Graduation (album)
Graduation is the third studio album by American rapper Kanye West. It was released on 11 September 2007. The title continues the college related titles Choosing the preceding works, The College Dropout and Late Registration. Graduation was awarded 2x platinum. At the Grammy Awards, the album won in three categories, including Best Rap Album. West is now next to Eminem the only rapper to have won in this category three times. The cover and the music video for "Good Morning " was designed by the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.
- 4.1 success
- 4.2 reviews
Background
Advance
In June 2007, Kanye West moved the release of the album on 19 August to 11 September, which it now appeared the same day as 50 Cent Curtis. The resulting fueled rivalry, let the rappers make more daring statement. So 50 Cent finally announced that he wanted to end his career, Curtis would sell in the first week, no better than Graduation. Critics raised the concern that the entire rivalry was a PR stunt only what was later confirmed by both artists. Nevertheless, the marketing strategy worked, and both albums have sold very well. Worldwide, the West contest to decide for themselves, and this is particularly the success in the strongest market, the United States due. 50 Cent was able to prevail in Europe, however. In retrospect, both rapper admitted that the rivalry was mostly a marketing strategy.
Content and style
West wanted to create an album that can perform well in large stadiums and concert halls. It was to be 250 days a year on the stage His job. He wanted to make this job easier. Content should be a time recording of 2007 album. If someone wanted to travel back in time to the year 2007, he would be taking Graduation. Noticeable is this to various references to actual events such as the drug scandal of Kate Moss in Stronger or on the doping affair Barry Bonds in the same title.
Title list
* Singles
As bonus tracks were released:
- Good Night (iTunes / Australia / Japan / UK)
- Bittersweet Poetry (Australian / iTunes / Japan pre-order bonus track)
- Can not Tell Me Nothing ( Remix) (feat. Young Jezzy )
Samples and Features
Good Morning used samples from Someone Saved My Life Tonight by Elton John and an a cappella version of Jay -Z's The Ruler 's Back. At Champion Steely Dan's Kid Charlemagne parts are used for Stronger is Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk, when I Wonder Labi Siffres My Song, at Goodlife parts of Michael Jackson's PYT (Pretty Young Thing ) and sampled at Can not Tell Me Nothing Young Jeezys I Got Money. T -Pain, Lil Wayne, Mos Def, Dwele, Chris Martin and Al Be Back who features on the album.
Reception
Success
Graduation sold 957,000 times in its first week in the United States. It seemed as if this would be the highest earnings in 2007 until Lil Wayne's album Tha Carter III stormed the charts and Graduation trumped scarce. Worldwide, Graduation could sell in the first week of 1,153,000 times.
On 15 January 2008, the album by the RIAA was awarded 2x platinum.
In Germany Graduation rose in the 39th calendar week of the year 2007 at No. 10 of the album charts. Overall, the recordings could hold five weeks in the list of 100 best-selling albums.
Reviews
Graduation was rated by the critics was largely positive. Rolling Stone magazine wrote: " ... This is an album that you first like and love later." Overall, it was rather Wests talent praised as a songwriter and producer as his skills as a performer.