Although not as personal as many may be accustomed to, his lyrics in "Good Morning" (and in most of the rest the album) take on an everyman quality. Kanye reminisces of the past, survives the present and romanticizes the future with aplomb and trademark wit. And yes the arrogance is still there… He damn near breaks an arm from patting himself on the back in tracks like "Champion."

The layered percussion behind the celebratory "Good Life" compliment its T-Pain vocals. The Alvin and the chipmunks-sounding sampling from Michael Jackson "PYT" and in the "The Glory" (from Laura Nyro's "Save the Country") are the closest West gets to his hyper-fast soul samples of old. Don't get comfortable with that; West then pushes full speed ahead with the compelling, self-consciousness of "Can't Tell Me Nothing."

Stylistic breakthroughs continue with West's synth-pop feel in "Stronger". A further progression of this comes through in "Flashing Lights," a soulful track that pierces the soul of those in search of celebrity and nightlife. Missed marks come through in class projects such as the Chris Martin's tepid "I Wonder" and mixtape wonder Lil' Wayne's word association comes off as pure silliness in "Barry Bonds". The highly personal "Big Brother" and "Everything I Am" compensate, allowing West's latest to graduate somewhere between magna cum laude and suma.

The reward should be Kanye never having to make such a spectacle of himself while chasing renown. Perhaps he can now be free of worrying over skittish award academies and buyers who check blogs and industry gossip before copping his future albums. Perhaps this is the accolade West is truly in search of; a media-impervious loyalty from fans from the strength of his high marks alone.