Late Registration
Kanye West
(Roc-a-Fella)
Late Registration is not just any album. Like it or not, it's one of those keynote releases that come along every year, accompanied by a buzz which simply cannot be denied; and when 2005 rolls to a close, you can bet your only copy of Speakerboxxx that it will be gracing "Best of the Year" lists left and right, even in publications which, frankly, don't have much business writing about rap. I don't know or even care who started the tidal wave of hype that's been carrying Kanye along since last year's masterpiece - or "masterpiece," depending on which side of the fence you sit - The College Dropout...but I do believe that anyone with even the slightest interest in contemporary music or pop culture in general would be a fool to ignore this follow-up.
And that's "follow-up" in the most literal sense of the word. From its analogous title and cover art on down, Registration makes no bones about it: this is intended to be College Dropout, Pt. 2. That's both a blessing and a curse - blessing because Dropout was, no shit, really and truly one of the best releases of the decade so far, mainstream or underground, hip-hop or otherwise; and curse simply because any record with that kind of reputation is bound to be a tough act to follow. To his credit, Kanye tries valiantly. His euphoric arrangements for the new album call to mind Dropout's signature sound while simultaneously building upon it; credit co-producer Jon Brion for these refinements if you like, but also keep in mind that it was a Brion-less West who amped up 2004 album track "The New Workout Plan" with wailing, exotic Chinese violins that almost made you forget the occasionally subpar rhymes. West is no stranger to sonic experimentation, then, and when it comes to the new album's most adventurous tracks - the apparent 1986 Prince outtake "Hey Mama," the airy, classic Hollywood string-laden "Celebration" - Brion can be best thought of as an ideal collaborator.
Lyrically, too, West stretches ever so slightly, opening a much-needed window to the world in his usual room full of mirrors but never losing sight of that legendary ego. This should come as welcome news to those of us who actually agreed with Kanye's post-Katrina Bush diatribe: the whole middle section of Late Registration, from "Drive Slow" to "Addiction," makes explicit the social commentary that danced around the corners of last year's debut, but never with the blunt specificity that dates and dims so many of the 21st century's "message songs." "Crack Music," in particular, bristles with an all-encompassing righteous anger, at everything from ghetto life to the commodification of hip-hop, the likes of which has been in short supply in mainstream culture since Public Enemy dropped out of the limelight. Even G-Unit's the Game (whose own quasi-political statements often find themselves juxtaposed with juvenile lyrics about banging female R&B singers) seems at home in the midst of West's fire-and-brimstone tour de force. And when the message can't quite hold water, the heart is still undoubtedly in the right place; "Diamonds of the Sierra Leone" might be the most aristocratic protest song ever written (I don't know about you, but I can't even afford to buy blood diamonds, let alone "throw them in the sky"), but it's hard to fault the man for beginning to discover that there's more to the world than just Kanye West.
Article comments
1 - Matt
MPP--great review. One of the more balanced reviews I've read of the album.
Thanks!
Matt
2 - Temple Stark
Great, ya bastard, (said with affection), now I'm gonna have to download Dropout from iTunes.
I reviewed the LR album and don't think it deserves best of anything status. I can't think of anything that super stands out except "Addiction" and that's just because it's so in your face.
But I like the album a lot.
3 - Temple Stark
Ok, two things. One I came here to correct that I was referring to the song "Crack Music" in my post above (it just came up in my iTunes).
And in doing that, I saw that Matt Paprocki (sp?) did not write this review as I had thought. (He already wrote one)
I can maybe be a little more familiar with Matt P. Um, but Modern Pea Pod, I would not be so familiar had I looked to see who wrote it.
Ok, ya bastard? <-- See? Humor. Apologies.
4 - Zach
Thanks Matt, I'm glad you thought so.
