Graduation

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“Graduation” is the third studio album by Kanye West, released on September 11, 2007, through Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records.

The story

Recorded between 2005 and 2007 in New York and Los Angeles, the album was shaped by West’s time touring arenas with U2 and the Rolling Stones, which pushed him toward bigger, anthemic songwriting. Its release was set for the same day as 50 Cent’s “Curtis,” and the head-to-head sales race drew heavy media attention. West won decisively, selling about 957,000 copies in the first week to 50 Cent’s roughly 691,000.

Sound and production

West handled most of the production, joined by DJ Toomp, Brian “AllDay” Miller, Eric Hudson, Nottz and Warryn Campbell. The record leaned away from soul samples toward synthesizers, house and stadium-rock influences. “Stronger,” built on Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” topped the Billboard Hot 100, and “Good Life” featuring T-Pain reached No. 7. Other singles were “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” “Flashing Lights” and “Homecoming.”

Legacy

“Graduation” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. At the 50th Grammy Awards it won Best Rap Album and earned an Album of the Year nomination, while “Stronger” won Best Rap Solo Performance and “Good Life” won Best Rap Song. It is widely credited with helping steer mainstream rap toward electronic and pop sounds, and it has appeared on Rolling Stone’s and NME’s all-time greatest album lists.

Released September 11, 2007. More from hip hop in 2007.