Kanye West vs. 50 Cent:

Listening to the new Kanye record is like cruising around shotgun with Yeezy in Doc's time-traveling DeLorean. Just sit back and let Ye' play the dual role of driver and tour guide as you journey through his reality: Past, present and future.\n"Good Morning" kicks off the 13-track album with some of Graduation's most simplistic production and lyrically sets the tone for the rest of the album with Kanye's assertion: "I'm like the fly Malcom X/ Buy any jeans necessary."\nThe first single "Stronger" cleverly samples Daft Punk to make the track feel like it was produced in 2001 and 2051 simultaneously. Kanye's lyrics are admittedly empty ("You know how long I've been on ya?/ Since Prince was on Apollonia"), but who cares? It's infectious, fun, something new and is the highlight of the album. \nThe second single, "Can't Tell me Nothing," is only slightly less ambitious, but is West's best vocal performance on the album. The lyrics "I feel the pressure/ Under more scrutiny/ And what do I do?/ Act more stupidly" are delivered genuinely by West and is a break in the album's self-indulgent lyrics and braggadocio.\nWest uses his DeLorean to go back in time with "Everything I Am" and "Champion" (the songs sounds similar to previous Kanye hits "Family Business" and "Touch the Sky," respectively). Kanye pioneered the sped up sample formula of "Touch the Sky," and it still sounds better than any rap/R&B on the radio. \nGraduation is not without its flaws, though. "Drunk and Hot Girls" is easily the worst song in the Kanye West catalogue and squanders a great Mos Def appearance. With lyrics like "Stop running up my tab because these drinks is not free/ You drunk and hot girl," the usually socially conscious West takes a stab at misogyny and, thankfully, misses. It's not a complete tragedy, though. Just make good use of your iPod's skip button.\nStill, West's third album has everything a mainstream rap record should have: Great and inspired production, engaging lyrics and worthwhile guest appearances (see the genre-bending Chris Martin collaboration "Homecoming"). Some say Kanye's braggadocio is too over the top here, but honestly, is that not why we love Kanye? Would these same people tell MC Lyte to be more "ladylike" or tell LL Cool J to put his shirt on? Egocentricity is a hip-hop staple, and Kanye West is working hard to keep it that way.\nGrade: B+