"I Wonder" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, released as the fourth track on his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song was written and produced by him, while Labi Siffre received a songwriting credit due to the sample of his work; West moves towards influences from rock and electronic music. Composed by West as a variation of "City of Blinding Lights" by his tourmates U2, he set it to focus on the concerns of university graduates. A hip hop and R&B ballad with Eurodance and stadium rock elements, the song relies on a sample of "My Song" by Labi Siffre. Its downbeat instrumentation has a distorted beat and is led by Larry Gold's orchestration, razorblade synths, and a drum kit.
In the lyrics of the song, West raps about the contrasting scenarios of him having achieved his dreams and other dream chasers still searching for theirs. "I Wonder" was met with critical acclaim, being lauded the composition. Some praised West's vocals for his delivery, while certain critics saw it as a highlight of Graduation. In 2023, the song reached number 88 on the Lithuania Top 100. It was also awarded triple platinum and gold certifications in the United States and the United Kingdom by the Recording Industry Association of America and British Phonographic Industry, respectively.
An accompanying video clip was directed by Derrick Lee and screened during the album's session at New World Stages in August 2007, consisting of synced footage from the first installment of the Tron film franchise, Tron (1982). Despite abandoning his consideration of "I Wonder" as the fourth single from Graduation, West identified it among his three favorite songs from the album. West performed the song at the Global Gathering and Glastonbury festivals in 2008 and 2015, respectively. In 2017, Big Sean performed a cover version on the Live Lounge of BBC Radio 1Xtra with altered lyrics. A cult following has emerged for the song amongst West's fans, while it has also been credited with an impact on other musical acts.
"I Wonder" was written and produced solely by West.[1] The experimental production of the song represents a musical progression from the sound of West's past work, incorporating influences from rock and electronic music.[2][3][4][5] West said that more than any other song from Graduation, "I Wonder" was the most directly influenced by the Irish rock band U2.[6] After touring with the band on their Vertigo Tour from 2005 to 2006, he became jealous witnessing lead singer Bono open stadium concerts with their 2005 single "City of Blinding Lights". West then sought out to compose rap songs that could operate just as effectively in similar live venues.[7] He set to create his variation of "City of Blinding Lights" with "I Wonder", focusing on delivering his message in a slower flow with few words and sloganeering to be chanted in unison. Having also been accompanied by the Rolling Stones on tour and inspired by both the touring acts, West found that complex lyrics did not consistently generate reactions.[6][8] He jokingly said that "this 50-year-old white lady" would be waiting for the band to appear as he delivered his "super raps".[6] The song moves towards minimalism, featuring a melancholy style.[5][9]
"And I'm rapping "Diamonds" and stuff like that trying to over rap, and I was like you know what? I don't need to over rap and that's how you get a song like "I Wonder" [...] Like no rappers would really, you know, put it out like that, because people are trying to prove themselves all the time."[10]
—West talking to Concrete Loop about rapping "I Wonder", October 2007
West mentioned that the song focuses on the concerns of university graduates, echoing the title of Graduation. He explained that he offers the graduates a small amount of advice, mainly posing the question of how they make their decisions and "letting them zone out to the music" to figure these out.[11] Throughout the album, West reconditioned his lines to be simpler, more direct, and more autobiographical in order to make them more accessible to listeners and appeal to the widest audience possible.[12] The song's swelling, anthemic energy was the result of West's influences from the touring bands in his attempt to attain a "stadium status" for his music.[7][13] Prior to the release of Graduation, West spoke of the desire to write songs that listeners could connect with and personalize. This is largely demonstrated in the song, which also resembles an anthem.[14] His lyrics talk about chasing after dreams and address his rise to fame.[15][16] In a 2007 interview with Concrete Loop, West explained that he made a conscious effort not to overexert his rapping on Graduation, imparting that he felt he too often did so in the past on songs. He did not try and instead "zoned out", entering the studio and feeling his words came from God as he focused on the beat of "I Wonder".[10]
