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Kanye West’s “Graduation” Turns 16

September 19, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On Graduation, Kanye West delivered an undeniable Hip Hop classic. It’s no wonder that 16 years later, the album is still being lauded as a timeless body of work. Throughout his career, West has consistently evolved his musical style, embracing several different genres, and molding them to take whatever shape he chooses. By whatever measure, the artistic visionary has always found ways to top his previous works. In 2007, he reassured the world of his groundbreaking talents, offering an album that truly exemplified his genius and rounded out a flawless trilogy. Kanye West may have ventured into other artistic directions, but Graduation remains one of Hip Hop’s most innovative projects of all time.

Background And Release

kanye west graduation — LAS VEGAS – SEPTEMBER 09: Rappers Kanye West (L) and 50 Cent present the “Most Earth-Shattering Collaboration” award on stage during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards held at The Palms Hotel and Casino on September 9, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Released on September 11, 2007, and was a monumental success upon release. Better yet, Graduation was a remarkable moment in hip-hop history, as Kanye West and 50 Cent were neck and neck for the best first-week sales that week. While the latter’s Curtis debuted in the second spot, West claimed the throne, with 957,000 copies sold. By the time Graduation was released, Kanye West had already established himself as a noteworthy producer and rapper. His debut album, The College Dropout, introduced a more conscious and soulful style to Hip Hop’s commercial appeal. Additionally, his sophomore project, Late Registration, leaned into a more orchestral direction. However, Graduation introduced a more electronic-inspired sound to mainstream rap.

Read More: What Is Kanye West’s Net Worth?

Production And Musical Style

Kanye West significantly shifted his overall sound while working on Graduation. As previously mentioned, the album embraced electronic and pop elements, delivering a more progressive rap style for listeners. Throughout the album, synthesizers are prominently used. Most famously, he samples Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” on “Stronger.”The now-Diamond-certified hit was a bold move by the rapper. However, it paid off tremendously, merging tinges of electronic music with hip-hop’s ethos, and influencing other artists after him to do the same. Moreover, Graduation was predominantly produced by Kanye West himself, with assistance from veteran producer Mike Dean.

Read More: Kanye West’s Albums, Ranked

Singles And Guest Appearances

Graduation had five singles released out of 13 tracks. “Stronger” was the most successful of them all, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The other four were “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” “Good Life,” “Flashing Lights,” and “Homecoming,” all of which had varying successes on the charts. T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Amos Def, Dwele, and Chris Martin all have guest appearances on the album.

While proving to be a commercial hit, the leap of faith Kanye took on Graduation is noteworthy. The album garnered praised for its successful musical experimentation, cohesiveness, and West’s introspective lyricism. So far, it has been certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA. To this day, Graduation is still widely regarded as one of the best albums of 2007.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

This iconic album had a profound cultural impact. Ye’s ability to push the boundaries, once again, undoubtedly influenced the sound of Hip Hop and pop music at large in the mid-2000s. Kanye helped further bridge the gap between Hip Hop and electro sounds, while simultaneously boosting Daft Punk’s presence in the United States.

Even now, 16 years after its release, the album has yet to lose its magic. Furthermore, it continues to blow the minds of music enthusiasts, old and new. As far as influential albums go, Kanye West masterfully shone on Graduation, becoming a continued proof of his musical genius. Moreover, his ability to keep evolving artistically cements him as one of the genre’s greatest talents.

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50 Cent’s “Curtis” Turns 16: A Pivot In A Rap Giant’s Career

September 19, 2023 by newhiphopnews

50 Cent released his third album, Curtis, on September 11, 2007. Although he was already a household name by that point, the album couldn’t have come at a better time. As his music career was still at its peak, Curtis was a continuation of commercial glory for 50 Cent. The beloved body of work turned 16 this year and has been a notable vessel in his lauded discography.

Despite his troubled rise, 50 Cent was clearly destined for fame. After releasing his debut album in 2003, his career experienced a meteoric rise in Hip Hop’s stratosphere. 50 Cent has since evolved into a multifaceted entertainment mogul. Furthermore, his influence now extends far beyond music. However, his stellar career as a rap giant cannot be swept aside, especially with albums like Curtis under his belt.

