Kanye West's first album surpassed all expectations as the roc-a-fella artist had been passed up by so many other record labels but this album built on already the solid foundation that he had wit College Dropout. I love reviewing music but i am not sure how great I am at doing so haha. As some of you if you've read my other reviews no im into downloading music LEGALLY of course rather than paying extortionate prices for the whole album. I'll give a track by track review but skip out the skits and intros.
Track 2 - Heard 'em Say ft. Adam Levine* This song is great and sees hip-hop mixed with jazz and a little bit of rock brought by the vocal capabilities of the front man of Maroon 5. Catchy hook nice soft chorus this is music rather than hardcore hip hop; although this song is undoubtedly commercial it is a good song none the less. However, Kanye West's ridiculous opinion that 90% of white people are racist and the whole world is against black people comes through the lyrics. 8/10
Track 3 - Touch the Sky ft. Lupe Fiasco* This song is hottt, i hope he releases it. It has some excellent horns that liven it up (when was the last time there were trumpets on
a hip hop track?!). Lyrically this track is sublime. Too good to put into words. It is a must to download! 9/10
Track 4 - Gold Digger ft. Jamie Foxx* As always Jamie Foxx featuring in a track makes it great. The same happens in Kanye's last album with slow jamz. This song needs to be listened to to e appreciated fully but it is also lyrically great with subtleties such as: She went to the doctor got lypo with ya money She walkin around lookin like Michael with ya money'. No wonder this song was a hit!!
Track 6 - Drive Slow ft Paul Wall and GLC* Like the beginning of this album the song is light and really is a track to think to. Kanye talks rather than reaps and really softens the mood. A track to think to!
Track 7 - My Way Home ft Common This song is quite disappointing the only good thing about it is it is so short don't really want to talk about it any more it really is a waste of time.
Track 8 - Crack Music This song is a really hardcore hip hop song featuring the Game so if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen!! haha. Im serious though if your not into hip hop as such e.g. 50 cent's non comerical stuff then you will not like this song. A lot of swearing!
Track 9 - Roses* Several people seem to like this song but i don't really agree, however, i can see how this could be the case. I would recommend it to legally download simply due to the majority of people enjoy it. The song is sad mixed with Kanye's snail rap.
Track 10 - Bring Me Down ft Brandy This song carries on where Roses leaves off keeping the sombre mood. Once again I do not particularly enjoy this but many others do. However Brandy does mix well with Kanye in my opinion there are some promising seconds in the track.
Track 11 - Addiction This song enitially when listened to I thought it was a whole lot of rubbish to be honest, however, it is quite deep that portrays Kanye on his own in a track which he very rarely is; his weaknesses are brought out in this. I very poor track on the whole.
Track 13 - Diamonds from Sierra Leone (remix) ft Jay-Z* Im sure you've all heard the original but this remix features a rap from Jay-Z that further cements this track into supremecy. I real R&B track to be honest this track is totally hard to explain if your interested try it out. Basically Kanye West is portraying his views on the white upper classes in American society that rely on material showvanistic things to keep them happy "Diamonds are forever, they won't leave at night like a thief from your side" but this reveals the torments of those in third world countries that actually harvest raw materials. Who said hip-hop wasn't deep!
Track 14 - We Major ft Nas and Really Doe Jazz song that opens immensly but slowly disintergrates in my opinion it goes on simply too long. However, the repetitiveness adds to the strength and powerfulness of the song and its lyrics.
Track 16 - Hey Mama* This song right from the nopening hits you as a tribute to what all mothers should be. Kanye like most rappers "loves his mother" (whether this is genuwine or not i do not know). The lyrics are very good and it is an upbeat song. In my opinion one of the if not the best song on the album Helps the album begin to climax after som poor songs.
Track 17 - Celebration This song in my opinion is confusing and is a total let down after the previous song. The lyrics are dire and it really is a mediocre album track.
Track 19 - Gone ft Consequence and Cam'ron* This song is great and really has meaning showing a good mixs of styles between the three artists. Great piano damn where does Kanye find all these instruments. Kanye's rap although is not lyrically adept fits the beat excellently The background chords on the piano are simple yet sublime a must to have!!!! A pleasure to listen to easy going.
Track 20 - Diamonds from Sierra Leone* Original of track 13 without the Jay Z rap. See track 13 for more information.
Track 21 - We Can Make it Better* Interesting song another Jazz piece again really hard to explain a really good listen to that shows. The song is sad and again R&B fans will enjoy it.
Track 22 - Late* Soft finish to the album good music, however extremely repetitive and quite annoying. Good track to listen to simply for the music rather than the lack of lyrical genius lol.
Kanye West has done well with this follow up album as most artists 2nd album are usually weak after a good first album. Kanye beat the trap!
Tracks with asterixs (*) are for those who legally download so you don't have to download the whole album that includes the weak links.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
For haters eager to see Kanye hit a sophomore slump--no such luck. Late Registration can't ... more
replicate the novelty of last year's College Dropout, but otherwise, this is an impressively more mature and labored-over album. Lyrically, Kanye's only improved...
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Feb 5th, 2006
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