Recording
The song features a sample of the 1972 recording "My Song" by British singer Labi Siffre, which stands as one of the multiple occasions a rapper sampled him and led to the singer receiving a songwriting credit.[1][17] The sample is combined with its synths,[18][19] which were inspired by "City of Blinding Lights".[8] West placed the sample under this instrumentation and this caused it to sound trapped in a machine, while he sampled directly rather than altering the pitch like most of the album.[20][21] Synths appear on nearly every track of Graduation, which served as West's introduction to electronic.[16][22] West later experimented with abrasive, electronic production on his albums Yeezus (2013) and The Life of Pablo (2016).[5]
In an interview, West stated that among his primary objectives on his third studio album Graduation was for his drums to "bang harder in stadiums".[10] His newfound fascination with house music had an influence on this endeavor to achieve stronger drum beats. West relied less on his signature shuffling rhythmic patterns and placed more emphasis on clipped electro tones, strengthening his programmed beats.[23] The rhythm section of "I Wonder" is structured on a combination of West's drum kit and pounding breakbeats.[24][25] Its snare drum was reportedly heard while he was shopping for furniture at Moss.[26] West had a meticulous approach, spending around 10 recording sessions working on the drum track across weeks.[10][27]
Despite its experimental nature, "I Wonder" remains one of the few tracks from Graduation that harbor certain characteristics of West's once trademark musical style.[3][28][29] Speaking of the song retrospectively, fellow rapper Cyhi the Prynce described West as "very musical".[16] The sample from Siffre's "My Song" is soulful, maintaining West's audience from his earlier style.[28][29] Alongside the sample, the orchestration includes his familiar elegant piano and lush strings.[30] The track's keyboards were played by West collaborator Jon Brion, who delivered a full string section.[16]
Composition and lyrics
Musically, "I Wonder" is a hip hop and R&B ballad,[31][32][33] with elements of Eurodance and stadium rock.[8][10][34] The song contains a soulful, piano-led sample from "My Song" by Siffre.[1][18][35] Vocals from the sample are used for the hook, posing the question: "And I wonder if you know/ What it means to find your dreams?"[12][21][36] The sample is combined with razorblade crossover synths throughout,[8][18][19] while breakbeats are included too.[25][26][30] Its downbeat instrumentation features a 10-piece, immense orchestra, arranged by Larry Gold.[1][13][37] The orchestration consists of violin, viola, cello, bass,[1] elegant piano, and lush strings,[30] accompanying the song's distorted beat.[19] "I Wonder" features experimental production, with a stop-and-start arrangement accompanied by a melodic cadence and anthemic energy.[2][7][14] The melodic cadence slows down, while West matches his rapping flow.[7][8][38] Through sparse vocals and a staccato delivery,[35] West delivers minimal verses in melancholia.[5][9][39] Momentarily, West stops rapping and allows the instrumentation to wander indistinctly.[40] The song features a lengthy introduction,[41] which includes twinkling keyboards.[18][25][28] Its bridge consists of snare and kick drums, led by the synths.[24] Following the song's third verse that continues the kick drum, it enters a breakdown.[10][42][43] The beat crashes, dominated by the strings until the song's conclusion.[9][18][42]
A 21-second sample of West rapping the song's first verse. He performs lyrics slowly about chasing dreams through an staccato delivery and spare vocals, opening with a proclamation. His lines are followed by vocal samples of "My Song" by Labi Siffre, accompanied by musical distortion of synths and his orchestra's instruments.
