Graduation-Kanye West review

I'm back to review a quite interesting album: Graduation by Kanye West. This album was half of what was called, "The Revival of Hip-Hop) in the sales race between Graduation and Curtis by 50 Cent. Kanye ended up winning the sales race, and also had more successful singles. Kanye West was in a position where he had a semi story line, depicting a gangsta like character who dropped out of college, (The College Dropout) then attempting to come back, (Late Registration) and finally graduating.(Graduation) What's interesting about this is it strayed from his previous styles of many skits, and off topic tracks. Kanye almost depicts a rap opera, with every track making sense. The opener of Good Morning shows a man that just barely made it through, Champion is the celebration song, and Stronger shows the hardships he went through. The album has gone double platinum and has spawned three Top 40 hits (Stronger, Good Life, Flashing Lights) with Stronger and Good Life reaching the Top 10, while Stronger topped the chart. Graduation however lacks consistency; a problem relevant in many rap albums. His strong songs are extremely strong, (Good Life, Can't Tell Me Nothing, Flashing Lights) while his weak points are very weak. (Drunk and Hot Girls, I Wonder) While the album lacks an element of consistency, it shows some things Kanye had never done before, and ventures out more musically, as seen in Homecoming and Champion, as they venture into pop-rock and R&B respectively. Then, what makes it good? The overall outlook of the album. It will take you a few times, but you end up finding a diversity of feelings, especially in the honor track to Jay-Z in Big Brother. Overall, the album conveys a strong, yet fun rap album that has party tunes, and songs you just might want to think about. Yet overall, for any hip-hop fan, or music fan for that matter, this is one you have to check out.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

1. Good Morning

2. Champion

3. Stronger*

4. I Wonder

5. Good Life*

6. Can't Tell Me Nothing*

7. Barry Bonds

8. Drunk and Hot Girls

9. Flashing Lights*

10. Everything I Am

11. The Glory

12. Homecoming

13. Big Brother

The Marshall Mathers LP review

Sorry it's been a while, but I'm back to review one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all time, The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem. This album was released in May 2000, and as expected, caused much controversy. Many lyrics in the album were perceived homophobic (often use of the word faggot) and also misogynistic (often use of the word b***h). But, the controversy wasn't simply over that, it was over particular tracks on the album. For example, the track Kill You, ( Eminem was nearly stopped at the Canadian border for some of the lyrics in this song) there are lyrics such as, "Slut, you think I won't choke no w**re 'til the vocal cords don't work in her throat no more?!" Also, the track Kim cause much controversy because of its extremely violent nature, which is a depiction of Eminem murdering his then wife, Kim Mathers. So, if this album was so controversial, how did it go 9x Platinum? That is a common question, along with the wondering of how it was so critically successful. Rolling Stone initially gave the album a 4 star review, and four years later, changed it to a 5 star rating. The Marshall Mathers LP is a very drastic shift from where Eminem was on his previous, cartoony-like album, "The Slim Shady LP." Eminem shows more of his real self and less of his, "Slim Shady" persona. Eminem goes through a large variety of subjects, including his impact on kids (Who Knew), impact on media (Marshall Mathers, The Way I Am), past drug addiction problems (Drug Ballad, Under the Influence), and ventures into even more topics. What Eminem did that was so different, is that he put out a rap album that truly encompassed his thoughts. He gives off the careless impression and raps about many different subjects than typical rappers. This album shows great creativity, power, and emotion, that it's hard for anyone not to admire his work. This LP started to lead the way for success in Hardcore rap, followed by Jay-Z's "The Blueprint" which also received success and acclaim.

All in all, Eminem defined Hardcore rap by putting in real strength and emotion into his music. You might be a little creeped out at first, but it will grow on you.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Track list:

1. Public Service Announcement 2000
2. Kill You*
3. Stan*
4. Paul(skit)
5. Who Knew
6. Steve Berman (skit)
7. The Way I Am*
8. The Real Slim Shady*
9. Remember Me?
10. I'm Back
11. Marshall Mathers*
12. Ken Kaniff (skit)
13. Drug Ballad
14. Amityville
15. B***h Please II
16. Kim
17. Under the Influence
18. Criminal