Kanye West first started publicly hyping his sophomore release, Late Registration last spring, and he hasn't stopped drawing attention to the release, scheduled for August 30. His first effort, 2004's College Dropout is arguably a Hip-Hop classic, but he insists that Late Registration will back up all his bragging and all of the acclaim he has received so far.
Kanye is known for creating hip-hop classics with tastes and samples from Pop, R&B, Oldies, and many other genres. The track listing for his upcoming album predicts more of this Kanye style, but what the music world is wondering is: Does Kanye deliver?
After playing the album through a few times, I am convinced that this will be a commercial success and you'll see a few of the tracks on the Hip-Hop and Pop charts. There are a few standout tracks, but as far as the album reaching any sort of "classic" level, or even being critically acclaimed to the point of College Dropout, it looks like registration is closed. It is a very good album, but it doesn't live up to the hype that Kanye created for it.
The first two singles, "Diamonds from Sierra Leone", and "Gold Digger", are great tracks. Kanye creates a Roc-a-fella Records Anthem with a sample from Shirley Bassey's "Diamonds Are Forever". Kanye said that even he was surprised to find that the song was never used by the Dynasty on past records. He had offered the beat up to Jay-Z for personal use, but Executive Sean Carter thought it would be better for business if the Roc's "Louis Vuitton Don" used the track himself. The release of the album offers "Diamonds's" Remix as an official track, and the original as a Bonus track.
"Gold Digger" feature's an intro from Oscar award winner Jamie Foxx in a reprise of his roll as Ray Charles and the song sample's from the Charles classic "I've Got a Woman." Kanye's ear proves once again that no one is better at spotting a clip from an old classic and remaking it into Hip-Hop Pop gold.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Sterfish
Very good review, Matt. Given how you felt about the album, do you think that Kanye's collaboration with Jon Brion helped or hurt the album (or did it not make much of a difference)? The fact that Jon Brion is working on it intrigued me because it's a meeting of two very good producers in completely opposite musical fields.
Also, it's interesting to see what songs didn't make the album. I was looking forward to hearing a song called "Bittersweet" which featured John Mayer. Also, a Chicago radio station leaked several songs weeks before "Diamonds" came out and virutally none of thos songs are on the final album.
2 - Matt Mrozinski
There were a couple of fake versions of the album that were floating around. They were mostly tracks he did with other artists for their albums or tracks that never quite made it to College Dropout. They were released on a few bootlegs and such.
I know the song bittersweet you're thinking of. I don't think it made the album. If it did, its completely unrecognizable then.
As for Jon Brion producing the album. I think it hindered Kanye doing what Kanye does best. There are alot less of sped up Soul tune style beats that he is known for. He basically got a lot more choices working with Brion as he provided the ability for orchestration and other musical aspects that Kanye isn't fluent in. Kanye was able to describe the sound and pick and choose what ideas Brion brought to the table.
More choices, I feel, in the end, held back the album a little bit, but opened doors for future releases. He has one style locked up, so he has to experiment and try out some new things in order to grow.
3 - Lady Merange
Wow, I knew Jamie Foxx had an Oscar on his trophy shelf, but a Grammy, too? Talent! Genius! He good!
4 - Matt Mrozinski
Jamie Foxx is an Oscar award winner, no Grammy... yet.
5 - uditpa
You know, i jus visited a lotta websites dissing this album majorly... i actually think it is a gr8 album... although i do believe College Dropout was one of the best Hip Hop Albums i had heard in a long time, this album does not reach the heights of it... i like the song wit Adam Levine, n golddigger, Diamonds from Sierra Leone is good too, so is the remix although one song i despise on the CD is Celebration... it is utter crap... I wish Kanye does some more "Never Let Me Down", "Two Words" n "Slow Jamz" type songs again... his ego has doubled with the sophomore album but i still respect him, and i believe he is still a mastermind... can't wait till Graduation comes out in 2k6... I give this CD 4.5/5... ooo i especially find the Broke Skits funny.... I'll still buy this CD on August 30th...
ITS DA ROC... DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
6 - Harry
GOOD REVIEW MATE!
If kanye shut his mouth about this album and didnt hype it up, we would all think its even better than what it is, great album nearlly or equal to TCSDO but its not better.
7 - Joe
I have listened to most of this album and I think it exceeds his last effort. I thought that "College Dropout" was a great album, but that last thing I wanted was a replica! I think he went with the right direction here and made the album more musical. I really appreciate when an artist brings the music to a level I've never heard before. I think the two singles were good introductory songs, but album cuts such a Gone, Bring Me Down, Drive Slow, We Major, Addiction, and of course Celebration. I think Celebration is the perfect union of synths, strings, horns, samples, vocal chords, and perfectly sequenced drum riff. Every song has it's own personality. The only dissapointing song I've heard so for is the one with Adam Lervene.