Lyrically, "I Wonder" contains introspection regarding dream chasers from West. The rapper describes the struggles of other people in fulfilling their lives, who are still looking for their dreams.[44] On the contrary, West acknowledges that he has achieved his own dreams and responds to some comments from critics.[21][37] The track opens with a proclamation from West: "I've been waiting for this moment my whole life."[28] He touches on a difficult relationship in the first verse, utilizing a staggered delivery. On the third and final verse, West returns to his usual cadence once the relationship seemingly ends.[45] He also offers a call-out to the women present, questioning how many have "no spouse" and rhyming the lyrics with blouse.[21] West moves away from the subject of others' struggles and delivers bravado.[14]
Some music journalists commented on how the lyrical content compared to the aspirational theme of "I Wonder". To Hillary Crosley from Billboard, West places focus on inspiration: "I've been waiting on this my whole life/You can still be what you wish you is, that's what intuition is."[4] However, Greg Kot of Chicago Tribune detected that the song has undertones of self-doubt: "And I wonder if you know what it all means?"[34] Todd Williams from The Boombox remarked that West seems to be in disbelief of his accomplishments in his career and life.[46] Jesal Padania for RapReviews declared that the song's lyricism loosely shows West's miscommunication with many people, while its "buzz-lines and Shakespearian open text" attract listeners: "Do you even remember what the issue is?"[14]
"I Wonder" was first previewed when the digital radio station BBC Radio 1Xtra hosted an "Audience With Kanye West" event at the BBC Radio Music Theatre in London on August 13, 2007. West guided a specially selected audience through Graduation, playing the album on his MacBook Air laptop via a speaker system.[47] West first performed "I Wonder" live during a secret show with Barbadian singer Rihanna at the Methodist Central Hall in the City of Westminster on August 20, 2007.[48][49] The show was held to 500 fans and invited guests, who were mostly competition winners and music industry insiders.[48][50] Initially, the guests were greeted with graduation outfits and Mortar Boards in reference to the album's title.[50]
"I Wonder" was one of the tracks that West played during a listening session for Graduation at the New World Stages in Manhattan, New York on August 28, 2007, accompanied by a video clip. Inside an auditorium, West revealed his influences and aspirations. West played the songs from start-to-finish uninterrupted, with special programs of the lyrics handed out.[6][20][24] He mentioned that the song served as his version of U2's "City of Blinding Lights" and how he simplified his lyrics to generate reactions from audiences.[6] Despite originally being set to serve as the opener, "I Wonder" was ultimately released as the fourth track of Graduation on September 11, 2007.[27][30] West imparted that the song was one of his three favorites from the album; he focused on its level of emotion and stadium feel, mentioning a favorite composition of his as Gold's strings in the breakdown.[10] The rapper reportedly considered the track as an option for the record's fourth single following release,[51] although he subsequently chose to instead release "Flashing Lights" in November 2007, another favorite that he saw as its "coolest" number rather than "I Wonder".[10][52]
Reception
Numerous reviewers complimented West's vocals on the song, with the primary focus on his delivery and some also around his flow.
"I Wonder" was met with widespread acclaim from contemporary music critics, many of whom lauded the composition. In 2017, CraveOnline ranked "I Wonder" as one of West's 15 best songs and the staff felt surprised in the level of inspiration and motivation from "such a chopped off, aggressive flow", assuring it will "give you goose bumps".[53] The staff wrote that West's tone is hard, despite the lack of his later work's darkness, and his signature "vocal-instrumental is illuminating as one can get ... it's certainly a hidden gem".[53] Sharing similar sentiments, Pitchfork's Mark Pytlik and AllMusic's Andy Kellman both cited the song as one of the immediate highlights of the third album, with both lauding the sample of "My Song" and Pytlik also seeing "I Wonder" as "stunning".[18][30] Louis Pattison from NME assessed that West's musical influences of synthesizers and electronic music, also soulful, are shown on the track's "zig-zagging keyboards and crunchy Game Boy beats".[28] Commenting on its bright keys and hiccuping breakbeats, Patrick D. McDermott of The Fader hailed the composition as the album's "most timeless artifact".[25]Prefix Mag's Jesse Manne remarked that despite the song's melancholia standing out on Graduation, it boasts "a crashing beat and winding keys".[9] Japie Stoppelenburg of No Ripcord was surprised by the song's replication of West's 2005 album Late Registration, highlighting how his typical strings and samples are combined with distortion and razorblade synths continued on fellow album track "Big Brother".[19] In a review of Graduation, Greg Kot, music critic for Chicago Tribune, stated that "I Wonder" serves to bring West's early soul productions to the level of stadium rap.[34]
The sample of Siffre's "My Song" in the composition was often highlighted by critics, which stands among the numerous occasions he was sampled in hip hop.