Temple: "Addiction" is most definitely a highlight...love the Nina Simone sample. As for the "Best of the Year" comment, I'm not even sure where I stand on the issue, to be honest. It's a good record all things considered, but it seems transitional; so many of the "serious" songs in the middle blend together in particular, and there are some definite lyrical weaknesses near the end. I was more referring to the tendency for pubs to highlight a token mainstream rap album each year, and I think it's safe to bet (especially with no new OutKast) that Kanye's is gonna be the one. The quality of the album is really irrelevant in that respect...although I will go out on a limb and say that "Gold Digger" has already made it into my end-of-the-year "Best Singles" lists, just for sheer addictiveness.
Oh, and don't worry about the bastard thing. Wouldn't be the first time I was called that...
5 - Temple Stark
Pea, Zach, whatever,
This was chosen as an Editor's Pick this week by your humble Music Editor Matt. Go HERE to find out why and grab a nifty graphic button to put on your own site.
6 - EARHOLE
I really like the late reg album but classic...no...ground breaking....maybe..If you listen to the music that is out it all sounds the same. It was nice to hear the maroon 5 cat start off the album. It was a different sound and that is what hip-hop needs. Kanye is a very talented producer and maybe even a future mc. Sure the lyrics were a bit lame at times. But I would be give him "most improved mc"
7 - Phylisha
Hi Mr. West i know that this is out of the question but is it possible for you to help me. My wish was to always be on tv and i would like to know if you would help me.
8 - Phylisha
I am from Belize and i will like for you to fulfil my wish
9 - Temple Stark
Unless kanye reads the blog - possible - he won't be checking in. Sorry.
-temple
10 - peter
yeah this is some tight shit
11 - HARLEM NIGGA
whats wit da gold digger song on da cd it has all this extra stuff, like some remix or sumtin
holla back
imma check this site
so somebody answer me
PCE
12 - Zach
Hey Harlem...I actually don't notice the difference between the Gold Digger on the CD and the Gold Digger on the radio. Maybe someone else has heard something I didn't?
13 - HARLEM NIGGA
yeah i relize i dont gots da actual cd
but thanx alot bro
_PCE_
14 - HARLEM NIGGA
WAZ HAppenin
i needs to buy da real cd
support kanye for all he say and all he does
he a hero to black people
wish i could meets him some day
PCE
15 - steve
wicked
16 - TruthTruth
This music is forgettable. Bland, and largely reliant on the sample to achieve a sound texture that paints an image so faint it is almost a nothingness.
17 - HARLEM NIGGA
haha why dont u read some lyrics if u too white to understand em from da songs. for example diamonds from sierra lionne. maybe u don like his music cuz u cant relate to nothin from it. grew up in a good neigbour hood, ya mamma make u sandwhiches for lunch. sorry bro, but TruthTruth is, life aint like dat for all peoples. hardest thang u had to do waz homework and go to work. we dodge bullets everyday.
18 - TruthTruth
Exactly which lyrics do you relate to from Diamonds Are Forever, you know, since the song is specifically about him and his experiences in the music industry?
I think I understand them better than you do, which is why I can objectively judge this album - which by the way is not very good.
19 - Zach
"Objectively judge?" Who are you, Jesus?
20 - mateo
vvvv good album
21 - esther
This album is great it has such much flavour and essence to it and his skits are so funny!!!!!!!!
22 - MJR
Yo, Harlem Nigga, maybe homework is the hardest thing we white-honky-cracker folks have to do, but at least it teaches us how to spell. I need a translator to understand what you so eloquently scribed above. You know what makes me laugh, though: you say you dodge bullets everyday, which makes me believe you are indeed from the ghetto. Yet, you're using a computer to blog. What thug from the ghetto sits on his computer and blogs, or has the money to afford "a" computer? You're a front, and so is Kanye. He's nothing more than a clever sampler with a mediocre flow. Here's an idea, Harlem - why don't you use your time on the computer to study the english language, and then post your comments, because you truly make yourself look like a moron when you write such nonsense.
23 - Gary
My name is Gary and I am 12 years old and my birthday is July 11,1995 and I hope 50 Cent wins because I have everything that he came out with and because I was born listening to his music peace homie