09/12/07 - Curtis Vs Graduation (Yahoo)

SouthSider · 09-12-2007, 11:38 AM

50 Cent, "Curtis" (Interscope) and Kanye West, "Graduation" (Def Jam)

Hip-hop's latest battle between two of its biggest egos — Kanye West and 50 Cent — has been building like a title fight in Vegas. Before the Tuesday release of their respective CDs, "Graduation" and "Curtis," 50 challenged West to a televised debate, called him a "worker bee" while describing himself as a "boss," and vowed to retire if West outsold him during their debut week. In response, West has mostly downplayed Fiddy's bluster, re-channeling it as added publicity for his own release. The two share a Rolling Stone magazine cover posed nose-to-nose, evoking the great showdowns of our time.

If the contest was being judged solely on artistic vision rather than Soundscan tallies, however, West could claim a landslide victory. "Graduation" blends a different set of musical influences than West's past two efforts, 2004's "The College Dropout" and 2005's "Late Registration." Drawing from Daft Punk and Coldplay to loping, back-porch soul and '80s-era electro-disco rhythms, "Graduation" still sounds like a logical step forward. Yet "Curtis" sounds like Fiddy is standing in place, with the familiar bruising basslines and slick, synth-heavy productions that have transformed the former drug dealer into one of the top-selling recording artists of any genre.

As on his previous releases, West measures his overflowing arrogance with self-conscious dollops of doubt, humor and vulnerability. Meanwhile, Fiddy's outsized cockiness sounds like a comfortable artist repeating himself, afraid to tinker with his winning formulas.

To wit, on the radio-ready track "Good Life," featuring the digitally enhanced singing of T-Pain, West takes some of his adversary's own advice and paraphrases a line from Fiddy's 2003 smash "In Da Club": "50 told me go head switch your style up/ And if they hate, then let 'em hate and watch the money pile up."

The so-called "hate" West has received for his award-show outbursts, preppy fashion choices and unfiltered honesty results in a lot of explaining on his new album. On the haunting "Can't Tell Me Nothing," West alludes to his infamous "Bush hates black people" post-Hurricane Katrina comment: "I'm just saying how I feel man/ I ain't one of the Cosbys, I ain't go to Hillman," before speaking about himself facetiously, "I guess the money should've changed him/ I guess I should've forgot where I came from."

To avoid seeming soft and indecisive, elsewhere he undercuts apologies with knowing brashness. On the addictive "Barry Bonds" featuring Lil Wayne, West boasts: "Top five MCs you gotta rewind me/ I'm high up on the line, you gotta get behind me/ but my head so big you can't sit behind me."

By disc's end, on the captivating "Big Brother," West even dares bite the hand the feeds him, detailing the mild beef but ultimate reverence he has for his label boss Jay-Z.

Neither self-deprecation nor humility is part of Fiddy's equation. He's more concerned about squashing rivals, real and imagined ("My Gun Go Off," "I Still Kill"), highlighting his street pedigree and reminding us of his bottomless wealth.

The disc is mostly standard-issue gangsta talk that only in moments recalls vintage Fiddy such as "Wanksta" or "P.I.M.P." For example, on the menacing funk of "Fully Loaded Clip," Fiddy takes aim at rap/R&B elite who've gone soft, snickering: "When Jay and Beyonce was um-um kissing/ I was cooking 1,000 grams in my kitchen/ When Nas was telling Kelis, "I love you, boo"/ I was shining my nine, you know how I do." And over the deep bass thuds of "I Get Money," which features a classic Audio Two sample, Fiddy gloats: "They callin' me cocky/ I come up out the jeweler, they callin' me Rocky/ It's the ice on my neck man, the wrist and my left hand/ bling like BA-LOW, you like my style."

As much as Fiddy banks on ruthless rhymes and nouveau riche bragging, he also fancies himself a rugged sex symbol. Hence the obligatory cuts that reveal his sensitive thug side, notably, "Amusement Park" and "Peep Show," the latter featuring a lewd verse from Eminem. However, the tracks capture little of the magic of past winners such as the touching "21 Questions" or the seductive "Candy Shop."

And when Fiddy enlists Justin Timberlake and Timbaland for "Ayo Technology," Robin Thicke on "Follow My Lead" and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger on "Fire," it feels like a rapper in a rut desperate to maintain his pop stranglehold. The songs aren't tough listens by any means, but Fiddy is going the easy route to appeal to the masses.