Ross Bonaime of Paste magazine was fascinated with West's unconventional song structure of changing his stance around a difficult relationship across the verses, believing the structure overpowers the somewhat insistent sample.[45] Kevin Jones observed for Exclaim! how West "transforms more than a few gems" through traditional samples into the album's most captivating moments and the song's sample is the prime example, matching with "a bottom-heavy kick drum and keys exchange" that is followed by "string work of [the] legendary ... Gold".[42] At Contactmusic.com, Ben Davis noted that the song allows the sample to "sound positively alien".[54] Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Ann Powers was intrigued by West's performance, saying that he approaches the soulful sample "like a punching bag" and the staccato delivery undermines his "Don Juan come-ons".[35] Comparing it to "Flashing Lights", Alex Swhear from Uproxx described the track's "sparse vocals" as minimalist, while intimate and emotional.[5]The Washington Post staff writer J. Freedom du Lac lists "I Wonder" as one of the four best tracks from Graduation.[55]
Calling "I Wonder" a "stomping synth-soul track", the Chicago Reader writer Miles Raymer voiced his appreciation for West's songwriting progression that he blends with the sample.[56] Likewise, Rajveer Kathwadia for RWD Magazine chose it as his favorite track on the album and called West's musicality on the track the true measurement of his talent that takes center stage, although acknowledged his improvement as a rapper.[57][58] He also admitted that West's "disjointed flow" and sexual lyrics fail to match his production.[37]Rolling Stone music journalist Nathan Brackett opined that the "off-kilter, dreamlike" song demonstrates West's growth as a songwriter, even though he will never be equivalent to his mentor Jay-Z.[31] In a negative review, Nick Marx from Tiny Mix Tapes offered that "critics of Kanye's staggered half-rhymes will find ample fodder here", while identifying the synths resembling the Neptunes as the lowest point.[59] Jake Boyer of Highsnobiety declared West's showcases of his lyricism fail to create "the memorable slow-ballad" that "I Wonder" heavily attempts to be, finalizing that "things just aren't clicking into place" with the track and faulting its placement on the album in between two of the strongest pop-leaning singles.[33]
On June 15, 2018, "I Wonder" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for reaching 500,000 certified units in the United States, becoming the first non-single from Graduation to receive a certification.[60] The track later received a triple platinum certification from the RIAA for amassing 3,000,000 units in the US on December 4, 2023.[61] On December 22, it was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shelving 400,000 units in the United Kingdom.[62] Elsewhere in Europe, the track reached number 88 on the Lithuania Top 100 during 2023.[63]
Even though "I Wonder" did not receive a music video, a special video clip was created for the track prior to the release of Graduation. It was displayed for the first time during the album's session at the New World Stages on August 28, 2007.[20][24] The video clip for "I Wonder" was one of seven that were designed by West and Derrick Lee exclusively for the event.[64] Lee was also the editor of the music video for "Flashing Lights" and was able to edit all seven clips in the span of three days.[65]
West presented his session inside the auditorium with an evocative light-show across a stage that featured theatrical smoke machines, laser beams, stage spotlights, and other special effects.[20][64] While the music played, a large screen positioned in the middle of the stage displayed footage of films edited to be in sync. The footage for "I Wonder" was taken from scenes of Tron (1982), one of the multiple science fiction films that West used.[20][24] West made the video clip available for viewing via his blog on March 24, 2008; he posted one clip from the session every two days that month.[64][66] In the blog entry, West stated that it may be his favorite out of all these clips.[66]
Live performances
West performed "I Wonder" at the Glastonbury Festival, marking a rare song performance from him in 2015.
