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Kanye West is nothing if not controversial, but he was not always that way. If listeners go back to a time before he interrupted Taylor Swift at the Grammys, they will find an incredibly talented and influential musician who was only in the headlines for his music.

This is what makes Graduation such an essential album to listen to. The piece had a huge impact on the entire genre of hip-hop, and it shows West at his most impressive and least disruptive.

At the time of its release in 2007, Graduation made headlines because of its direct competition with 50 Cent’s album Curtis, and the success of West over 50 Cent is said to have directly led to the decline of gangster rap at the time.

West’s techno and dance music influences are ever-present on the album, as the tracklist is filled with anthem after anthem. The use of synths in the production is a stylistic choice that continues to be present in many songs today.

Graduation is full of incredible songs that have left a lasting mark on music today. It is an album that shows West at his best, and it is important that listeners today do not get caught up in his recent antics and miss out on the talent that has made him so popular.