The most interesting song on the album is the ode to Jay-Z titled Big Brother. It’s is unclear if this is really an “ode” per se, as Kanye approaches the song as if he is about to simply give praise but reminds the listener that Jay was also the person that he perceives to have held him down. The reality is that Kanye looks at Jay with the same sibling rivalry and resentment that younger brothers harbor for their older siblings. Whether or not Jay has ever held back Kanye doesn't matter much to Kanye. Instead he feels that he may never get the same credit that Jay-Z has received over the years.

Oh but it isn't all great kids, Graduation is flawed more than any other Kanye release. This time it is because Kanye himself has become his own worst enemy. The issues stem from the fact that nothing really delivers the “Oh Shit” factor aside from Flashing Lights and the brilliant Daft Punk flip in Stronger. While there are many head snapping moments delivered on Graduation, there isn’t a mind blowing song like Two Words, or a fit of neck snapping drums like Crack Music present. Definitely not saying that Kanye coasts on his third outing, but his bag of tricks do not contain the element of surprise that one may expect.

Graduation turns out to be an album that’s mindset sits right in the middle of College Dropout and Late Registration. For the most part, if Graduation was revealed to be a bunch of songs that didn’t make College Dropout or Late Registration, I don’t think anyone could argue the statement. Case in point, Champion feels very College Dropout like with its chopped up Steely Dan sample being dragged relentlessly for almost three minutes. On the flip side, the silky smooth Everything I Am feels like it had been recorded towards the end of Late Registration. Even the progressive lyrics and subtle wit that Kanye displays on Everything I Am can be classified as Kanye circa 2005.

There are also a couple of hiccups that become awfully blaring for a trim 13 track offering. Drunk And Hot Girls is a definite head scratcher that seems like it was fun as fuck to make with Mos Def in the studio, but doesn’t really turn the same trick when listened to in the context of this particular album. What seems to become the prerequisite before dropping an album, a Lil Wayne appearance, is entirely too forced and out of place on Graduation. Nothing on Barry Bonds feels like it’s there because of necessity to accelerate the artistic nature of the album. Instead, the Lil Wayne guest spot seems utterly ridiculous and not to mention cookie cutter, especially for Kanye’s always racing mind. Combine all this with the fact that the school theme that was so prevailing on his previous releases has almost non-existent here – except for the title - and you have a flawed album.

So is Graduation a failure? Not by any means. Kanye’s biggest opponent is himself and while he does make another great album, it doesn’t surpass his debut and falls right in line with Late Registration. But compared to all the other bullshit that’s out? Kanye has created another must have album that will continuously bump on your CD players and MP3s for months to come. That’s the state of Hip Hop music in 2007 kids.