Artist: Kanye West

BBC’s Portland studios yesterday played host to an exclusive playback of Kanye West’s new album Graduation with the Graduate himself in attendance. Hosted by 1Xtra and Trevor Nelson in particular, the invite only event had many an industry knob (and us) clambering for a ticket. Once gathered, the assembly patiently waited way past the allotted time of Kanye’s arrival, peering at the empty stage through the pairs of sunglasses (you know the ones he wears in the Stronger video), before Trevor announced that Kon was in the building.
When he finally arrived clad in a cardigan and diamonds, he first ran through some questions from Nelson before playing the new album in it’s full entirety direct from his own laptop (via a huge-arse speaker system of course) before answering questions from an in-awe-audience. Speaking to Trevor, ‘Ye described his album as “people music cos all people go through hardships, not just rappers. And most of us do that without killing people!”
Breaking down the lack of guest appearances and skits in comparison to previous efforts West explains, “There’s just serious songs, hooks, chords and ideas. No special effects or antics,” before joking, “and no fake Bernie Mac!” The seriousness is in response to a lot of heat the Louis Vuitton Don has been getting from various sectors, “This album is like what made Muhammad Ali great. Sure he’s remembered for being a great fighter, but he’s also remembered for getting up off the mat whenever he was knocked down.”

So what does Kanye’s comeback round sound like? Read past the tracklisting to find out what we thought about his graduation ceremony…

Tracklisting:

1. Good Morning
2. I Wonder
3. Champion
4. Stronger
5. Skit
6. Can’t Tell Me Nothing
7. Good Life (Feat. T-Pain)
8. The Glory
9. Barry Bonds (Feat. Lil’ Wayne)
10. Flashing Lights (Feat. Dwele)
11. Drunk & Hot Girls (Feat. Mos Def)
12. Skit
13. Everything I Am
14. Homecoming (Feat. Chris Martin)
15. Big Brother
16. Goodbye (Feat. Mos Def & Al Be) (*Bonus Track*)

After Trevor Nelson had left the stage, Kanye immediately asked the light technician to turn down the stage lights cos he didn’t wanna have to take of his ‘fly-ass sweater,’ before whipping out his laptop and connecting it to the speakers. We were treated to some exclusive material that West has been working on with Lil Wayne whilst he adjusted the sound levels, so that we heard Graduation at it’s optimum hearing level, though it would probably have sounded amazing even if we’d heard it through tinny lap top speakers.
Album opener Good Morning is a combination of old skool boom-bap drums, haunting chants and a sonic orchestra which provides the musical layers throughout the album. On the vocals Kanye compares conquering life’s struggles to graduating whilst maintaining bravado levels with lines such as, “I’m like the fly Malcolm X, buy any jeans necessary.” Lyrically the album sees West showcase his improved lyricism but it’s his production that takes centre stage on the second track as Kon’s fragmented flow shadows the beat. I Wonder is a myriad of sounds intertwined with an addictive sample that evolves over four minutes whilst ‘Ye occasionally responds to the negative barbs that have been thrown his way. Late Registration featured the mother’s day favourite Hey Mama and ‘Ye addresses his paternal guardian whilst also aiming to inspire the ‘kids’ with a positive, upbeat joint Champion
Even though it’s hit number three in the charts over here and has repeated a similar feat stateside, Kanye still wasn’t happy with Stronger when he heard it in a club alongside Timbaland’s Way I Are which is his favourite beat at the moment. So he dragged Timbo into the studio and got him to redo the drums on the track, ‘for people who look fly’ so we were treated to the new version, though to be honest I didn’t realise there was anything different until West mentioned it. Another staple of Kanye’s albums have been a saturation of ridiculous skits (apparently some people like them) but the no nonsense Kanye is done with them and instead there are two musical interludes, both of which are very earthy and natural incorporating African sounds and percussion. Next up was the other previously heard track Can’t Tell Me Nothing which Kon revealed didn’t include a sample but the doomful ‘oh-oh-oh-oh’s actually come from the voice-box of Connie from the Sneaky Sound System.
The next video from the LP will be fore Good Life. A feel-good electric offering in the style of Arrested Development, featuring the vocoder talents of T-Pain, Kanye encourages listeners to have fun and throw their ‘hands up in the sky’. Funnily enough West revealed that he wasn’t too fond of the Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. sampling track, but was pressured into releasing it by Def Jam, though he doesn’t harbour any ill feeling to his label. Whatever Kanyeezee may feel, we liked it! After that we had another potential single (though they all sounded like bloody singles!) with The Glory It’s more of a traditional Kanye production with clever use of a soul sample, and West reels off boastful bars such as “I stand in Speedos and still look like a f*cking hero,” over pacey drums. This is followed by the most Kanye’s most lyrical performance on the now available (go to your nearest download dealer) Barry Bonds where the braggadocio is upped by the inclusion of the only guest verse on the album in the form of Lil’ Wayne. The straight hip hop track was felt so much by the audience and Kanye himself, that he cut off the next track Flashing Lights about 10 seconds in so that he could play Barry Bonds again! When Flashing Lights eventually was played it unravelled a dramatic, Dwele featuring ditty about relationships where West lets a girl now that she, “can’t Rome without Caesar.”
Females were on the agenda again as Kon zoned out to the eerie Drunk & Hot Girls where he slowly sings about the manoeuvring around intoxicated women, with sang additions from Mos Def as well. Afterwards Kanye revealed that this defines his life, “more than any other record.” What was thought to be a sarcastic comment and met with a few laughs in the audience soon subsided after seeing the sincerity on West’s face. After the second of the two skits the hugely introspective Everything I Am where he laments the hallmarks of being a popular hip hop artist, coupling the gossip and the rumours with the popularisation of crime and violence. Rhyming over and around old skool hip hop drums and scratching from DJ Premier, ‘Ye confesses “Everything I’m not, made me everything I am.” A different Chris Martin turns up on the next song Homecoming where Coldplay’s lead singer provides the hook and possible the piano playing. An original version of this leaked with The College Dropout advance, but ‘Ye has gone to town and revamped the tale of his long put off return back home after finding his fame and fortune.
The 15th and final track was severely hyped up before it’s play by Kanye as he divulged that he felt it was the most important, best and career-defining record he’s ever made. With such a huge build up, everyone held their breath to see if it was as good as West said it was. Maybe not the best track he’s ever made, but it was very big! Chronicling his complete relationship with Jay-Z, Big Brother gives thanks, and details his respect for Jigga as well as question some decisions and allow ‘Ye to get some things off his chest. Explaining his decision to make the track Kanye states, “I wanted to show that he’s an idol in my eyes, as well as a god in the game.”

So there you have it. Graduation. September 10. Buy it!

Words By Rajveer Kathwadia

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