Late Registration (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Kanye West > Reviews > Kanye's Late Registration Earns Him An A*

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	The Perfect hiphop album
Disadvantages:	None at all .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Kanye West is back, bigger and better than ever.

"Late Registration" is the second album from hiphop saviour Kanye. The 2004 smash "College Dropout" was always going to be a hard act to follow. He burst onto the scene in 2004; banging out hit after hit from "Through The Wire" to "Workout Plan". But anyone who knows hiphop will know that Kanye is a lot more than just another rapper. He's one hell of a producer. He has the magic touch, producing songs for the likes of The Game's "Dream", Alicia Keys "You Don't Know My Name" and Jay Z's "Encore". That's only the tip of the iceberg. Kanye West is the hottest producer of the moment. Anyone who's anyone wants Kanye on their album.

He's come a long way from his humble beginnings in Chicago. He started out producing at Rocafella (Jay Z's and Damon Dash's label). They doubted his rapping ability, but once he dropped them a demo, they released...this man is something special. He's been producing since the tender age of 20 and now at 28 he's nothing short of a superstar.

"Late Registration" delivers some truely magical moments. Full of soul, hiphop attitude and Kanye's meaningful lyrics. What sets him apart from his other counterparts his lyrics. His songs don't revolve around the one dimensional themes of money, bitches and drugs like some of todays hiphop artists. No, Kanye delivers his own unique message about dropping out of college, having no money and love to name a few of the themes. His message immediately connects with the listener not distance him.

"Heard 'Em Say" is a rather surprising collaboration between Kanye and Adam Levine of Maroon5. As much I'm not a huge fan of Maroon5, there is no denying that Levine's voice is rather soulful and distinctive. "Heard 'Em Say" has the heavy, nodding hiphop beat but there is a real soul edge delivered by the piano. It's really rather beautiful. Adam Levine and Kanye blend perfectly on this track, Kanye's lyrics are quite reflective and deals with the youth of today immitating their role models, the government but there is a prevailing sense of hope. "They say people in your life are seasons, Anything that happen is for a reason". What makes this track a hit with me is it's laid back feel and Adam Levine on the chorus captures the whole feel of the song wonderfully.

Now, for my favourite song on the album without a doubt. "Touch The Sky" just made me realise what an amazing producer Kanye West is, possibly one of the best of our time? I think so. "Touch The Sky" captures the essence and happiness of success perfectly. Uplifting and upbeat, it can't help but put a smile on your face. On this tune Kanye samples the anthem that is Curtis Mayfield "Move On Up". He's taken the tune of it and added a slightly heavier beat, but the strings and horns are still there. "Touch The Sky" lyrically charts the success of Kanye from moving in his little rental van to having this fabulous lifestyle, for which he appears very grateful. "I gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly."

The soulful mixed with the hiphop seems to run throughout the album. It's evident on "Gold Digger" (the latest single). Jamie Foxx delivers the goods with his powerful, funky vocals like something from the Motown or Atlantic Soul days. While Kanye gives his view on the gold diggers that are ever present in the hiphop celebrity scene. Humorous but very true his lyrics are entertaining and his style is bouncy and fun. "Cutie the bomb, Met her at a beauty salon, With a baby Louis Vuitton, Under her arm.....now aint saying she's a gold digger, but she aint messing with no broke niggaz." The duet with Brandy "Bring Me Down" gives a very empowering, serious message but keeps the soul edge with Brandy's silky, smooth chorus. The title doesn't need explaining but he's getting a dig in at the rappers who are slagging him off. "Most you rappers don't even deserve a track from me, You see if you ever wanted to be anything, There'd always be somebody that shoot down any dream."

"Hey Mama" is funky, soulful and one that is dedicated to his mum. It may sound a bit naff but the way he rhymes it comes across as anything but that. Displaying his mum's qualities and how she struggled to bring him up. But Kanye feels a bit guilty that he dropped out of college, the one thing his mum told him to do. "But you still supported me when i done the opposite." The backing vocals complete the track, a woman's voice singing "la la la la la, hey mama." Another gem appears near the end of the album "Gone" featuring Cam'Ron and Consequence is something special. The hiphop soul is clear, the soul edge delivered by an old Otis Redding sample from "It's too late". The song doesn't focus on just one element in the lyrics, I suppose if it's about anything it's about escaping from the black neighbourhoods and living this privileged lifestyle.

The great thing about "Late Registration" is that it provides the perfect blend of the fun and the serious. Like the serious, almost 30s-esque gangster feel of "Drive Slow". It's deep and mysterious. "Crack Music" is a fairly political collaboration with the Game. "Crack Music" deals with the drugs culture in the hoods and projects while also giving George Bush his fair share of criticism. "Who gave Sadaam the anthrax? George Bush has the answers, Back in the hood it's a different type of chemical." The tender side of Kanye West emerges on "Roses" an ode to his ill grandmother. It's very sad and the lyrics are some of his most powerful on the entire album. You really just have to listen to it to appreciate it.

"Late Registration" is bursting with songs. So I would be a fool to go into all 22 of them. It's an album of epic proportions. But one of the main themes I found when listening is the one of how the role of African Americans has changed but other parts of the world, the Black Community is still struggling even part of slave trades. Nowhere is this made more clear than on "Diamonds are from Sierra Leone". Here Kanye takes the Shirley Bassey, James Bond anthem "Diamonds are Forever" and turns it on its head. A piece of production and lyrical genius. So good there are two versions on the album (the normal edit and a remix with Jay Z). It still uses the original backing track and Bassey's chorus but Kanye lyrics are engaging as he charts this awakening within him. "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" is magical and builds up into the fabulous chrous'.

As with a lot of hiphop albums there is a good amount of Skits but on "Late Registration" they all feature Bernie Mac who is really funny and witty. The skits on here aren't pointless, they all provide an apt interlude or build up to the next tune. Some might hate the skits but I think this is one of the few occassions where they actually work and enrich an album.

So let's cut to the chase, "Late Registration" is fabulous. Kanye has delivered another fantastic album. Lyrically it's Kanye West at his most aware of himself and his past. His rhymes have a real flow to them and he mixes it up all the time. Socially he's on the pulse and seems to capture what's happening in the world wether it be Bush or the lack of help for the poorest people in America or the continuing slave trade. People say he's arrogant but I think he's just very confident of his own ability. This record shows nothing in the way of arrogance or him being pompous. Production wise, Kanye can't really put a foot wrong at the moment. He's raided the old soul archives and weaved elements of classics through some of the songs. This works so well. Whilst he keeps the hiphop heads nodding with his heavy beats. There are a lot of collaborations but Kanye has got the big guns in everyone from JayZ, Cam'ron and Nas are on here. "Late Registration" offers a salvation that hiphop music isn't going down the pan where a lot of the music is about thugs rhyming about how many people they shot.

Compared to "College Dropout" I would say it's even better. This album has a bit more depth. But they are both two classic albums. The cover is recognisable. The college dropout bear is stood on front of two massive doors making a kind of judgement day feel. Inside the bear is photographed sitting at tables reading books and standing lecture halls.

"Late Registration" is a must for anyone who loves hiphop, soul, r'n'b or rap music. But I have a feeling that lots of people would love this, even if it's for it's sheer ambition. Kanye West is one of the most gifted musicians of our time. So if you're looking for something funky, aware, original or just different then try this. Kanye is the saviour of hiphop.

"Late Registration" is available from HMV priced £9.99

*The uk version features bonus track "We Can Make It Better".

For further information check out www.kanyewest.com or www.rocafella.com

 

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