West performed "I Wonder" twice at his Methodist Central Hall secret show in August 2007, sponsored by Vodafone and Sony Mobile's series of one-off gigs across the UK. The first performance opened the show and West arrived late, wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a black jacket, sun shades, and white trainers.[48] He was accompanied by a string section, background vocalists, a keyboardist, and a DJ.[50] The orchestra was made up of 21 women, who wore plastic dresses with their faces colored in using fluorescent face paint.[48] West performed the track to open his charity foundation's benefit concert promoting and raising funds for higher education at Chicago's House of Blues on August 24, 2007, conducting his 16-piece band.[67] One of the initiatives funded by the concert is the Loops Dreams Teacher Training Institute, which encourages the incorporation of hip hop into Chicago Public Schools curriculum.[68] For the performance, West wore an untucked white shirt, a purple cardigan, jeans, and sun shades.[67] West abruptly paused mid-performance after a minute and exited stage as he left his band there, returning three minutes later to perform a string of tracks from his first two studio albums. He eventually restarted "I Wonder" and played a few chords on an upright piano at one point, an arrangement that Kot considered to feel under-rehearsed and "not as fully realized as recorded version".[67]
West included the track as the second number in the set list for his Glow in the Dark Tour, which began on April 16, 2008, at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. It is one of the tracks taken from his first three studio albums that served to form a space opera storyline, telling the tale of how a stranded space traveler struggles for over a year making attempts to escape from a distant planet while on a mission to bring creativity back to Earth.[69] In the narrative, West appears as the traveler who crashes onto an unknown planet after talking with his robotic on-board computer Jane, then begins performing.[70][71] The song was performed by West during his 90-minute headlining set for the annual dance music festival Global Gathering at Long Marston Airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, on July 25, 2008. West was the first hip hop artist to headline the festival and he was accompanied by lighting and smoke effects, alongside backup singers.[72][73][74] On October 20, 2013, West performed the song at the KeyArena for his kickoff show of The Yeezus Tour, although he stopped rapping a few times.[75] West delivered a performance of "I Wonder" in a low tempo for his headlining set at the 2015 Glastonbury Festival, considered a rare song for him to perform at this time.[76][77][78] On January 6, 2019, West's then-wife Kim Kardashian shared rehearsal footage of his gospel group the Sunday Service Choir performing the song to her Instagram Stories.[79] Later that day, the group performed a rendition of the song as the fifth number of their first concert, beginning from around six minutes in.[80]
"I Wonder" was remixed by DJ Terry Urban and included on The Graduate, a collaborative remix mixtape with fellows DJs Mick Boogie and 9th Wonder that was hosted by West. For the remix, Urban combined the song with fellow rapper Nas' single "Life's a Bitch" (1994).[81] In a similar manner, a remix of the song by Scottie B was included as the 18th track of Sky High on November 17, 2008, a mixtape consisting of remixes of various tracks that West originally produced and it was compiled by DJ Benzi with the rapper's associate Plain Pat. The project was commissioned by West and his team in the lead-up to his fourth studio album 808s & Heartbreak, with each remix experiencing at least five reiterations before release and they are mostly club-friendly dance themed numbers.[82]
In October 2009, Nabil Elderkin published his book Glow in the Dark that focuses on West's tour of the same name, with a bonus CD including the live instrumental of the track.[83] Entertainer Donald Glover, under his stage name of Childish Gambino, interpolated "I Wonder" on the track "We Ain't Them" from his 2012 mixtape Royalty.[84] On February 6, 2017, fellow rapper Big Sean, who was mentored and signed to GOOD Music by West, covered the song on BBC Radio 1Xtra's Live Lounge for the 10-year anniversary of Graduation and the lead-up to his fourth album I Decided.[85][86] Big Sean was backed by a live-band and appropriated certain lyrics for his life, including rapping that his name "would help light up the Detroit skyline".[87]
Legacy
The song directly inspired Raury to pursue a career as a musician.
