Artist: Kanye West Colaboratori: Chris Martin (vocals); DJ Premier (scratches); Dwele, Lil Wayne, Mos Def, T-Pain. Componenta trupei: Connie Mitchell, Tanya Herron (vocals); Young Jeezy (rap vocals); Mike Dean (guitars); Gloria Justen, Luigi Mazzocchi
Gen: Hip Hop, Pop Rap, Alternative Hip Hop Limba: Engleza Durata: 53 min Sunet: Stereo Inregistrat: Studio Marca: Def Jam (USA) / Roc-a-Fella Catalog No: B000RG1FMO / DEJ B000954102 Given the remarkable critical and commercial success of 2005's LATE REGISTRATION, Kanye West's rich, rewarding sophomore release, expectations were high for 2007's GRADUATION. Ever savvy, West flouts those expectations by delivering a record that delivers curveballs while staying true to his sharply sculpted, commercially minded m.o. West's rapping, never his greatest strength, is still entertaining. He delivers witty, smart, sometimes absurd rhymes (he seems to take more lyrical chances on GRADUATION) that fit nicely with the overall feel of his tracks. As usual, it's West's productions that stand out. While there are examples of his style-defining use of classic R&B samples and background choirs (as on the feel-good highlight "I Wonder"), West streamlines his sound to center on synth-driven lines, giving many of the tracks a retro-electro new wave feel. "Stronger," for example, another standout, is powered by a vocoder-drenched vocal sample, which implies that West might have been listening to more Kraftwerk than Motown to get hyped. The overall results make for a fun, inventive album that offers proof that West still has tricks up his sleeve.