Graduation (album)
2007 album by American rapper Kanye West
Graduation is the third studio album by American hip hop recording artist and producer Kanye West. It was released on September 11, 2007 on Roc-A-Fella Records. It is also West's last album to be influenced by a college theme in both the album's title and artwork.
Graduation | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 11, 2007 | |||
Recorded | 2005–2007 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 51:12 | |||
Label | Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam | |||
Producer | Kanye West (exec.), Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua (exec.) Gus Dudgeon, Jon Brion, Warryn Campbell, Mike Dean, DJ Toomp, Eric Hudson, Daft Punk, Edwin Birdsong, Brian Miller, Nottz, Patrick Reynolds, Gee Robertson | |||
Kanye West chronology | ||||
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Singles from Graduation | ||||
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Critical reception
changeProfessional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 79/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
The A.V. Club | B+[3] |
Robert Christgau | A−[4] |
The Guardian | [5] |
Los Angeles Times | [6] |
NME | 6/10[7] |
Pitchfork Media | 8.7/10[8] |
Rolling Stone | [9] |
Slant Magazine | [10] |
Spin | 8/10[11] |
Graduation received general acclaim from music critics.[12]
Track listing
changeNo. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Good Morning" (featuring Connie Mitchell, Tony Williams & Jay-Z) | Kanye West, Gus Dudgeon | 3:15 |
2. | "Champion" (featuring Connie Mitchell) | Kanye West, Brian Miller | 2:47 |
3. | "Stronger" (featuring Daft Punk) | Kanye West, Mike Dean*, Daft Punk, Edwin Birdsong | 5:11 |
4. | "I Wonder" (featuring Labi Siffre) | Kanye West | 4:03 |
5. | "Good Life" (featuring T-Pain, John Legend & Ne-Yo) | Kanye West, DJ Toomp, Mike Dean** | 3:27 |
6. | "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (featuring Connie Mitchell) | Kanye West, DJ Toomp | 4:30 |
7. | "Barry Bonds" (featuring Lil Wayne) | Nottz, Kanye West* | 3:24 |
8. | "Drunk and Hot Girls" (featuring Tanya Herron & Mos Def) | Kanye West, Jon Brion** | 5:13 |
9. | "Flashing Lights" (featuring Dwele & Connie Mitchell) | Kanye West, Eric Hudson | 3:57 |
10. | "Everything I Am" (featuring DJ Premier) | Kanye West | 3:47 |
11. | "The Glory" (featuring John Legend, Mos Def, Jalil Williams & Jehireh Williams) | Kanye West, Gee Robertson*, Plain Pat* | 3:32 |
12. | "Homecoming" (featuring Chris Martin) | Kanye West, Warryn Campbell | 3:23 |
13. | "Big Brother" | DJ Toomp | 4:47 |
iTunes bonus track | |||||||||
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No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length | ||||||
14. | "Good Night" (featuring Al Be Back & Mos Def) | Kanye West | 3:06 |
Alternative Business Partners bonus track[13][14] | |||||||||
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No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length | ||||||
14. | "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (Remix featuring Connie Mitchell & Young Jeezy) | Kanye West, DJ Toomp | 4:08 |
UK bonus tracks | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length | ||||||
14. | "Good Night" (featuring Al Be Back & Mos Def) | Kanye West | 3:06 | ||||||
15. | "Stronger" (featuring Daft Punk) (A-Trak Remix) | Kanye West, Mike Dean*, Daft Punk, Edwin Birdsong | 4:34 |
Japan bonus tracks | |||||||||
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No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length | ||||||
14. | "Good Night" (featuring Al Be Back & Mos Def) | Kanye West | 3:06 | ||||||
15. | "Bittersweet Poetry" (featuring John Mayer) | Kanye West | 4:01 |
France & Spotify bonus tracks[15][16] | |||||||||
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No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length | ||||||
14. | "Stronger" (featuring Daft Punk) (A-Trak Remix) | Kanye West, Mike Dean*, Daft Punk, Edwin Birdsong | 4:34 | ||||||
15. | "Stronger" (featuring Daft Punk) (Ad Remix Main) | Kanye West, Mike Dean*, Daft Punk, Edwin Birdsong | 4:48 |
• (*) designates co-producer
• (**) designates additional production
- Notes:[17]
- "Good Morning" contains samples of "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" by Elton John
- "Champion" contains elements of "Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan
- "Stronger" contains samples of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk
- "I Wonder" contains samples of "My Song" by Labi Siffre
- "Good Life" contains samples of "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" by Michael Jackson
- "Barry Bonds" contains samples of "Long Red" by Mountain
- "Drunk and Hot Girls" contains elements of "Sing Swan Song" performed by Can
- "Everything I Am" contains elements of "If We Can't Be Lovers" by Prince Phillip Mitchell and "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy
- "The Glory" contains samples of "Save the Country" by Laura Nyro, "Long Red" by Mountain
- "Good Night" contains samples of "Nuff Man a Dead" by Super Cat, "Wake The Town" by U-Roy
- "Bittersweet Poetry" interpolates "Bittersweet" by Chairmen of the Board
Personnel
changeCredits adapted from liner notes.[17]
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Charts
change
Weekly chartschange
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Year-end chartschange
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Certifications
changeRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[46] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[47] | 2× Platinum | 160,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[48] | Platinum | 20,000 |
Ireland (IRMA)[49] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Japan (RIAJ)[50] | Gold | 0^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[52] | Gold | 7,500^ |
Russia (NFPF)[54] | Gold | 10,000* |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[55] | Gold | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] | Platinum | 600,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[58] | 2× Platinum | 2,700,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
References
change- ↑ name=metacritic
- ↑ Kellman, Andy. Review: Graduation. Allmusic. Retrieved on October 6, 2009.
