Massacre (2005).[40] It also set the record for the largest week of an album digitally downloaded, registering over 133, 000 paid downloads, beating Maroon 5's previous set record of 102, 000 for It Won't Be Soon Before Long.[41] By year's end, Graduation was the third most-downloaded and best-selling album of 2007 on iTunes Store.[42] Graduation's first week sales of 957,000 and Curtis's first week sales of 691,000 marked only the second time ever since the inception of Nielsen SoundScan that two albums debuted within the same week with totals surpassing 600,000 copies in the United States. The first occurrence of such an event was in September 1991, when Guns N' Roses conjunctively released Use Your Illusion I, which sold 685,000 copies, and Use Your Illusion II, which sold 770,000 copies. The first week sales totals of Graduation and Curtis have outsold the first week sales totals of Guns N' Roses' two albums.[40] After years of slumping sales, the album competition between the two releases and the resulting record breaking performances both albums displayed was considered to be a "fantastic day for hip-hop."[43]

In its second week on the Billboard 200, Graduation slid to number two with the release of Reba McEntire's Reba: Duets, selling 226,000 copies while maintaining its dominance over Curtis, which sold 143,000.[44] The next week, with the releases of over forty new albums, Graduation dropped three spaces to number five and registered 133,300, reaching a cumulative total of 1.3 million copies by October 3.[45] Selling 92,400 units, the album descended two spots the following week to reach number seven.[46] During its fourth week on the chart, Graduation experienced a slight rebound and rose from number seven to six on October 17, selling 71,000 copies.[47] The following week, the album began to descend once more, selling an estimated 54,000 copies and dropping three places to reach the ninth position on October 24.[48] Graduation became West's third consecutive studio album to sell over two million units in the United States and has since been certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America [49] Exactly one year after the fact, as of September 12, 2008, Nielsen Soundscan reported that Graduation had grossed over 2,166,000 copies in the United States, securing its eclipse over Curtis which sold over 1,336,000 copies and had since been surpassed by Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates which sold over 1,424,000 copies.[50]

Critical response

Graduation received generally favorable reviews from music critics, earning a rating of 79 out of 100 on Metacritic.[51] In a review of the album, Rolling Stone wrote that, "None of the beats clobber you as immediately as "Jesus Walks" or "Gold Digger," but most of them improve on every listen: This is an album that you first like... As a lyricist, West will never possess the pure cool or formal mastery of his mentor Jay-Z, but he's grown as a writer. (See the off-kilter, dreamlike "I Wonder".) And given the lousy year hip-hop has had, the music needs his spazzed-out, neurotic creativity more than ever. As for the rest of you rappers: Try harder."[52] Billboard gave a favorable review in which it described the album as a logical step in the musical progression that West intiated on his debut. On its general review of the album, it described Graduation as, "An impressively creative hip-hop album that will hopefully inspire West's peers to try new sonic avenues."[3] Entertainment Weekly noted that "West's vocal mediocrity wouldn't be so glaring if the production were more of a diversion. There are no truly tragic compositions on Graduation—though the droning "Drunk and Hot Girls" could have been half as irritating at twice the speed—but most of the music just seems uninspired."[53] The Chicago Tribune gave the album a favorable review, claiming that "West is at his best".[54] Music critic Robert Christgau wrote of the album:

Every single track offers up its momentary pleasures--choruses that make you say yeah on songs you've already found wanting, confessional details and emotional aperçus on an album that still reduces to quality product when they're over.[55]

Rolling Stone placed the album at number five on its list of their Top 50 Albums of 2007."[56] Kanye also received a rating of XL from the hip-hop magazine XXL, which rated his first and second albums with a classic rating of XXL.

Graduation was listed at number nine on the Billboard Critics' Poll.[57] Time listed Graduation as the tenth best album of the year, writing, "Thin as Graduation is on material, it delivers knockout hooks at a Louis Vuitton price point. From Elton John to Daft Punk to Steely Dan, West plunders the best and meticulously layers every track with enough surprises that there are thrills and discoveries a dozen listens in. He may be in danger of running out of things to say, but his ears are only getting sharper."[58] At the 50th Grammy Awards, West led the field with a total of eight nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Good Life", and Best Rap Song for "Can't Tell Me Nothing".[59] He won the Grammy awards for Best Rap Solo Performance for "Stronger", Best Rap Song for "Good Life", and finally Graduation received the award for Best Rap Album.[60] At the 34th annual American Music Awards, West received the awards for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist as well as Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album for Graduation.[61] However, West offered the former to Lil Wayne, who he felt was more deserving of the award due to his musical efforts in 2008.[62] Praising the artistry expressed by Graduation, the success of its singles, and the __ of its accompanying international tour, MTV crowned Kanye as the year's #1 Hottest MC in the Game on May 16, 2008.[63] Incidentally, U2 later asserted that touring with West had a significant effect on their own music as well in regards to No Line On The Horizon. Bono elaborated that West's rapping inspired him to utilize more percussive consonants for his songwriting and vocal performance.[64]

