This is easily my favorite Ye album.

Nearly 19 years after its release, Ye’s Graduation has officially become one of just three rap albums to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify in 2026. The milestone places it alongside Drake’s ICEMAN and Don Toliver’s OCTANE.

To me, Graduation remains my favorite Kanye West album, even though I believe My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is his greatest overall project. There is something special about Graduation that captures Ye at his most charming. The album feels warm, loose, and confident, while also representing the moment he evolved from a backpack rapper into a true stadium superstar.

Songs like “Flashing Lights” and “Stronger” showed Ye’s ability to create massive records without sacrificing creativity, while tracks like “Big Brother” and “Hey Mama” tapped into his vulnerable side. Nearly two decades later, the album still feels fresh, and the replay value remains incredibly high. Hell, I still listen to it every other month.

If I knew a genie, one of my three wishes would be for Ye to return to his Graduation roots.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.