The Mac Weekly

Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: The Arts

Media Credit: www.starpulse.com Kanye West released "Graduation" last Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Believe it or not, Kanye West has grown up. Ever since he went from semi-known producer to rap superstar with two incredible albums, he's been probably the most arrogant and ridiculous persona in the music industry. Whether it was his award show tantrums or outrageous political "statements", Kanye never bit his tongue once. So it's a little strange that in the weeks leading up to the release of his third album, he stayed relatively quiet. He's even been the silent one in the whole 50 Cent vs. Kanye thing, which reeks of publicity stunt since both albums are being released under the same company. This maturation is displayed on "Graduation," a masterfully produced record that is his most impressive and cohesive piece of work to date.

This album is completely different from his previous efforts, and shows Kanye honing his craft as both an emcee and a producer. He's traded in his signature helium samples and orchestral strings for glitzy synthesizers and an overtone of electronic influence, making for an original and unique style consistent throughout the album. This is interesting because in the years prior to Kanye's success, he was an excellent but one-dimensional producer, rarely leaving his comfort zone. Musically, his evolution over his three albums is undeniable, and he continues to show why he is one of the most talented artists in rap.
Take the looped sample that kick-starts "Champion," a brilliantly simple production that combines all the staples of a vintage Kanye track with a reappearing synth and soft handclaps. From this song alone it's clear that West's delivery and breath control, two things that have always plagued him as an emcee, are much improved. This blends into the robotic, computerized single "Stronger," which fuses the familiar Daft Punk sample and some of the most addictive drum patterns of the year. I liked this song a lot when it came out this summer, and it only sounds better after seeing how perfectly it fits with the rest of the album.

Kanye turns each beat he makes into an event, from the swerving, warped club sound of "Drunk and Hot Girls" to the celebratory "Good Life," which features a vocal sample drowning under layers of synths. "The Glory" follows a similar trend, but with rising strings and a subtle drum pattern that leaves space for Kanye to explore more complex inflections and rhyme schemes.

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