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Graduation Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 1249 Ratings

Top Track

Stronger
Work it, make it, do it, makes us Harder, better, faster, stronger N-now th-that that don't kill me Can only make me stronger I need you to hurry... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 32
  2. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Musically, at least, it’s the most accomplished thing he’s ever done.
  2. West crosses genres with wilful and speedy abandon, taking the listener on an epic quest where the journey is just as enjoyable and unpredictable as the destination.
  3. West's writing and delivery has improved since "The College Dropout," though they're still marked by both a cleverness and a clumsiness.
  4. Spin
    80
    West's third album is memerizing and alienating, like all the purest forms of pop culture. [Nov 2007, p.114]
  5. The album lacks the flab of previous efforts and, where he's been guilty of hiding behind guests before, the contributions are (perhaps inadvisably in retrospect) kept to a minimum. Sadly though, the grandstanding and chest beating take their toll on both Graduation's aesthetic and the listener's patience.
  6. West's vocal mediocrity wouldn't be so glaring if the production were more of a diversion. There are no truly tragic compositions on Graduation--though the droning ''Drunk and Hot Girls'' could have been half as irritating at twice the speed--but most of the music just seems uninspired.
  7. Graduation is consistent, yes, but it's consistently boring.

See all 32 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 23 out of 209
  1. JaleelW.
    Sep 11, 2007
    10
    Kanye's best and a shoe-in for Album of the Year at the Grammys. R.I.P. 50 Cent. His retirement will spawn a new revolution in rap.
  2. AlexS.
    Nov 7, 2007
    10
    The Classic...
  3. May 8, 2011
    10
    By far one of Kanye's best albums. And definetely one of my favourites too.
  4. HynekH.
    Sep 15, 2007
    9
    Great album. Cool sound, good guests.
  5. Mar 17, 2020
    8
    Graduation is the final production in Kanye West's "Dropout Bear" trilogy and contains some of Kanyes' most popular songs and tracks thatGraduation is the final production in Kanye West's "Dropout Bear" trilogy and contains some of Kanyes' most popular songs and tracks that shaped his career as a whole. Some of those tracks being Stronger, Good Life, Can't Tell Me Nothing, and Flashing Lights. And all of those tracks work just as well as singles as they do part of this project. Another thing that is a big plus to graduation is that I could listen to it over and over again as a Kanye fan and as a music fan because of the well produced instrumentals, and Kanye Wests bars being just as good as they were on Late Registration. Another very extraordinary thing about this album is the pacing. Something that's very common in a Kanye West "Dropout Bear" album is that there is 2-3 skits. And during this album we see Kanye become a more focused and driven artist. But the skits were kind of something that a lot of fans appreciate about Kanyes early days. They were almost like a breath of fresh air, not from bad songs but a breath of fresh air of seriousness that was in the album. Personally I do think getting rid of the skits was a good idea because as a result the collection feels more cohesive and free flowing. But while I do think this album has some of Kanyes best pacing in his discography. This is still not one of my favorite albums from him. The reason why that is lies in the tracks, Barry Bonds, Drunk and Hot Girls, and Everything I Am. These songs instrumentals and rhythm sound very 2007 and as a result, very dated. I know that rap in 2007 was at this odd time when it didn't necessarily know what it wanted to be, but I just can't see myself choosing to listen to Barry Bonds over Stronger, or Flashing Lights. In a very tight nutshell, Graduation is a well produced and, well made with extremely catchy songs, and Kanye turning a new page in his career. Very solid album, 8/10 Expand
  6. JasonH.
    Sep 11, 2007
    8
    Graduation is maybe Kanyes best cd
  7. ChrisW.
    Sep 10, 2007
    0
    If he would only stick to producing... Sorry Kanye, but you can't rap! You're disgracing the Hip-Hop Community with this garbage.

See all 209 User Reviews