The fact that Graduation was both the bigger commercial and critical success was the death knell for thug rap, and correspondingly the Modernist movement of hip-hop. Some music critics remarked that compounded with West's urgent, emotive rapping style, the record sounded as if he were experiencing an existential crisis.

The sales battle [between Curtis and Graduation] serves as the final battle, the winner-take-all rumble between the present ( thug rap) and the future ( alternative rap) for rap supremacy.As was the case with both their previous albums, certain tracks that West originally crafted for Finding Forever that Common declined eventually ended up on his own studio album. Pitchfork critic Mark Pytlik complimented the accessibility of West's sonic experimentations, finding it impressive and innovative how he assembled seemingly disparate elements on the songs. The composition then enters an instrumental passage and finishes off with a sweeping string arrangement. At the end of the concert, a shower of silver confetti and ticker tape reading Touch the Sky fell from the ceiling onto the audience while the actual " Touch the Sky", which was the fourth single from Late Registration, was played on the speakers. The cover art and its interior artwork were designed by Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.

After the introduction, in which Mitchell's processed vocals repeat the titular hook four times, West raps the two verses, each one followed by the chorus sung by Dwele coupled with the hook.At the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, Graduation won the award for Best Rap Album, becoming West's third consecutive album to do so. The story begins on a rainy day with Dropout being awoken by his alarm clock and running out of his apartment to his car, modeled after a DeLorean. It also comes with a poster which is the best new addition to my room and also as a huge Kanye fan immediately needed Graduation in my CD collection.

The song also sports a reggae-inspired bridge delivered by Connie Mitchell in a distinct toasting vocal style. He played preview versions of the songs "Big Brother" and "Champion" from his forthcoming third album while making an appearance on DJ Tim Westwood's radio show on August 18. He has composed for brands including Vogue, Tens, Friday The 13th and Baby Audio, as well as synth arrangement on movies for Netflix and Paramount. Elsewhere, there’s much to suggest Kanye’s pop ambitions have no sign of waning: the opulent "Good Life" rolls along on a hook snatched from Michael Jackson’s "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)", while "Homecoming" follows Jay-Z’s lead and borrows the vocal talents of Coldplay’s Chris Martin.In comparison to previous albums, which were largely driven by observational commentary on matters pertaining to social welfare, Graduation is more introspective in nature and addresses personal themes. During the verses, West raps over a constant loop of the words "their eyes" while the chopped-up hook is formed from the question, "Did you realize, that you were a champion? Everything I Am" is a song of self-examination, in which West attempts to confront his fallacies by surveying the consequences of his outspokenness ruminating over various ways people expect him to conduct himself.