Kanye West - Late Registration
By KAB
West interlaces solid production values with reflections on human nature on Late Registration. It seems like only yesterday that Kanye West released his debut album "The College Dropout," an exceptional  masterpiece that raised the bar on hip-hop music in general, and subsequently garnered five Grammy Awards and multi-platinum record sales. Now in late August of 2005, he returns with his sophomore album, which takes the form of "Late Registration."
On this album, Kanye West, along with his supporting cast of performers including, Jon Brion, executive producer and manager of string instruments, as well as Jay-Z, Brandy, the Game, Paul Wall, Common, and Cam'ron, examine the struggles of life that accommodate mostly all individuals, departing from the malefactor representative images that are the monopoly, and consequently the tragic flaw of the majority of that which is prevalent to the genre. For example, we have "Hey, Mama," an emotional phenomenon on which West pays homage to his mother while looping a series of figuration-lacking solemnizations, which then hook the vocals into soul-sonic efficacy. He also promises her that he will return to school. We have "Addiction," on which West poses the fundamental question: "Why everything that's supposed to be bad, makes me feel so good? Everything they told me not to, is exactly what I would." On "Crack Music," West teams up with the Game. Together, they discuss political matters, and the lyrics are laced through the use of informed axioms. For instance, in one verse, we hear the following set of lyrics: "Crack raised the murder rate in DC and Maryland. We invested in that it's like we got Merrill-Lynch. And we been hangin' from the same tree ever since. Sometimes I feel the music is the only medicine."
In general, every track featured on "Late Registration" is masterfully composed and performed, causing the album to flow seamlessly from the very beginning to very end. There are heavy drums and evocative sounds. "We Major" (co-performed by Nas) is a late-1970s dance music groove which fades to silence midway through, and proceeding the moment where we hear West ask, "Can I talk my stuff again?" the beat returns, and West does just that as the groove runs past the seven-minute boundary.
In conclusion, this album is sure to be a winner, which should not be missed by any of Mr. West's fans who enjoyed listening to the "The College Dropout." As one of the most anticipated albums of 2005, West does not disappoint with "Late Registration."
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