Though it was never released as a single, "I Wonder" has since gone on to become a cult classic amongst listeners.[88] The musical composition has also left a profound impact on other recording artists and musicians. In a 2015 interview with The Guardian, while making a list of his most influential songs, singer-songwriter Raury described "I Wonder" as the song that helped him begin his career.[89][90] Raury elaborated that Graduation was one of the first albums he ever purchased when forming an interest in music, despite not knowing who West was at the time. "I Wonder" inspired Raury to write his first verse to the song at 14 years old, which convinced Justice Baiden to be his manager and he continuously rapped over the instrument, with its impact remaining across his career.[89][90]
During an interview with Big Boy's for Los Angeles radio station Power 106 in September 2013, the Canadian musician Drake was asked to list songs and verses from other artists of any genres that he wishes he had recorded, naming "I Wonder" as an example.[91] In a 2017 piece for the 10th anniversary of Graduation, Billboard's Carl Lamarre acknowledged that West outselling fellow rapper 50 Cent's Curtis moved hip hop away from gangsta rap. Lamarre explained that West helped the genre shift towards vulnerability and experimentation, citing "I Wonder" as an example. Billboard spoke to rappers on the anniversary, including Kyle and he recalled the song "put me in a vibe" that was unreplicable when he was drunk under the stars of the sky.[92]Vic Mensa imparted that the song was his favorite from the album and he had listened to it before high school football games, remembering often doing so despite a lack of memory from "smoking a lot of dope [at] 12".[92] After Drake and West's benefit concert for Larry Hoover's jail funds in September 2022, the musician captioned an Instagram post with lyrics from the song.[93]
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Related Research Articles
Ye is an American rapper and record producer. One of the most prominent figures in hip hop, he is known for his varying musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After dropping out of college to pursue a career in music, West began producing for regional artists in the Chicago area. As an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, he co-produced albums including Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001) before signing with the label as a recording artist. West's debut studio album, The College Dropout (2004), was met with critical acclaim and yielded the Billboard Hot 100-number one single "Slow Jamz". He peaked the chart on four other occasions with the singles "Gold Digger" (2005), "Stronger" (2007), "E.T.", and "Carnival" (2024).
Claudius Afolabi Siffre, better known as Labi Siffre, is a British singer, songwriter and poet. Siffre released six albums from 1970 to 1975 and four from 1988 to 1998. His compositions include "It Must Be Love", which reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart in 1971, "Crying Laughing Loving Lying", and "(Something Inside) So Strong"—an anti-apartheid song inspired by a television documentary in which white soldiers in South Africa were filmed shooting at black civilians in the street—which hit number 4 on the UK chart. The latter song won Siffre the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, and it has been used in Amnesty International campaigns.
The College Dropout is the debut studio album by the American rapper Kanye West. It was released on February 10, 2004, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. In the years leading up to release, West had received praise for his production work for rappers such as Jay-Z and Talib Kweli, but faced difficulty being accepted as an artist in his own right by figures in the music industry. Intent on pursuing a solo career, he signed a record deal with Roc-A-Fella and recorded the album over a period of four years, beginning in 1999.
Late Registration is the second studio album by the American rapper Kanye West. It was released on August 30, 2005, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. West recorded the album over the course of a year during sessions held at studios in Hollywood and New York City, in collaboration with Jon Brion. The album features guest appearances from Adam Levine, Jamie Foxx, Common, Brandy, Jay-Z, and Nas, among others.
Graduation is the third studio album by the American rapper Kanye West released on September 11, 2007, through Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. Recording sessions took place between 2005 and 2007 at several studios in New York and Los Angeles. It was primarily produced by West himself, with contributions from various other producers, including DJ Toomp. The album features guest appearances from recording artists such as Dwele, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Mos Def, DJ Premier, and Chris Martin. The cover art and its interior artwork were designed by contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.
