Kanye West: Graduation

Kanye West: Graduation
Roc-A-Fella: 9/11/2007

Kanye West just keeps getting better with each album. With Graduation, he demonstrates exactly why his music has been embraced by indie culture more than any other major-label hip-hop artist. For one thing, the music is more than just a frame for the lyrics. Every detail contributes to the track as a whole, rather than just being a disposable beat intended only to buttress his flow. West also borrows from an astounding array of influences. He uses samples from disparate sources like Can and Daft Punk, and a duet with Coldplay's Chris Martin. Most of all, West displays a stubborn independence, bucking trends in hip-hop and rock, thereby setting an example that many others are beginning to follow. Graduation has cemented West's reputation as an iconoclast, proving that his presence will be felt for many years to come.