Kanye West - Graduation
Critic Score
Based on 20 reviews
2007 Ratings: #183 / 707
Year End Rank: #14
User Score
2007 Ratings: #18
Liked by 1468 people
Sign In to rate and review

CRITIC REVIEWS

90
Rolling Stone

On Graduation, West tries hard to address the problems on his first two albums, and succeeds: The new disc is tighter than Late Registration (fifty-one minutes long), with no skits (thank heavens) and less ornate production.

90
HipHopDX

Lyrically, Kanye continues to step his game up. He sprinkles his wit and cleverness over Graduation with slick one liners ... while still delivering self-conscious rhymes that break the mold of bling and things rap heard on the radio today.

87
Pitchfork

Though it doesn't quite match College Dropout or Late Registration in pleasure-center overload, Kanye West's third album is both his most consistent and most enterprising yet, indicating that he might actually deserve the legendary status he constantly ascribes to himself.

85
Prefix

Pretty much every aspect of his third full-length, Graduation, reflects this bigger and grander Kanye, far removed from the one that many fell in love with on his highly anticipated 2004 debut, The College Dropout, but certainly no less talented.

83
A.V. Club

Fascinatingly flawed, Graduation finds an imperfect man seeking, and occasionally finding, perfection in his music.

80
The Observer

Graduation gives constant fleeting glimpses of a very different Kanye West. And this one is in the grip of a grave existential crisis.

80
The Guardian

For those not interested in unpicking West's Gordian knot of insecurities, Graduation offers several instances of brilliant, questing pop.

80
XXL

After setting a precedent for kickin’ the truth to the youth, ’Ye squanders the opportunity here by opting to make his third dissertation basic, resulting in more bark than bite.

80
PopMatters
For all of his apparent ego-tripping, awkwardness is the key quality of Kanye West’s persona, whether he’s aware of it or not.
80
NOW Magazine
West delivers another failsafe collection of sharp, soulful songs, exposing his new affinity for synths and electronic drums while adding new lyrical ground to that campus-sized ego.
80
SPIN

West’s third album is mesmerizing and alienating, like all the purest forms of pop culture.

80
AllMusic

Graduation is neither as bold nor as scattered as The College Dropout, and it's neither as extroverted nor as sonically rich as Late Registration. Kanye still makes up for his shortcomings as an MC and lyricist by remaining charmingly clumsy, frequently dealing nonsense through suspect rhyme schemes.

70
No Ripcord
While another concise and accomplished release from an immensely talented rapper, it fails to really deliver the one thing Kanye's always excelled at: beauty.
69
Coke Machine Glow

As bad as Graduation can often get, it's constantly compelling in how it splays the conflicted makings of its maker.

67
Entertainment Weekly

Sadly, Graduation doesn’t quite establish West as the supreme double threat he dreams of being.

60
NME
‘Graduation’ isn’t a bad album – he’s got away with it. But sometimes you feel hip-hop’s saviour is taking the maxim “genius steals” rather too literally.
60
Record Collector

Graduation isn’t bad, it’s just nothing new.

60
Tiny Mix Tapes

Like a good term paper, much of Graduation sounds great in theory but flounders in its execution.

60
Slant Magazine

Graduation is worth note in the sense that it offers proof Kanye isn’t on the five-year plan ... but I’m sort of looking forward to hearing the next album built around the disillusionment of his first entry-level position.

40
Drowned in Sound

He’s got that hit-making part down pat... it’s just that he can’t make good hits anymore.

BradTasteMusic
71

Who the hell thought Drunk and Hot Girls was a good song to put on this?

Toasterqueen12
100

"But Toaster Queen" you say "this album has Barry Bonds!"

"Very true" I say

"And Hot and Drunk Girls!"

"Also true" I say

"So why do you think this is Kanye's best?"

"Why do I think this Kanye's best? WHY DO I THINK THIS IS KANYE'S BEST!? I don't know actually"

It just makes me happy, I have nothing else to say.

MattsReviews
80

It's okay guys, I'm the real one who made this album!

Euphorix
80

Best song: I Wonder
Worst Song: Barry Bonds

Curlysreviews
97

This is a fantastic album, the first album I’ve listened to all the way, and one of my favorite albums. Has alot of underrated songs, A lot of Kanye’s best songs on here. But Barry bonds has never grown on me. And Lil Wayne’s verse really sucked on that song where it’s a skip for me. Despite the lower score than the blueprint, I’d still listen to this more. The reason why blueprint is higher is cause renegade is not a bad song, it just doesn’t fit on the ... read more

83

this album was ahead of its time

Purchasing Graduation from Amazon helps support Album of the Year. Or consider a donation?
Become a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Advertisement

Track List

1Good Morning
3:15
91
2Champion
2:47
89
3Stronger
5:11
92
4I Wonder
4:03
94
5Good Life
3:27
feat. T-Pain
86
6Can't Tell Me Nothing
4:31
90
7Barry Bonds
3:24
feat. Lil Wayne
71
8Drunk and Hot Girls
5:13
feat. Mos Def
56
9Flashing Lights
3:57
feat. Dwele
95
10Everything I Am
3:47
89
11The Glory
3:32
83
12Homecoming
3:23
91
13Big Brother
4:47
86
Total Length: 51 minutes

Please stay on topic. To go off topic, head to the General Chat.

Sign in to comment
5d
5d
1w
2w