Late Registration [Limited Edition Digipak] [Limited Edition]

Kanye West | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 30, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: Roc-a-Fella
• ASIN: B000AA4MG8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (690 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,634 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Wake Up Mr. West

2. Heard 'Em Say

3. Touch the Sky

4. Gold Digger

5. Drive Slow

6. My Way Home

7. Crack Music

8. Roses

9. Bring Me Down

10. Addiction

11. Diamonds from Sierra Leone [Remix]

12. We Major

13. Hey Mama

14. Celebration

15. Gone

16. Diamonds from Sierra Leone [*]

17. Late

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For haters eager to see Kanye hit a sophomore slump--no such luck. Late Registration can't 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 a notch but musically, the album sounds incredible, especially with co-producer Jon Brion helping polish the songs to perfection. Tracks like "Heard 'Em Say" (featuring Maroon 5's Adam Levine) and "Hey Mama," are richly textured in their soulfulness while the flint-edge of "Crack Music" and "Gone" (feat. Cam'ron) will appeal to the street-oriented. There's a few duds on here--the sickly-sweet, syrupy "Bring Me Down" (feat. Brandy) being one of the worst offenders--but when the album's good, it's very, very good. In short, Kanye's detractors may not be swayed in their resistance to his charms but not only will his past supporters be rewarded but Late Registration has enough appeal to earn new crowds of fans. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Album of 2005, August 30, 2005

By 

N. Okpo (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Late Registration (Audio CD)

Everybody knows by now that Kanye West's solo debut The College Dropout was 2004's most critically acclaimed mainstream album, which earned the rapper producer numerous award nominations, including 10 grammy nominations in which he ended up winning three, and now people are calling the album a hip hop classic-with good reason, cause it was a breathe of fresh air to hip hop in a time when hip hop was dominated by popish hits and useless southern hip hop club records. However, when everybody learned that Kanye was working on a second album which he called Late Registration, we all wondered if Kanye would be able to bring it on the second album, and boys and girls, all i need to say is hell yeah, he did. Not only is Kanye's new album the most original hip hop album in years, but it is so incredible that it could compete with Common's BE for the Rap Album of the Year which was expected. This album is so full of great music at a whole new level never seen in hip hop before, which indicates that Kanye West's Decison to work with Jon Brion on production was not a mistake at all. West tackles a lot of issues on this album like his addiciton to money, girls and weed on the unique "Addiction", Conflict diamonds on "Diamonds from sierra leone remix", his actions at last years American Music Awards in "Diamonds from sierra leone", Crack in black America in "Crack Music", the Death of this grandmother and the classic track "roses" and a tribute to his mother on "Hey Mama". The only cons on Late Registration is Kanye's ability as an mc-and this doesnt take away from the feel of the album as he is still an above average rapper compared to 90% of the laughable, non talented rappers now, but we should cut kanye some slack since he is constantly trying to improve his mc skills and it shows in his rhymes. one of the most catchy lines in thi album was on his feel good track "Celebration"- "See You Kno' Ma' Style Im Very Wild' And I Vow' That Ma' Child' Will Be Well Endowed, Like Hiz Daddy, And Tell Em' That Yo' Momma' Had A Fatty, He Looked Up To Me Said,"Daddy Thats The Reason That You Had Me?", Yup! We Wuz Practicin', Till' One Day Yo' A** Bust Threw' The Packagin', You Kno' Wut Tho'? You Ma' Favorite Accident"-to me thats an amazing line! Back to the subject matter on this album, i do not think any rapper now will even imagine touching the topics kanye tackled on this album..and this shows how talented he is as both a rapper and producer.As for the skits, they are not useless as other critics would say, instead they are used for pacing and to tell a better story of the process in which kanye dropped out of college! here are my individual ratings of the songs on the album.

