*all photos by SELECTOR GT.

for some of you who may not have experienced a listening party, this is how it goes:

there’s a party at a club where a DJ plays the upcoming album of the artist. lots of “important people” are invited; industry peeps, press, tastemakers, and a-listers.most times the artist isn’t even there and you’re just chilling, looking at other people and talking about bs. no introduction, it just feels like a party.

last night the whole ISLAND DEF JAM family was asked to come to KANYE’S super-exclusive listening visual craze (he gave me a sneak preview of it the day before and i was blown away). the first step to it being better than the rest was that it took place in a theatre. GABE asked me to bring 15 cool downtown people…a good idea to mix up the crowd. 8 people came with me; the usual suspects- OSCAR, WOODY, RESTING GENERAL, KUNLE, FRANCO, ROB SEMMER, STEPHEN & ANDREW SB WEAR.

we walked into the theatre where they were serving free popcorn, “boozie smoothies” and open bar. just like downtown kids with no manners, we got too excited and started grabbing for things-ha.

it was nothing like any listening parties around. people flooded the theatre for a show. we were handed plastic sunglasses like the one YE wears in his STRONGER video along with the song booklet with some of the artwork from his album (which is so rad).

KANYE came out and briefly introduced the event. there were clips from 2001- SPACE ODYSSEY, TRON, IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, AKIRA, etc cued up to each song. lights and lazers were synched to each track. it was visual nirvana matched with the dope music of GRADUATION…in stores 9/11!!! (and no, i’m no drinking the kool aid! it’s just really good).

*OSCAR, KUNLE, WOODROW, ME (after RESTING GENERAL and ROB bailed on us, we abandoned FRANCO and STEPHEN & ANDREW SB WEAR during the show).