The Rise Of Curtis

50 cent curtis — LAS VEGAS – SEPTEMBER 09: Rapper Kanye West and Rapper 50-Cent during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards at The Palms Hotel and Casino on September 9, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jason Squires/WireImage)

50 Cent already had two multi-platinum albums in his roster before releasing the eponymous Curtis. Naturally, due to his incredible success with Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and The Massacre, Curtis was highly anticipated. Moreover, the buzz surrounding the album was elevated due to it being released on the same day as Kanye West’s third album, Graduation. Hip Hop fans had a field day, as the media greatly raised attention to the friendly rivalry over album sales. Upon its release, Curtis debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, behind Graduation.

50 Cent Explores New Themes On Curtis

50 Cent enlisted major producers, including Dr. Dre and Timbaland to work on Curtis. The production style on the album eventually became a fusion of diverse musical elements. It incorporated samples, synthesizers, and live instrumentation to create a rich sonic landscape that complemented 50 Cent’s lyrical themes. On the album, he covered topics such as love, his rise to fame, and his street credibility. Furthermore, the album did not have a single all-encompassing theme, which, in hindsight, probably led to its mixed reception. Curtis is a mesh of different themes that all come together, with pop elements that were missing from his previous works.

Singles And Guest Appearances

Curtis is a star-studded 17-track album, with 50 Cent having a hoard of artists from a plethora of genres. Notable features on the album range from Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, who appeared on the successful single, “Ayo Technology,” to Akon on “I’ll Still Kill.” Other features include Eminem on “Peep Show,” Robin Thicke on “Follow My Lead,” and Mary J. Blige on “All of Me,” among others. Two of the album’s singles, “I Get Money” and “Ayo Technology” peaked within the top 20 of the Hot 100 chart. “Straight to the Bank” and “I’ll Still Kill” peaked at numbers 32 and 95 respectively. “Amusement Park,” the first single released out of the five, did not make an appearance on the Hot 100 chart, however.

Reception And Commercial Success

Curtis received mixed reviews from critics largely pointing out 50 Cent’s tested formula and and failure to evolve. Nonetheless, the reception towards the album’s production was stellar. Moreover, fans lauded the album, leading to its massive commercial triumph. Despite its lukewarm reception, Curtis peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, with 691,000 copies sold in its first week.

Legacy

While Curtis did not achieve the same level of commercial success as his previous albums, it still contributed to cementing his status as a prominent figure in the rap industry. 16 years after its initial release date, the album is just as enjoyable now as it was when it first dropped. Curtis is still widely regarded as a staple album in the rapper’s large catalog. Since Curtis, 50 Cent has released two more solo studio albums, and a hoard of mixtapes.

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50 Cent Rep Denies Ciara Modelling For “Curtis” Album After Rapper Slammed For Sharing NSFW Photos

September 12, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Monday (September 11) was a big day in hip-hop history, particularly for fans of Kanye West and 50 Cent. 16 years ago, in 2007, the former took us to his Graduation, while the latter introduced us to Curtis. Both LPs have strong replay value and were heavily celebrated on social media amid the other ongoing Hip-Hop 50 festivities. The Power producer even chimed in on the conversation regarding his project. He shared some throwback snapshots from a marketing photoshoot that found him sharing extreme PDA with a beautiful, nearly nude model.

When Curtis Jackson first shared the photo dump, it wasn’t long before followers began calling him out in the comments. Some were under the impression that the woman in the NSFW images was Ciara. This notably sparked outrage on behalf of the performer’s husband, Russell Wilson. As Page Six points out, she and the “I Get Money” rapper dated from 2007 to 2010, leading many to naturally assume that he tapped her to pose with him. However, a rep for Fif has since provided some clarity on the situation to the outlet.

Before She Married Russell Wilson, Ciara Spent Some Time with 50 Cent

50 Cent Ciara Concert — Ciara and 50 Cent perform onstage during Screamfest ’07 at Madison Square Garden on August 22, 2007, in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

“Two different models are featured on the ‘Curtis’ album cover,” Amanda Ruisi explained. “Neither of whom is Ciara,” she additionally noted. While the soon-to-be mother of four tied the knot with Wilson in 2016 (following a chaotic relationship with Future), her ex has been happily coupled up with Cuban Link for some time now. Earlier this year there were engagement rumours surrounding the pair, but they’ve since denied that gossip.