Ill-advised collaborations detract from West's "Graduation" as well. "Drunk and Hot Girls," an exasperated dis of club floozies featuring Mos Def, has a grating and humorless hook. And "Homecoming" includes an unremarkable chorus sung by Coldplay's Chris Martin. Still, West's miscues result from a risk-taking spirit that Fiddy lacks. For that reason alone, West should claim the title of hip-hop's most successful egomaniac.

CHECK OUT THESE TRACKS: The drum kicks of Fiddy's "I Get Money" are meant to rattle trunk speakers, while West shows that it's OK for a rapper to express paralyzing insecurity and dogged ambition in the same breath on "Big Brother."

all_Eyez · 09-12-2007, 11:41 AM

Curtis > Graduation, IMO.

AdamRogers · 09-12-2007, 12:28 PM

Graduation 7.0
Curtis 7.5

buggZ_M · 09-12-2007, 12:48 PM

Curtis would have been great if it wasn't censored!!!

all_Eyez · 09-12-2007, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamRogers

Graduation 7.0
Curtis 7.5

Fair IMO...

DJ Reload · 09-13-2007, 05:07 AM

proppppzzzzzz

Pureh · 09-13-2007, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamRogers

Graduation 7.0
Curtis 7.5

ًWhat said

Morpheus101 · 09-13-2007, 11:00 AM

Curtisssssss!

The Rise · 09-13-2007, 12:55 PM

Curtis >>> Graduation !

ste ash · 09-13-2007, 01:15 PM

curtisss.........

ste ash · 09-13-2007, 01:16 PM

graduation is tight too

Bloody Jerz · 09-13-2007, 02:14 PM

But 50 did more rappin Ye whole CD is Sampled

kmr61187 · 09-13-2007, 02:23 PM

props kayne took it thou

justincredible19 · 09-13-2007, 07:53 PM

i liked the Curtis a tad bit better.

martin03 · 09-13-2007, 08:48 PM

curtis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike O · 09-13-2007, 09:31 PM

I Don't Really Like Kayne's Album His Beats Are Yucky..
And "Curtis" Isn't The Best..

K I N G · 09-13-2007, 11:10 PM

propzzzzzzzzzzzz

grapgunit5290 · 09-14-2007, 04:41 PM

every1 likes curtis better but def jam buyin albums

applepie · 09-14-2007, 10:53 PM

I like the Curtis .

BluntWrapz · 09-18-2007, 05:57 AM

who stinks like smelly butts

I Duz Dis · 10-22-2007, 01:24 PM

propzzzzzzzzz

CrossOver · 10-25-2007, 02:39 AM

Propzzzzzz

dabeach757 · 10-28-2007, 08:37 AM

Propz Good Read....

MR POPS · 10-28-2007, 08:59 PM

i enjoyed graduation but both of these young cats cant compare to my era of hip hop

