Kanye West’s third studio album, Graduation, was released on September 11, 2007. The album featured the singles “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” “Stronger,” “Good Life,” and “Champion.”
West had announced that Graduation would be his final studio album, and he would subsequently focus on his production career. However, he later retracted this statement, declaring that he would continue making albums.
Graduation debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 957,000 copies in its first week. It was West’s third consecutive number one album on the chart, and it made him the first artist to have three consecutive albums debut at number one. It also topped the charts in Canada and the United Kingdom.
The album has been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold over 3.2 million copies in the US.
Graduation was well received by music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on 31 reviews.
In his review for Rolling Stone, Jon Caramanica praised West’s evolving musical style and said, “He’s a genius, but he’s also human, and his ambitions outstrip his abilities at times. But that’s what makes Graduation so fascinating and addictive. It’s the sound of a superstar trying to escape his own shadow.”
AllMusic’s Andy Kellman said, “It’s not as consistent as College Dropout or Late Registration, but it’s more daring and musically diverse. It’s also more emotionally heavy, as West comes to grips with his newfound celebrity and all the temptations and responsibilities that come with it.”
In his review for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis wrote, “West has always been a performer more interested in showmanship than in the nuts and bolts of songwriting, but here, he sounds like a man who’s realized that, actually, he can have it both ways.”
Slant Magazine’s Sal Cinquemani said, “Ironically, it’s at the point on Graduation where West tries hardest to go against the grain that he sounds most like everyone else.”
The A.V. Club’s Nathan Rabin praised the album’s “effortless, breezy cool” and said, “It’s an accomplishment that such a densely packed album never feels overcrowded or overbearing.”
In his review for Entertainment Weekly, David Browne gave the album an A- rating and said, “West has created a mother lode of pop culture-defining anthems that should cement his place in the history books whether he wants it or not.”
Pitchfork’s Ryan Dombal said, “Graduation is a great album, but it’s not a perfect one. It’s long and it’s obsessive, and like all of West’s albums, it’s not as listenable as it should be.”
NME’s Hamish MacBain said, “For all its flaws, Graduation is still a great record. It’s Kanye’s most immediate and radio-friendly album yet, and it’s probably his most personal.”
In his review for The Observer, Kitty Empire wrote, “This is an album of such self-belief that it verges on the hubristic. And yet, it is also an album of vulnerability and doubt.”
Graduation has been ranked as one of the greatest albums of all time by several publications. In 2012, Rolling Stone placed it at number four on its list of the 500
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Is Graduation Kanye West’s best album?
Kanye West’s third studio album, Graduation, is often considered his best album. Released in 2007, the album has sold over 3.7 million copies in the United States and over 9 million copies worldwide.
The album’s lead single, “Stronger”, became West’s third number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and his second consecutive number-one single on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. The album’s second single, “Good Life”, featured T-Pain and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song.
Graduation received widespread acclaim from music critics and was ranked as one of the best albums of 2007 by several publications. It was nominated for Album of the Year at the 50th Grammy Awards and won three Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album.
West has cited Graduation as his favorite album, and in 2012, Rolling Stone ranked it number one on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
What is Kanye’s Graduation album cover?
Kanye West’s third studio album, Graduation, was released on September 11, 2007. The album’s cover art was designed by Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami. The cover features a large graduation cap, Murakami’s signature flowers, and a radial background. The design was influenced by Murakami’s artistic brand Superflat, which promotes the idea that there is a “flat” aesthetic in Japanese art and culture.
West was a big fan of Murakami and was introduced to the artist by American contemporary artist Larry Clark. Clark had previously photographed West for a magazine and showed Murakami some of West’s music. Murakami was impressed by West’s work and agreed to create the album cover.
The cover art was controversial upon release, with some people criticizing it for being too “childish”. However, most fans and critics praised the cover, with some calling it one of the best album covers of all time. The cover was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.
How many albums did Kanye West Graduation sell?
In 2007, Kanye West released his third studio album, Graduation. The album was a massive success, selling over 957,000 copies in its first week alone. To date, Graduation has sold over 3.1 million copies in the United States.
Did Kanye release a vinyl for Graduation?
Kanye West fans were delighted to hear the rapper was releasing a vinyl for his 2007 album Graduation. The vinyl was announced on the rapper’s website in early 2018 and was set to be released in March of that year.
The vinyl release was a special edition that would include the album’s 17 tracks, as well as two bonus tracks. It would also come with a booklet and poster.
Despite the initial excitement, the release date for the vinyl came and went with no sign of it. Fans were left wondering if the release had been cancelled.
Finally, in June 2018, the vinyl was made available for purchase on Kanye West’s website. It sold out within minutes.
While some lucky fans were able to get their hands on a copy, others were left disappointed. This has led to speculation that Kanye West may release another vinyl for Graduation in the future.
What is considered Kanye’s worst album?
Kanye West is one of the most successful and critically acclaimed hip-hop artists of all time. He has released six studio albums, all of which have been met with widespread critical acclaim. However, not all of Kanye’s albums have been commercial successes. In fact, his worst-selling album to date is his fifth studio album, “Yeezus”.
Released in 2013, “Yeezus” was met with mixed reviews from music critics. Many felt that the album was rushed and unfinished, while others praised its experimental sound. However, the album failed to achieve the commercial success of Kanye’s previous albums, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and selling only 327,000 copies in the United States.
Critics were particularly critical of the album’s abrasive sound and controversial lyrics. The song “I am a God”, for example, features the line “I am a God/Hurry up with my damn massage/In a French-ass restaurant/Hurry up with my damn croissants”. The song “New Slaves” is also criticized for its lyrics about racism and materialism.
While “Yeezus” is not considered Kanye’s worst album overall, it is considered his worst album by many music critics. It failed to achieve the commercial success of his previous albums and was met with mixed reviews from critics.
What is Kanye’s biggest song?
Kanye West is one of the most successful and popular rappers in the world. He has released numerous hit songs over the years, but which one is his biggest?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on personal preferences. However, some of Kanye’s biggest songs include “Gold Digger,” “Stronger,” “Heartless,” and “All of the Lights.”
“Gold Digger” was released in 2005 and became an instant hit. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified triple platinum.
“Stronger” was released in 2007 and also became a massive hit. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified quadruple platinum.
“Heartless” was released in 2008 and became one of Kanye’s most successful songs. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified quintuple platinum.
“All of the Lights” was released in 2010 and became one of Kanye’s biggest hits. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified sextuple platinum.
What is Kanye’s best album?
Kanye West is a rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to fame in the late 1990s as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records. West’s first solo album, The College Dropout, was released in 2004 to widespread critical and commercial success. He went on to release a series of commercially and critically successful albums, including Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). His critically acclaimed album, Yeezus (2013), was met with polarizing reviews but was commercially successful.
West has won several awards, including 21 Grammy Awards. He is one of the most commercially successful musicians of all time, having sold more than 100 million records.
So, what is Kanye West’s best album?
There is no easy answer to this question. West has released several critically and commercially successful albums, each of which has its own fans.
Some people might say that The College Dropout is Kanye’s best album, while others might prefer My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. It really depends on individual preferences.
Overall, West has had an incredible career and has released some amazing music. His albums are definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of hip-hop or rap music.
