Graduation

Graduation, released in 2007, is Kanye West's third studio album and represents a shift toward synth-forward, stadium-friendly production that blends hip hop, pop rap and electropop with alternative hip hop sensibilities. The record moves away from the heavy soul-sample sound of his earlier albums in favor of layered synthesizers, electronic textures and polished, anthemic arrangements while retaining introspective and boastful lyrical themes about fame, ambition and personal growth. Its combination of pop-oriented hooks, electronic influences and hip hop foundations broadened the album's sonic reach within mainstream hip hop at the time.