ijustwantfamous · 10-29-2007, 12:17 AM

yeah good to see real music won

go kanye kill fif

lol

props

09-12-2007, 11:38 AM	#1
SouthSider Mr. What It Do Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tha Infamous (Southside LDN) Posts: 1,682 Repped: 454 Repped 770 Times in 159 Posts Neg Reps: 28 Neg Repped at 25 Times in 19 Posts	09/12/07 - Curtis Vs Graduation (Yahoo) 09/12/07 - Curtis Vs Graduation (Yahoo) 50 Cent, "Curtis" (Interscope) and Kanye West, "Graduation" (Def Jam) Hip-hop's latest battle between two of its biggest egos — Kanye West and 50 Cent — has been building like a title fight in Vegas. Before the Tuesday release of their respective CDs, "Graduation" and "Curtis," 50 challenged West to a televised debate, called him a "worker bee" while describing himself as a "boss," and vowed to retire if West outsold him during their debut week. In response, West has mostly downplayed Fiddy's bluster, re-channeling it as added publicity for his own release. The two share a Rolling Stone magazine cover posed nose-to-nose, evoking the great showdowns of our time. If the contest was being judged solely on artistic vision rather than Soundscan tallies, however, West could claim a landslide victory. "Graduation" blends a different set of musical influences than West's past two efforts, 2004's "The College Dropout" and 2005's "Late Registration." Drawing from Daft Punk and Coldplay to loping, back-porch soul and '80s-era electro-disco rhythms, "Graduation" still sounds like a logical step forward. Yet "Curtis" sounds like Fiddy is standing in place, with the familiar bruising basslines and slick, synth-heavy productions that have transformed the former drug dealer into one of the top-selling recording artists of any genre. As on his previous releases, West measures his overflowing arrogance with self-conscious dollops of doubt, humor and vulnerability. Meanwhile, Fiddy's outsized cockiness sounds like a comfortable artist repeating himself, afraid to tinker with his winning formulas. To wit, on the radio-ready track "Good Life," featuring the digitally enhanced singing of T-Pain, West takes some of his adversary's own advice and paraphrases a line from Fiddy's 2003 smash "In Da Club": "50 told me go head switch your style up/ And if they hate, then let 'em hate and watch the money pile up." The so-called "hate" West has received for his award-show outbursts, preppy fashion choices and unfiltered honesty results in a lot of explaining on his new album. On the haunting "Can't Tell Me Nothing," West alludes to his infamous "Bush hates black people" post-Hurricane Katrina comment: "I'm just saying how I feel man/ I ain't one of the Cosbys, I ain't go to Hillman," before speaking about himself facetiously, "I guess the money should've changed him/ I guess I should've forgot where I came from." To avoid seeming soft and indecisive, elsewhere he undercuts apologies with knowing brashness. On the addictive "Barry Bonds" featuring Lil Wayne, West boasts: "Top five MCs you gotta rewind me/ I'm high up on the line, you gotta get behind me/ but my head so big you can't sit behind me." By disc's end, on the captivating "Big Brother," West even dares bite the hand the feeds him, detailing the mild beef but ultimate reverence he has for his label boss Jay-Z. Neither self-deprecation nor humility is part of Fiddy's equation. He's more concerned about squashing rivals, real and imagined ("My Gun Go Off," "I Still Kill"), highlighting his street pedigree and reminding us of his bottomless wealth. The disc is mostly standard-issue gangsta talk that only in moments recalls vintage Fiddy such as "Wanksta" or "P.I.M.P." For example, on the menacing funk of "Fully Loaded Clip," Fiddy takes aim at rap/R&B elite who've gone soft, snickering: "When Jay and Beyonce was um-um kissing/ I was cooking 1,000 grams in my kitchen/ When Nas was telling Kelis, "I love you, boo"/ I was shining my nine, you know how I do." And over the deep bass thuds of "I Get Money," which features a classic Audio Two sample, Fiddy gloats: "They callin' me cocky/ I come up out the jeweler, they callin' me Rocky/ It's the ice on my neck man, the wrist and my left hand/ bling like BA-LOW, you like my style." As much as Fiddy banks on ruthless rhymes and nouveau riche bragging, he also fancies himself a rugged sex symbol. Hence the obligatory cuts that reveal his sensitive thug side, notably, "Amusement Park" and "Peep Show," the latter featuring a lewd verse from Eminem. However, the tracks capture little of the magic of past winners such as the touching "21 Questions" or the seductive "Candy Shop." And when Fiddy enlists Justin Timberlake and Timbaland for "Ayo Technology," Robin Thicke on "Follow My Lead" and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger on "Fire," it feels like a rapper in a rut desperate to maintain his pop stranglehold. The songs aren't tough listens by any means, but Fiddy is going the easy route to appeal to the masses. Ill-advised collaborations detract from West's "Graduation" as well. "Drunk and Hot Girls," an exasperated dis of club floozies featuring Mos Def, has a grating and humorless hook. And "Homecoming" includes an unremarkable chorus sung by Coldplay's Chris Martin. Still, West's miscues result from a risk-taking spirit that Fiddy lacks. For that reason alone, West should claim the title of hip-hop's most successful egomaniac. CHECK OUT THESE TRACKS: The drum kicks of Fiddy's "I Get Money" are meant to rattle trunk speakers, while West shows that it's OK for a rapper to express paralyzing insecurity and dogged ambition in the same breath on "Big Brother." __________________ The most anticipated artist with no CD to sell But ya'll feelin every word like you readin in brail Get it? Big Paybacc

09-12-2007, 12:48 PM	#4
buggZ_M ~~Tha Butcher~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Murdahapolis Posts: 799 Repped: 152 Repped 90 Times in 19 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Curtis would have been great if it wasn't censored!!! __________________ I drink octane, spit hot flames. Make U wish ur Mom swollowed when ur Pops came...

