- #What does kanye west graduation album cover mean tv
- #What does kanye west graduation album cover mean crack
#What does kanye west graduation album cover mean tv
The two set up early skirmishes by releasing singles to build anticipation for their albums - West dropped two of his biggest songs, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” and “Stronger,” while 50 famously had a meltdown in G-Unit’s Midtown Manhattan offices, throwing his cell phone out the window and ripping a flat-screen TV from the wall, after learning the video for his Robin Thicke collaboration “Follow My Lead” had leaked, weeks before he’d planned to release it. 50 claimed he would retire from making music if West outsold him in the first week, although he later dialed back those remarks.
The pair played up the rivalry for all it was worth. To the astonishment of the industry and the delight of fans, the battle was on. Six days later, sources confirmed that “Graduation” shifted from September 18 to September 11.
Some two months before release date, the two began squaring off: On July 13, 50’s label Interscope, announced that the release date for “Curtis” had been moved from September 11 from September 4 in order to avoid the Labor Day holiday (this was when most people still bought music in stores). West’s 2005 album, “Late Registration,” had shifted 860,000 units in its first week, but his popularity and influence were soaring. However, “cautious” is not a word that has ever been used to describe Kanye or 50 - who, in 2007, were pretty much kings of the game, with Jay-Z still “retired” at the time and in his last year serving as president/CEO of Kanye’s parent label, Def Jam Records.Īt the time, West was still a rising star, with 50 the sales titan: Even in an era when CD sales were plummeting rapidly and the industry was being gouged by illegal downloading and other forms of piracy, his 2005 album “The Massacre” sold 1.5 million copies in its first week - one of the last albums to reach that million-debut-week milestone. For decades, artists strenuously avoided releasing big albums or singles on the same day. Artists and labels were aware that most fans were only going to spend a certain amount of money per week on music, and forcing them to choose between two new albums on the same day did not make business sense. And a lot more was at stake than would be in a similar battle today.īack in the day, before streaming services became the standard format for music, most fans actually had to pay for individual albums, via CDs, downloads or vinyl. In fact, the 2007 standoff with 50 - which saw both artists’ third albums, West’s “Graduation” and 50’s “Curtis,” dropping on the same day, 9/11 no less - was actually the most elaborate Kanye West release event. In fact, now that he’s ascended to heaven, it’s just about the only way he could build even more anticipation around “Donda,” which he’s already premiered and changed twice. but don't tell me nothing, good life, good morning, champion, flashing lights are all staples to this day.So what’s with the delay? As with most things Kanye, it’s either his perfectionism or simply yet another way to keep fans engaged, interested, frustrated and outraged - envelopes he has been pushing since the beginning of his career nearly 20 years ago.īut industry sources, fans and others have been floating a different theory: That he’s waiting for Drake to announce a release date for his long-delayed new album, “Certified Lover Boy” - which the Canadian rapper has said will be out by the end of the summer - so he can square off against him in a release-date clash of the titans, like he did with 50 Cent almost 14 years ago. Graduation is pure fun and kanye in love with life on top of the world.
#What does kanye west graduation album cover mean crack
Touch the sky, gone, we major, crack music. pretty much improved upon and perfected the sound he was going for since his earlier days before beginning to transition to something different starting with graduation and beyond. great songs, focused themes, lush production. jesus walks, through the wire, spaceship, two words. he was just trying to make it and prove himself beyond his production. kanye wasn't kanye of 2021 and all the baggage that came with it back then. the hunger, honesty and vulnerability on that album is why ye still has the fanbase he does. listening to that leaked advance in 2003 was revelatory.
I'll always have a real soft spot for college dropout.