Ever since Mining Man’s departure from Eazy Thugz, one narrative has dominated nearly every discussion surrounding the group: that they can’t survive without him. Every new release has been judged through that lens, and nowhere is that more obvious than with “Graduating From High Skewl.”

But what if fans are judging the album for what it isn’t instead of appreciating it for what it is?

Calling Graduating From High Skewl a failure ignores what the album actually accomplishes. Rather than trying to recreate Approach 2 Muthaphuckking Danger or Rollin From Da Hood, Eazy Thugz chose to make something different. That doesn’t automatically make it worse—it makes it a creative risk.

Hip-hop has always rewarded artists who evolve. If every album sounded exactly like the last one, critics would accuse the group of becoming repetitive. Yet when Eazy Thugz experiments with a lighter, more humorous, and more energetic style, some fans suddenly act as though change itself is a flaw.

The album’s playful nature is one of its greatest strengths.

Not every rap record has to be dark, gritty, or emotionally heavy. Graduating From High Skewl embraces absurd humor, catchy hooks, entertaining concepts, and chemistry between the remaining members. It feels like a group enjoying themselves rather than trying to force another copy of an earlier classic.

That’s refreshing.

Many of the complaints surrounding the album also seem to have less to do with the music and more to do with Mining Man’s absence. If the exact same songs had been released before his departure, would people still call them rushed or unfinished? Or are fans hearing the album through the expectation that something must be missing?

It’s a fair question.

Mining Man undoubtedly played an important role in Eazy Thugz’s history, but history is full of groups that continued successfully after lineup changes. Every member contributes something unique, yet no single artist should be viewed as larger than the group’s identity itself.

In many ways, Graduating From High Skewl proves exactly that.

The remaining members carry the album with confidence, showing they are capable of writing memorable songs, experimenting with different sounds, and keeping the group’s personality alive. Instead of collapsing under pressure, they delivered an album that feels energetic, creative, and surprisingly cohesive considering the circumstances surrounding its creation.

Perhaps the biggest reason the album deserves more respect is because it refuses to play it safe.

Rather than spending an entire record trying to imitate the past or dwelling on Mining Man’s departure, Eazy Thugz pushed forward. They made an album that stands on its own identity instead of living in the shadow of previous releases.

Will every fan enjoy the new direction? Probably not.

But albums that challenge expectations are often the ones that age the best. Music history is full of projects that were criticized upon release before later being recognized as classics once listeners separated them from the expectations surrounding them.

Graduating From High Skewl may follow that same path.

Instead of viewing it as “the album after Mining Man,” perhaps it’s time to view it for what it actually is: a bold, entertaining, and underappreciated project that proves Eazy Thugz is still capable of surprising listeners.

Whether it eventually becomes a fan favorite remains to be seen, but dismissing it simply because it sounds different overlooks what may end up being one of the group’s most creative records.