8 - Matt Mrozinski
I can agree with what you're saying. Except that I don't think it exceeded his last album. Maybe it will grow on me, but we'll see. I do like the lyrics of celebration, it just comes off a little cheesy to me. "It's a celebration bitches!" I'm just not buying it. The Levene track has been growing on me, while at first I hated it. But we'll see.
9 - Danny Diamond
Nice review. I havent heard all of the album yet, as I dont have the equipment to download, so I'm reading as many reviews as possible. I'll definately be buying the album, despite all the negative reviews I've read. You say Kanye aims to exceed The Blueprint with his fourth release? I heard that was gonna be called 'Good Ass Job'. Not sure if thats true or not.
I'm sure your right about Nas, Commons and Games contributions to the LP. Those 3 dudes have released the best 3 hiphop albums in the last couple years. I've heard Crack Music, and was disppointed Kanye didnt utilise Game more, he's on the top of his game after the release of Youknowwhatitis Volume 3 (that Lil Bit remix kills 50). Nas is the only MC out right now who could successfully drop a 2 disc CD. Common's 'Be', along with 'The Documentary' are my favourite 2 albums recently. I look forward to buying Late Registration on Monday (its released on the 29th here (UK) as albums are always released on Mondays) and vibing in my room all day oblivious to the world.
10 - Vic
NOOOOOOOOOOO! I have been waiting for Bittersweet since late last year and now it isn't even on the album. DAMN IT!
11 - Mark the Sane and Sensible
isn't this Kanye West the same moron that said that the USA was responsible for spreading AIDS in Africa (or some such stupid nonsense) when he appeared at the Live 8 shows?
12 - damon dash
I am in full agreement with joe in that as much as we love the dropout and want more, we need something fresh from the kandy man. Kanye has done it again with his twisting and turning of hip hop to surprise the world with his new cd. It really isnt what people expected, but a true west fan is going to have every track grow on them just like the last album. I don't think that there can be enough kanye music out there and he is the empire to the dynasty.
13 - Matt Mrozinski
Damon Dash,
1. Kandy man... not a great nickname. R Kelly can be the Kandy Man, not Kanye.
2. The album isn't that great of a departure from dropout.
3. Not so much with the twisting and the turning and the maven.
4. There can be too much Kanye West music. But it's a ridiculous, unfathomable amount.
5. I would say the Dynasty is an Empire. But Kanye is a part of the Dynasty, not an empire.
14 - emt
Let's just say that Kanye pushing the release back so late was a way for him to gain more props in the spring. "Heard Em Say" will be a grammy contender next year without a doubt. It has that whole political/social vibe and it's a beautiful song. Even though I can't stand Kanye's arrogrance, he's very talented and knows how to make a hit both commercially and underground. Great collabo.
15 - Matt Mrozinski
I will put money down on the fact that Heard em say will no be nominated for a Grammy.
16 - Sage
Nice review--one that I actually agree with it compared to the last two I read. Kanye hyped this one a tad too much, methinks. College Dropout stayed in and out of my CD Player for about four months straight, so I was expecting a lot from this one. I enjoyed the first skit and first song--they very much lived up to the album, but the rest was lackluster. Of course, that's not saying that this album isn't way better than most rap albums out right now, it just seemed like this one was a letdown in comparison to the hype and the wait.
17 - Matt Mrozinski
I can't stress that point enough: Kanye's album is still one of the best Hip-Hop albums of the year. Although it isn't exactly a great year for main stream hip-hop.
18 - Ryan
i dont care what u ppole say the cd is sickening its so good, ur crazy if you dont like roses and touch the sky. whateva
19 - Matt Mrozinski
It's funny that those two songs weren't really discussed in the review. Nor was anything bad said about them. Whatever you think you though, we're all entitled to our own opinions. For example, I think people are crazy when they demonstrate complete disregard for the English language.
20 - Ryan
I'm sorry good sir, I sincerely apologize for my terrible English! Oh my! I'm so embarrassed! Thank you for correcting me though! I wasn't even aware of my own typing. Once again I sincerely apologize.
21 - Ryan
Nothing else to say? Really? Anyway, I just wanted to say that I liked the old version of Hey Mama better. Sorry if there are any mistakes in this one. I'm such a clutz! Oh and I also have a total disregard for the English language. I proof read this one a couple of times so I think this one is o.k.
22 - Ryan
Keep those comments to yourself next time matt. I've had enough.
23 - Mark the Sane and Sensible
I note that none of you Kanye fans are concerned that your beloved pop music icon has smeared and denigrated the United States with lies, the country that provides him with his largest marketing base?
Do any of you people note the hypocrisy there?
24 - Matt Mrozinski
What comments? Keep your comments to yourself and you'll come off a little more intelligent. Look for a fight someone else.
25 - Matt Mrozinski
Mark... what are you talking about?