Review: Kanye West: Graduation

"Damn they don't make them like this anymore." -Lyrics from "Stronger", West's 2^nd single from his latest Album.

This quote sets the tone for Kanye's up and coming LP, Graduation.

Charismatic hip-hop superstar and multiple Grammy award-winner Kanye West is the type of artist that doesn't give out secrets of the projects he works on; especially when it comes to revealing information about his much-awaited new album, Graduation.

August 21^st 2007, the secret is out.

Graduation will be the third major label album release from the Roc-A-Fella soul-sampling Emcee/Producer Kanye West. The album is slated to drop this August 21st, 2007. The recently turned 30 year old, has already pushed the first two singles off the album. The first single from the album was the DJ Toomp-assisted track 'Can't Tell Me Nothing'.

The second single, "Stronger," stepped out the box and sampled Daft Punk's electronic house sound. Moreover the music video for "Stronger" has plenty of Japanese references from art, culture, and even Japanese writing. Following that theme, Japanese Artist Takash Murakami is directing the cover Artwork for the album. Kanye is known for pushing the hip hop envelope, and his latest Graduation is set to break new grounds.

Of course West heads his own project, but a few other producers are along for the ride including Jon Brion, Sa-Ra, and DJ Toomp. Kanye's distinctive mastery of balancing hip hop story-telling and lyricism, with the commercial elements from the mainstream is set to bring ceased arguments to the tiresome "hip hop is dead" dispute. Witty Word play matched with a genuine cockiness forces fans and critics alike to take note of the 'Original Louis Vuitton Don."

This time around, Ye decided not to let any rappers have guest appearances on the album, aside from a minor Jeezy adlib. Why? "I don't have any rappers on my album. Not just because I'm trying to make a statement of being an MC - I want people to get into my album and zone out," he told MTV. Although the rumor is that there are remixes on the album with other emcees.

Kanye West's camp has been exceptionally stiff lipped about who will be featured on 'Graduation', but the CD is rumored to feature Coldplay's Chris Martin on the song 'Homecoming.' Also another track to look for features T-Pain and takes samples from Michael Jackson's "PYT" (pretty young thing).

Kanye West has also has revealed details of his forthcoming tour. Along with the album there will be the "Glow in the Dark Tour," a representative for Def Jam, said. But no tour dates have been confirmed as of yet, but the businessman in Kanye is always scheduled to plan in advance. Kanye hired Madonna's choreographer Jamie King to lend a hand in the tour production. With that said, you can expect a show. "I want to bring the level of entertainment up another level," West told MTV.com.

"At the end of the day, regardless of the 'he said/she said,' regardless of whatever shit I talk, whatever shit anybody else talks -come to the show and have a good time," West said.

In addition to his third release, Kanye is also producing Common's forthcoming album Finding Forever. West is also working with Lil Wayne on tracks for his much anticipated LP, "The Carter III."

Be sure to check out the heavily-awaited album "Graduation" as the crowned "hip hop savor" drops his 3^rd album just as the summer comes to close on August 21^st, 2007.