"Through the Wire" is the debut solo single by American rapper and producer Kanye West, who wrote and recorded the song with his jaw wired shut after a car crash on October 23, 2002. The song samples Chaka Khan's 1985 single "Through the Fire" and was released on September 30, 2003 as the lead single from his debut album The College Dropout (2004).
Finding Forever is the seventh studio album by Common, released on July 31, 2007, on GOOD Music and Geffen Records. Like Common's previous album, Be (2005), Finding Forever is primarily produced by Kanye West. The album debuted at the number one on the Billboard 200, selling 155,000 units in the first week, becoming Common's first chart-topper. Selling over 500,000 units in the US, it has been certified Gold. Finding Forever was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, losing to West's Graduation at the 50th Grammy Awards.
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song contains additional vocals from Young Jeezy and Connie Mitchell. It was produced by West with DJ Toomp with West being responsible for 60 percent of the production. The song originated from Young Jeezy's "I Got Money", after West made changes to the track. On May 15, 2007, the song premiered via Hot 97 and was released by Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam that same day as the lead single from the album. A hip hop track, it was described by West as a theme song for the people. The lyrics see West reflecting on his fame while he expresses different types of feelings.
"Stronger" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song was produced by West, with an extended outro handled by Mike Dean. It was written by West and Daft Punk were credited as co-writers due to their work being sampled, while Edwin Birdsong also received a credit from a master use of "Cola Bottle Baby". West decided to sample "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" after first hearing the duo's work when touring in 2006, then made the beat and spent months re-writing his verses. The song's production process was arduous, with various engineers and 75 different mixes, even having the drum programming redone with Timbaland after its release. Daft Punk voiced their approval of the song, finding West made the sample suitable for his personality as he ventured outside of hip hop.
"Good Life" is a song by American rapper Kanye West featuring American singer T-Pain from the former's third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song includes background vocals from John Legend and Ne-Yo. West and Toomp handled the production, with additional production from Mike Dean. T-Pain thought of the concept when dining out with West, while he also recorded numerous hooks that the rapper used for his feature. On October 2, 2007, the song was released to US rhythmic contemporary radio stations by Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam as the album's third single. A pop number, it samples Michael Jackson's "P.Y.T. " and features synths. Lyrically, the song sees West celebrating his success and being determined to succeed, and T-Pain also reflecting on his success.
"Big Brother" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, released as the closing track on his third studio album, Graduation (2007). West co-wrote the song with Toomp, who was the sole producer. It originally utilized Prince's "It's Gonna Be Lonely" for the beat, until he refused to approve and a re-recording was done. The song was written by West as a tribute to his close friend and mentor Jay-Z, who has shown his appreciation for it. West first teased the song in August 2007 for the BBC Radio 1Xtra event "Audience with Kanye West". A hip hop song with synths, it features a varied pace of rapping from West. In the lyrics, West introspectively examines the complexities of his friendship with Jay-Z.
"Champion" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song includes additional vocals from Tony "Penafire" Williams and Connie Mitchell. West wrote a letter to Steely Dan requesting to sample their work, which persuaded the band to approve of this. The band's members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were credited as co-writers with West on the song due to their work being sampled, while the rapper produced it with Brian "AllDay" Miller. The song was played on BET's 106 & Park upon the album's release, while West briefly considered issuing it as a single. A hip hop, electro, and R&B number that samples Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne", it was described by West as a theme song for the people. Lyrically, the song sees Kanye focusing on his fatherly relationship with Ray West.
"Flashing Lights" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song features a guest appearance from R&B singer Dwele and additional vocals from Australian singer Connie Mitchell. West co-wrote and co-produced the song with Eric Hudson, who had completed the production before the duo added a live string section in 2007. It was released to US rhythmic contemporary radio as the album's fourth single on November 20, 2007, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. A hip hop, electro rap, and R&B song with elements of numerous genres, it prominently utilizes strings and synths. Lyrically, the song features West rapping about a complicated relationship where a girl has power over him; he also compares the paparazzi to Nazis.
