The new Kanye dropped on Tuesday. Longtime readers will recall that I am quite enamored with both the hip-hop genre and with Mr. Kanye West.
You may recall my earlier post about the official mixtape, which previewed the Graduation album and also included a couple tracks featuring raps over indie rock, specifically Thom Yorke and Peter Bjorn & John. In addition, some other album tracks have leaked over the summer, so I had some sense of what the final album would be like.
Since Tuesday, I have been listening to Graduation nonstop.
The new album will mark a natural trilogy, with the earlier The College Dropout (2004) and Late Registration (2005). There is a temptation to attempt to rank these works in some sort of hierarchy. Has each album gotten progressively better? Is this one as good as his last? I will resist this urge. Graduation is very good; it has parts that are stronger, but no real weaknesses. Each album of his has had unique features, which make direct comparisons difficult.
The first single from the album, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” fits comfortably with other standard-issue hip-hop songs. The second single, “Stronger,” samples dance band Daft Punk and is produced in the manner of a club song. The third single, “The Good Life,” is more pop-oriented. These differing styles are not evidence that Kanye is trying to provide a little something for everybody, hitting all the necessary demographics. To me, this is evidence that Kanye is always trying to expand the vocabulary of hip-hop.
As I have said before, what I admire about Kanye is not just that he’s a great producer, of hip-hop or anything else. He has attracted a lot of attention during his career for what appears to be a raging ego. Based on interviews, I feel that what drives him is that he wants to make the best music possible. He doesn’t want adulation or financial rewards just for nothing. He wants to be the best and to be recognized for it.
Aside from that, the thing I love about Kanye is that he persists in revealing his contradictions. He speaks from the heart. He says a lot of stupid things. He’ll call himself out for his own arrogance. An egotistical rapper is not rare; one that will reveal complexities to his persona is.
Kanye is often criticized for his verbal delivery, his flow (or lack thereof). To me, the strengths of his lyrics have always been a simple directness, akin to better rappers as Tony Bennett is to Frank Sinatra.
One of the secret ingredients of the new album is the vocals of Connie Mitchell, lead singer of the Australian dance act Sneaky Sound System, who is featured on seven of Graduation’s songs.
I have picked out two songs. It was a difficult selection. Some of the songs that initially left me cold, I then warmed up to after a few listens. “Flashing Lights” features vocals from Dwele and Connie Mitchell; this mix by DJ Benzi also drops in a verse from Clipse (at 1:45). The strings and keyboard are incredible. “Everything I Am” is built around a sped-up sample from “If We Can’t Be Lovers” by Prince Phillip Mitchell. That’s DJ Premier scratching up a sample of Chuck D from Public Enemy’s “Bring the Noise.”
Kanye West ft. Dwele & Clipse – Flashing Lights (DJ Benzi Refix) — BUY
Kanye West – Everything I Am — BUY
Tags: Kanye West, Graduation, hip-hop, MP3s