09-18-2007, 05:57 AM	#20
BluntWrapz Cold Blooded♫ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: FunkkyTown Posts: 597 Repped: 253 Repped 120 Times in 33 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	who stinks like smelly butts __________________ "I turn the ice-grills into rainwater puddles"

10-25-2007, 02:39 AM	#22
CrossOver Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bay Area Posts: 96 Repped: 31 Repped 28 Times in 5 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Propzzzzzz __________________ Authentic Hip-Hop @ foreveramovement.com

10-29-2007, 12:17 AM	#25
ijustwantfamous WooHah Got yall in check! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 152 Repped: 0 Repped 3 Times in 2 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	yeah good to see real music won go kanye kill fif lol props __________________ SIGN the petition against WESTKEPTSECRET hhboard.com/showthread.php?p=2775418#post2775418

09-12-2007, 11:41 AM	#2
all_Eyez Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 507 Repped: 15 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Curtis > Graduation, IMO.

09-12-2007, 12:28 PM	#3
AdamRogers Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 565 Repped: 43 Repped 13 Times in 7 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	Graduation 7.0 Curtis 7.5

09-13-2007, 05:07 AM	#6
DJ Reload Dusty Decks Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Unknown Posts: 389 Repped: 134 Repped 6 Times in 5 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	proppppzzzzzz

09-13-2007, 11:00 AM	#8
Morpheus101 Rite where you stand... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Jerz Posts: 462 Repped: 111 Repped 16 Times in 8 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Curtisssssss!

09-13-2007, 12:55 PM	#9
The Rise Run 2 The Sun Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Germany Posts: 1,548 Repped: 535 Repped 71 Times in 17 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Curtis >>> Graduation !

09-13-2007, 01:15 PM	#10
ste ash Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 170 Repped: 2 Repped 4 Times in 4 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	curtisss.........

09-13-2007, 01:16 PM	#11
ste ash Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 170 Repped: 2 Repped 4 Times in 4 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	graduation is tight too

09-13-2007, 02:14 PM	#12
Bloody Jerz Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 301 Repped: 179 Repped 1 Time in 1 Post Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	But 50 did more rappin Ye whole CD is Sampled

09-13-2007, 02:23 PM	#13
kmr61187 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,245 Repped: 1,136 Repped 1 Time in 1 Post Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	props kayne took it thou

09-13-2007, 07:53 PM	#14
justincredible19 Veteran Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,193 Repped: 555 Repped 208 Times in 33 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	i liked the Curtis a tad bit better.

09-13-2007, 08:48 PM	#15
martin03 Cangri Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: B-Town, OR Posts: 840 Repped: 618 Repped 43 Times in 7 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	curtis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

09-13-2007, 09:31 PM	#16
Mike O Mike O Records Baby Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Big D, TeXas Posts: 817 Repped: 290 Repped 48 Times in 13 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I Don't Really Like Kayne's Album His Beats Are Yucky.. And "Curtis" Isn't The Best..

09-13-2007, 11:10 PM	#17
K I N G Broward County Goon 954 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 565 Repped: 381 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	propzzzzzzzzzzzz

09-14-2007, 04:41 PM	#18
grapgunit5290 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 804 Repped: 143 Repped 152 Times in 33 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	every1 likes curtis better but def jam buyin albums

09-14-2007, 10:53 PM	#19
applepie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Orlando city Posts: 36 Repped: 0 Repped 2 Times in 2 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I like the Curtis .

10-22-2007, 01:24 PM	#21
I Duz Dis Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tha Hood Posts: 190 Repped: 81 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	propzzzzzzzzz

10-28-2007, 08:37 AM	#23
dabeach757 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: fuck this Posts: 533 Repped: 149 Repped 379 Times in 39 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Propz Good Read....

10-28-2007, 08:59 PM	#24
MR POPS Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Bronx Posts: 60 Repped: 27 Repped 4 Times in 1 Post Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	i enjoyed graduation but both of these young cats cant compare to my era of hip hop

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