Been playing Graduation for a few days, here and there, classic to me, and what I needed for continued inspiration around that time in 2007
what stands out to me, is his humility, or at least as it relates to Kanye. It's a personal album, stripped of a lot of grandiosity, both in the production and themes. Less self righteous. Even the sound is minimalist, toned down. He's reflective on Big Brother, maybe not entirely self aware, but it's there.
Where he started to sound like he was losing it a little, was ironically, one of his better moments during that time, Jeezy Put On,
and then 808's And Heartbreak, which he was a lot more self involved, bitter, self righteous, unhappy.