If you missed the celebratory throwback Curtis photos when 50 Cent first posted them, you can check them out at the link below. Are you surprised to find out that Ciara isn’t the woman modelling with the New Yorker? Let us know in the comments.

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50 Cent Posts Seriously Sexy Ciara Throwback Pics To Celebrate “Curtis,” Trolls Mention Russell Wilson

September 11, 2023 by newhiphopnews

September 11 is a major day in hip-hop history – specifically in the year 2007 when both Kanye West and 50 Cent dropped some of their career’s most impressive LPs. For the former, it was his Graduation album that arrived, boasting singles like “Stronger” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.” As for the Power producer, he shared Curtis with the world, and to this day, we still have “Ayo Technology” with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland in rotation, as well as “I Get Money.”

On Monday afternoon, Fif hopped on Instagram to celebrate the 16-year anniversary of his past release. “I dropped this album 16 years ago today, I had so much shit going on in the street,” the media mogul reflected. “I was writing ‘Curtis 187’, I told @tonyyayo these fools cr*zy, they think I’m scared . So we have [an] advantage, they stupid LOL.” In the accompanying photo dump, the “Candy Shop” rapper included a selection of throwback photos that see him posing with a nearly nude Ciara.

50 Cent Celebrates 16 Years of Curtis

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)

The performer – currently pregnant with her fourth child and married to Russell Wilson – wore nothing more than a thong and heels in the sultry images. CiCi spent her day on set wrapping her toned body around 50’s abs, and even reaching her hands down his pants to cop a feel.

In the comment section of the post, some trolls are teasing Fif about his lack of respect for Ciara’s husband. “Yo, that’s someone’s wife now Fif. Take these posts down! Lol!” one of them joked. “Russell Wilson right now like, ‘F**k,’” someone else speculated of the athlete’s reaction.

Ciara’s Sexy Snaps Bring Russell Wilson’s Name Into the Chat

“Damn, not Ciara ,” another IG user commented under Fif’s commemorative post. “Wilson already took an L last night ,” they laughed. Do you think the New Yorker’s Curtis throwback post is out of pocket? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

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50 Cent’s “Ayo Technology” Was A Big Reason “Curtis” Was So Successful

September 11, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Back In 2007 (which is crazy to think was 16 years ago now) brought about some truly massive albums. Shock Value by Timbaland, American Gangster by Jay-Z, and Souljaboytellem.com by Soulja Boy, were some of the big-ticket LPs. However, the two that stand alone from the rest of the pack are Kanye West’s Graduation and 50 Cent’s Curtis. What is even more fascinating, is that both legends decided to go one-on-one on September 11, 2007.

Ye’s and Fif’s respective projects reeled in gargantuan numbers during their first week of sales. The Chicago kid (Kanye) easily surpassed everyone with the most copies sold in its first week in 2007 with 957,000 units. But, New York’s finest was right up there still, putting up a whopping 691,000 figure. In today’s rap landscape that is nearly impossible to do nowadays, especially in 2023. A contributing factor to this album’s moneymaking ability was the track, “Ayo Technology.”

Relisten To “Ayo Technology” Off Of Curtis From 50 Cent

According to Genius, this was the fourth single ahead of the rapper’s third commercial release. It reached a high peak on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart debuting at number five. Additionally, the track back in January of 2023 went two times platinum. It is another club banger for 50 and one that flies under the radar. That might do with the fact that he went for a more smooth and melodic tone, bringing on Justin Timberlake and Timbaland into the mix. The beat from Timb is very video game-esque sort of fitting into the title of the track.

What were your initial thoughts on “Ayo Technology” off of Curtis by 50 Cent, Timbaland, and Justin Timberlake? Is this an underrated hit in 50’s catalog? Which song is your favorite off of this project? Where does this album rank in his discography? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the best throwbacks, as well as all of the latest breaking news around the music world.

Quotable Lyrics:

Think she double-jointed from the way she split it
Got your head fucked up from the way she did it
She so much more than you used to
She know just how to move to seduce you

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