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Good Morning"Kanye West3:15
2."Champion"Kanye West, Brian Miller2:47
3."Stronger"Kanye West, Mike Dean*5:11
4."I Wonder"Kanye West4:03
5."Good Life" (feat. T-Pain)Kanye West, Mike Dean*, DJ Toomp*3:27
6."Can't Tell Me Nothing"Kanye West, DJ Toomp4:31
7."Barry Bonds" (feat. Lil Wayne)Nottz, Kanye West*3:24
8."Drunk and Hot Girls" (feat. Mos Def)Kanye West, Jon Brion*5:13
9."Flashing Lights" (feat. Dwele)Kanye West, Eric Hudson3:57
10."Everything I Am" (feat. DJ Premier)Kanye West3:47
11."The Glory"Kanye West, Gee Robertson*, Plain Pat*3:32
12."Homecoming" (feat. Chris Martin)Kanye West, Warryn Campbell3:23
13."Big Brother"DJ Toomp4:47
Bonus Track
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
14."Good Night" (feat. Al Be Back, Mos Def)Kanye West3:06
UK Bonus Tracks
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
14."Good Night" (feat. Al Be Back, Mos Def)Kanye West3:06
15."Stronger" (A-Trak Remix)Kanye West, Mike Dean*4:34
Japan Bonus Tracks
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
14."Good Night" (feat. Al Be Back, Mos Def)Kanye West3:06
15."Bittersweet Poetry" (feat. John Mayer)Kanye West4:01

(*) designates co-producer

B-sides

Song Length B-side of
"Barry Bonds" 3:24 "Can't Tell Me Nothing"
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" 4:32 "Stronger"
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" (Remix) 4:07 "Good Life"
"Stronger" (Andrew Dawson Remix) 4:45 "Flashing Lights"
"Good Night" 3:06 "Homecoming"

Charts, sales and procession

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by Canadian Albums Chart number-one album
September 29, 2007 – October 5, 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
High School Musical 2 Soundtrack
 U.S. Billboard 200 number-one album
September 29, 2007 – October 5, 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums number-one album
September 29, 2007 – October 12, 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Hustlenomics by Yung Joc
 U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums number-one album
September 29, 2007 – October 19, 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by UK Albums Chart number-one album
September 16, 2007 – September 22, 2007 		Succeeded by
All The Lost Souls by James Blunt

Personnel

Information taken from Graduation liner notes.[20]

# Title Notes
1 "Good Morning"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Elton John, Bernie Taupin
  • Producer: Kanye West
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer
  • Mix engineer: Andrew Dawson
  • Assistant engineers: Bram Tobey, Jason Agel, Nate Hertweck, Matty Green
  • Keyboards: Andy Chatterley
  • Additional vocals: Jay-Z, Tony "Penafire" Williams, Connie Mitchell
  • Samples: "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" by Elton John

2 "Champion"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
  • Producers: Kanye West, Brian "Allday" Miller
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer
  • Mix engineer: Andrew Dawson
  • Synthesizer: Omar Edwards
  • Additional vocals: Tony "Penafire" Williams, Connie Mitchell
  • Contains elements of "Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan
3 "Stronger"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Edwin Birdsong
  • Producers: Kanye West, Mike Dean (extended outro)
  • Additional drum programming: Timbaland
  • Recorder: Seiji
  • Mix engineer: Manny Marroquin
  • Assistant engineers: Kengo Sakura, Bram Tobey, Jason Agel, Nate Hertweck, Jared Robbins
  • Keyboards: La Mar "Mars" Edwards
  • Guitar: Mike Dean
  • Samples: "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk

4 "I Wonder"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Labi Siffre
  • Producer: Kanye West
  • Recorders: Greg Koller, Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer
  • Mix engineer: Andrew Dawson
  • Assistant engineers: Bram Tobey, Jason Agel, Nate Hertweck, Dale Parsons
  • Piano/synths: Omar Edwards
  • Keyboads: Jon Brion
  • Violins: Emma Kummrow, Igor Szwec, Gloria Justen, Olga Konopelsky, Luigi Mazzocchi, Charles Parker
  • Violas: Peter Nocella, Alexandra Leem
  • Cello: Jennie Lorenzo
  • Bass: Tim Ressler
  • Strings conduction: Larry Gold
  • Samples: "My Song" by Labi Siffre