- ↑ Rabin, Nathan (September 11, 2007). "Kanye West: Graduation". The A.V. Club. Chicago. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide". MSN Music: October 1, 2007. Archived from the original Archived 2009-12-19 at the Wayback Machine on 2009-10-06.
- ↑ Lynskey, Dorian (September 7, 2007). "Kanye West, Graduation". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
- ↑ Powers, Ann. Hip-hop's Man of Two Minds. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on October 6, 2009.
- ↑ Pattison, Louis (September 13, 2005). "NME Reviews – Kanye West: Graduation". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved September 13, 2007.
- ↑ Pytlik, Mark. September 11, 2007. Review: Graduation. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2009-10-06.
- ↑ Brackett, Nathan. Review: Graduation Archived 2012-06-14 at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on October 6, 2009.
- ↑ Henderson, Eric. Review: Graduation. Slant Magazine. Retrieved on June 13, 2010.
- ↑ Aaron, Charles (November 2007). "Doo Wah Diddy". Spin. SPIN Media LLC: 114. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
- ↑ Kanye West: Graduation (2007): Reviews. Metacritic. Accessed September 2, 2015.
- ↑ "Graduation Kanye West - Album, singles et concerts sur Virgin Mega". Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ↑ "Graduation (Alternative Business Partners)". January 1, 2007.
- ↑ "Graduation + 2 remixes Kanye West - Album, singles et concerts sur Virgin Mega". Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ↑ "Graduation (French Limited Version)". September 11, 2007 – via open.spotify.com.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Graduation (Media notes). Kanye West. Roc-A-Fella Records. 2007.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ↑ 18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 18.11 18.12 18.13 18.14 18.15 "Kanye West – Graduation". aCharts.us. 2007. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2007.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kanye West – Graduation" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
- ↑ "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
- ↑ Sexton, Paul (September 24, 2007). "Kingston, Blunt Rule On U.K. Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ↑ "Japanese Oricon Top 30 Albums". Oricon. Oricon, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2007. (in Japanese)
- ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100: 16 September 2007 - 22 September 2007". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
- ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
- ↑ "Kanye West Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
- ↑ "Kanye West Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ↑ "Kanye West Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
- ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2012. 11. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ↑ "2019 44-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. November 4, 2019. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ↑ "Top 200 Albums – October 31, 2019". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- ↑ "Top 100 Albums 2007". ARIA. Archived from the original on July 28, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ↑ "European Top 100 Albums (Year end) 2007". Billboard. January 13, 2008. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Jahreshitparaden 2007". Swiss Music Charts. Hung Medien (in German). Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
- ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums (Year end) 2007". Billboard. January 13, 2008. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Year end)". Billboard. January 13, 2008. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ↑ "Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2007" (PDF). IFPI. Archived from the original on April 10, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ↑ "Top 50 Urban Albums 2008". ARIA. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ↑ "UK Albums Chart 2008" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums (Year end)". Billboard. January 13, 2009. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Year end)". Billboard. January 13, 2009. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
- ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums (Year end)". Billboard. December 9, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ↑ "Top 100 Urban Albums 2017". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- ↑ "Top 100 Urban Albums 2018". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- ↑ "Top 100 Urban Albums 2019". ARIA Charts. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Kanye West – Graduation". Music Canada. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ↑ "Danish album certifications – Kanye West – Graduation". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 19, 2019. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2018 to obtain certification.
- ↑ "2007 Certification Awards – Platinum". The Irish Charts. IRMA. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Kanye West – Graduation" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ↑ ??????????? 2007?10? (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). November 10, 2007. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
- ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Kanye West – Graduation". Recorded Music NZ.
- ↑ "Chart #1591: Graduation Gold certification". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. November 19, 2007. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
- ↑ "Russian album certifications – Kanye West – Graduation" (in Russian). National Federation of Phonogram Producers (NFPF). Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Graduation')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ↑ "Swiss Certifications – Awards 2008". SwissCharts.com. Hung Medien. 2008. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- ↑ "British album certifications – Kanye West – Graduation". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 19, 2019. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Graduation in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ↑ "Gold & Platinum – Graduation". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2011.