Kanye West has never failed to impress. That certainly doesn't change with the release of this album. After listening to both albums, I am sure that he will come out on top of the well publicized competition with rival 50 cent (whose newest release, curtis, was a bit disappointment in my opinion).
This record plays well from start to finish focusing on Kanye's excellent production, beats, and choruses. His lyrics on this release are good even if slightly cheesy at times (drunk and hot girls, for one example). The first single, Stronger, which includes an incredible sample of Daft Punk is a strong point. Also standout tracks are The Champion, Big Brother, and The Glory.
Kanye West has a way of appealing to all types of music listeners and he seems to have an appreciation for music in general. This is a must have album that is not limited to fans of hip-hop/rap.