Los Angeles, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Roc-A-Fella Records) - The musical genius that is
Kanye West was in full effect at his listening session for GRADUATION in NYC yesterday. Those in attendance witnessed a historical moment in hip-hop as Kanye presented 13 solid tracks from his highly anticipated 3rd album. Set in a theatre, the stage was flanked with a huge monitor and electrifying glares of light rays that beamed on an audience that included L.A. Reid, Mos Def, Q-Tip, and MTV's Sway. The opening track "
Good Morning" plays on the GRADUATION theme with lines like:
Good morning look at the valedictorian
Sacred of the future while I hop in the De Lorean
Scared to face the world complacent career student
Some people graduate but be still stupid
"Champion," another gem from the Album was described by Kanye as your "on the way to work" theme song. A song that inspires you to be No 1 in all that you do, as the chorus chants "Tell me what it takes to be No 1."
Kanye's favorite song off the album "I Wonder," finds the visionary reflecting on what it took for him to get to the top. This album asserts Kanye as a true lyricist with lyrics like:
Do you even remember what the issue is?
You just tryin' to find where the tissue is
You can still be who you wish you is
It ain't happened yet and that what intuition is
The Japanimation of "Drunk And Hot Girls" that beamed through the screen projector was clearly a highlight of the album presentation. The bass infused track which features Mos Def narrates what can happen when you meet that "drunk girl" in the club. Kanye spits:
Stop dancing with your girlfriend and come dance with me
Stop talking bout yo' boyfriend, since he is not me
Stop running up my tab, cause these drinks is not free-you drunk and hot girl
"Flashing Lights" as Kanye put it, was created specifically for the ladies. It was one of the tracks recorded in the midst of a flurry of last minute recording sessions and opens with "She don't believe in shooting stars, but she believe in shoes and cars."
GRADUATION closes with "Big Brother," a classic song as well as tribute to Kanye's idol Jay-Z. The presentation for this track showed exclusive images on the screen of Kanye with Jay-z, Damon Dash and Kareem 'Biggs' Burke.
My big brother was B.I.G.'s brother
Use to be Dame and Biggs brother
Who is Hip Hop brother, who is NO ID friend
NO ID my mentor, now let the story begin
For the rest of the tracks you'll have to wait until you purchase your copy of GRADUATION on September 11th!
Here is the official tracklisting:
1. Good Morning
2. Champion
3. Stronger
4. I Wonder
5. Good Life feat. T-Pain
6. Can't Tell Me Nothing
7. Barry Bonds feat. Lil' Wayne
8. Drunk And Hot Girls feat. Mos Def
9. Flashing Lights feat. Dwele
10. Everything I Am
11. The Glory
12. Homecoming
12. Big Brother