5 "Good Life"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Faheem Najm, James Ingram, Quincy Jones, Adrian Davis
  • Producers: Kanye West, DJ Toomp
  • Additional drum programming: Timbaland
  • Additional production: Mike Dean
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer, Paul Sheehy
  • Mix engineer: Mike Dean
  • Piano/synths: Omar Edwards
  • Violins: Eric Gorfain, Daphne Chen
  • Viola: Leah Katz, Alma Fernadez
  • Cello: Richard Dodd, John Krovoza
  • Background vocals: John Legend, Ne-Yo
  • Samples: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" by Michael Jackson
6 "Can't Tell Me Nothing"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, DJ Toomp
  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Aldrin Davis
  • Producers: Kanye West, DJ Toomp
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer, Tony Rey
  • Mix engineers: Mike Dean, Andrew Dawson
  • Keyboards: Darryl Beaton, Chris Rob
  • Additional vocals: Young Jeezy, Connie Mitchell
7 "Barry Bonds"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Dwayne Carter, Dominick Lamb
  • Producers: Nottz, Kanye West
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson, Nottz Raw, D. Sloan
  • Mix engineer: Mike Dean
  • Assistant engineers: Anthony Palazzole, Andy Marcinkowski
  • Keyboards: Mike Dean
  • Samples: "Long Red" by Mountain
8 "Drunk and Hot Girls"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, H. Schuering, I. Schmidt, J. Liebezeit, K. Suzuki, Kanye West & M. Karoli
  • Producers: Kanye West, Jon Brion
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson, Greg Koller
  • Mix engineer: Mike Dean
  • Assistant engineers: Bram Tobey, Jason Agel, Dale Parsons, Anthony Palazzole, Andy Marcinkowski
  • Synth/Bass: Omar Edwards
  • Keyboards: Andy Chatterley
  • Strings: Section Quartet
  • Violins: Eric Gorfain, Daphne Chen
  • Viola: Leah Katz
  • Cello: Richard Dodd
  • Additional vocals: Mos Def, Tanya Herron
  • Contains elements of "Sing Swan Song" performed by Can

9 "Flashing Lights"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Eric Hudson
  • Producers: Kanye West, Eric Hudson
  • Mix engineer: Andrew Dawson
  • Assistant engineers: Matty Green, Anthony Palazzole, Andy Marcinkowski
  • Violins: Emma Kummrow, Igor Szwec, Gloria Justen, Olga Konopelsky, Luigi Mazzocchi, Charles Parker
  • Violas: Peter Nocella and Alexandra Leem
  • Cello: Jennie Lorenzo
  • Bass: Tim Resslar
  • String arrangements: Larry Gold
  • Additional vocals: Connie Mitchell

10 "Everything I Am"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West
  • Producer: Kanye West
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer
  • Mix engineer: Mike Dean
  • Assistant engineers: Bram Tobey, Jason Agel, Nate Herweck, Anthony Palazzole, Andy Marcinkowski
  • Rhodes piano: Omar Edwards
  • Additional vocals: Tony "Penafire" Williams.
  • Scratches: DJ Premier
  • Contains elements of "If We Can't Be Lovers" by Prince Phillip Mitchell, "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy
11 "The Glory"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Dante Smith, Laura Nyro, Norman Landsberg,
    Felix Pappalardi, John Ventura, Leslie Weinstein
  • Producers: Kanye West, Patrick Reynolds, Gee Robertson
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer
  • Mix engineer: Anthony Kilhoffer
  • Assistant engineers: Bram Tobey, Jason Agel, Nate Herweck, Matty Green
  • String arrangement: Rosie Danvers
  • Keyboards: Omar Edwards, Chartterfly
  • Background vocals: John Legend, Mos Def, Jalil Williams, Jehireh Williams
  • Samples: "Save The Country" by Laura Nyro, "Long Red" by Mountain
12 "Homecoming"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Chris Martin, Warryn Campbell
  • Producers: Kanye West, Warryn Campbell
  • Recorders: Bruce Buechner, Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer, Greg Koller
  • Mix engineer: Mike Dean, Andrew Dawson
  • Assistant engineers: Matty Green, Anthony Palazzole, Andy Marcinkowski
  • Percussion: Jon Brion
  • Sound design:Sean Cooper
  • Project coordinator: DJ Reflex & Sandra
  • Additional vocals: Chris Martin

13 "Big Brother"

  • Songwriter: Kanye West
  • Producers: DJ Toomp
  • Recorders: Paul Sheehy, Andrew Dawson
  • Mix engineer: Andrew Dawson
  • Assistant engineers: Dale Parsons, Andy Marcinkowski
14 "Good Night"

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Jason Miller, Abert Daniels, A. Reid,
    Ewart Beckford, William Maragh
  • Producer: Kanye West
  • Additional vocals: Al Be Back, Mos Def
  • Samples: "Nuff Man A Dead" by Supercat, "Wake The Town" by U-Roy
15 "Bittersweet Poetry"

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Ireland September 7, 2007 CD, digital download Universal
United Kingdom September 10, 2007 CD, LP, digital download Mercury
United States September 11, 2007 CD, LP, digital download Roc-a-Fella

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