"Homecoming" is a song by the American rapper Kanye West from his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song was written by West and Warryn Campbell, who served as the producers, along with Chris Martin of Coldplay, who makes a guest appearance. Martin came up with the concept during a jam session with West at Abbey Road Studios in February 2006. It was a re-working of West's 2001 recording "Home (Windy)", which was inspired by Common's "I Used to Love H.E.R.". The recording featured John Legend and a different beat, with a theme around West's hometown of Chicago that was maintained for the final version.
"Good Morning" is the first song from American hip hop recording artist and record producer Kanye West's third studio album Graduation (2007). The song was produced by West and contains samples from the recording "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" by English singer and pianist Elton John. As the opening track, the song serves as an introduction to the musical and lyrical themes of the album. West establishes the academic narrative of it, celebrating his graduation in the realm of hip hop and rapping about his skepticism of higher education over thumping, off-kilter boom bap drums.
808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by the American rapper Kanye West. It was released by Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records on November 24, 2008, having been recorded earlier that year in September and October at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dominating its production, West was assisted by fellow producers No I.D., Plain Pat, Jeff Bhasker, and Mr Hudson, while also utilizing guest vocalists for some tracks, including Kid Cudi, Young Jeezy, and Lil Wayne.
"Swagga Like Us" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and T.I. featuring fellow American rappers Lil Wayne and Kanye West, the latter of whom also produced the song, constructed primarily around a vocal sample of "Paper Planes" by British musician M.I.A. It was released on September 6, 2008, in the United States as the fifth single from T.I.'s sixth album Paper Trail (2008). The track was also initially slated for inclusion on Jay-Z's eleventh album The Blueprint 3 (2009), however it ultimately failed to make the final track listing.
"Niggas in Paris" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West from their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song is built around a synth bell loop from the Dirty South Bangaz music library, and contains vocal samples from "Baptizing Scene" by Reverend W.A. Donaldson, an interpolation of "Victory" by Puff Daddy featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, and dialogue excerpts from the 2007 film Blades of Glory. On the week of the album's release, "Niggas in Paris" debuted at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number five. Outside of the United States, "Niggas in Paris" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom. As of 2018, it has sold 6.7 million archetype digital units in the United States. The song won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.
"Father Stretch My Hands" are songs by American rapper Kanye West from his seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo (2016). They are split into two parts on the album: "Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1" and "Pt. 2". "Pt. 1" contains vocals by American rapper Kid Cudi and American R&B singer Kelly Price, while "Pt. 2" includes vocals from American rapper Desiigner and American musician Caroline Shaw. Prior to release, the latter was played by West for Desiigner when the two met.
"Everything I Am" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song features guest scratches from DJ Premier and includes additional vocals from Tony "Penafire" Williams. It was written and produced by West, while Prince Phillip Mitchell, George Clinton, Chuck D, Eric Sadler, and Hank Shocklee received songwriting credits as their material was sampled. West received the song's beat from the recording sessions for Common's seventh studio album, Finding Forever (2007). DJ Premier recorded seven different scratching styles, crafting varied drum break rhythms at West's instruction. West set the song to be relatable for a schoolgirl who gets picked on, attempting to connect with Wendy Williams. A sparse hip hop ballad with soul, pop, and gospel elements, its riff relies on elements of Mitchell's "If We Can't Be Lovers". The song also includes elements of Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise" and both samples are combined with DJ Premier's scratches, appearing on the hook.
1 2 3 4 Padania, Jesal 'Jay Soul' (September 11, 2007). "Kanye West:: Graduation". RapReviews. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2007.
1 2 Brackett, Nathan (September 20, 2007). "Review: Graduation". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
↑ Walshe, John (September 20, 2007). "Graduation". Hot Press. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2007.
↑ Kathwadia, Rajveer (September 12, 2007). "RWD Reviews: 50 V Kanye". RWD Magazine. Archived from the original on October 5, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2007.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