1. Wake Up Mr. West:NR
2. Heard 'Em Say featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5- Melodic track, kinda emotion, but great overall: 4.5 stars
3. Touch The Sky featuring Lupe Fiasco-one of the best songs on the album, a real feel good track and a highlight in the album: 5 stars
4. Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx- second single, with a good message going out to all those gold digging women: 4 stars
5. Skit #1:NR
6. Drive Slow featuring Paul Wall & GLC-Nice Track, Kanye paul Wall and GLC delivers, better than i thought it would be: 4.5 stars
7. My Way Home featuring Common-wow, common brings it with his poetry, shouldnt this be on BE instead: 5 stars
8. Crack Music featuring Game- kinda dissappointed that the game did not have a verse, still has a good message and good rhymes from kanye..and i love that military style beat: 4.5 stars
9. Roses-a classic song: 5 stars all the way!!!
10. Bring Me Down featuring Brandy-wow, Brandy can still sing..this song is wonderful: 5 stars
11. Addiction-i personally love this song, and i think i am addicted to listening to it..it is the most original hip hop song this year: 4.5 stars
12. Skit #2: NR
13. Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)featuring Jay-Z-another classic song, kanye and Jay's verse are incredible- 5 stars!!
14. We Major featuring Nas & Really Doe- Now this is 7 minutes of real hip hop..kanye almost matches the mighty nas lyrically..great song: 5 stars
15. Skit #3
16. Hey Mama- kanyes tribute to his moma: 5 stars
17. Celebration- this is the best production on the album, feel good track, most funny lines!-4 stars
18. Skit #4
19. Gone featuring Consequence & Cam'Ron-Great beat, average lyrics: 3.5 stars
20. Diamonds From Sierra Leone- we've all heard this: 4 stars
21. Late- a song about being late in life, incredible sampling: 4 stars

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Talk, September 11, 2005

By 

Joe Shmoe "primetime9" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Late Registration (Audio CD)

GREAT GREAT GREAT... Man listen i aint goin to front to you like Im just a Kanye West fan. Personally, with the combination of his cocky attitude and flamboyant persona in conjunction with an "okay" debut album "College Drop Out," I found myself questioning what Kanye was really tryin to do... The first album to me jumped all aver the place and really didnt have a constant smooth direction.. I kinda felt like he was trying to get too many points of view across on the first album(almost like he wasnt expectin to make a second) TOO RUSHED!! Lyrically on the frist album I agreed with the reviews especialy dealing with his lyrics, although he talked about contreversial topics I kinda felt like lyrically he was lacking. But this cd I have to say he stepped his game up!
This album is head over heals above his debut album and also over alot of music that is out this year and over the past decade.. Instant Classic!!.. Man Im a hood dude and everything but Im soooooo tired of everybody being sooo gangsta and selling drugs like thas all we can do or thas all we can talk about as black people..
I believe Kanye West is the realest rapper out, real not necissarily meaning you gotta talk about being poor or robbin or killin or stealin or slangin.. Too me that struggle has become artifiacial, and commercial(who woulda ever thought killin and slangin would be commercial), but real on saying exactly what evrybody else really wanted to say, but couldn't say it, and not necissarily couldn't say it but even if given the oppurtunity wouldnt say it(perfect example was his comments on Katrina, he said what everybody else was dancin around sayin, but thas a completely different subject).. The 2005 2pac Shakur representing a paradigm shift leading rap into the future, where you can be accepeted for just being you and real and true to yourself, and not necissarily doin it becasue you seen or heard it. The perfect combination that we've all been waiting for(admit it or not).. That explosive lyrical mix of Jay-z and with a soulful Outkast vibe and/or a take em to church John Legend and political soldier in Common.. Just a fantastic mix of all them in one. Lovin it!
P.S. I can't front I am very much so looking forward to hear an entire compilation of John Legend, Common, and Kanye. Kanye you need to make that happen if you aint already doin it.
P.S.S. Anybody and Everybody who tried to fond somthing wrong with this c.d. listen to it again.

88 of 117 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kayne West - Late Registration, August 30, 2005

By 

Constant - See all my reviews

This review is from: Late Registration (Audio CD)

Kayne West returns with his second solo album "Late Registration" (2005). To say Kayne West has made an impact on the music and entertainment world is an understatement, simply read the latest copy of Time magazine and you will see what I mean. Kayne West's production skills are definitely on point as beats throughout this album are excellent. The albums single's "Gold Digger" feat. Jamie Foxx and "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" are both distinct tracks, I prefer the later. My favorite collaboration on this album is the first track "Heard Em Say", Kayne West and Maroon 5's Adam Levine team up for a memorable cut. Some production help comes from Just Blaze who sampled Curtis Mayfield "Move On Up" for "Touch The Sky" an uplifting track, which has West and Lupe Fiasco shining. The next couple of tracks are good, though in all honesty I find myself listening to the beats/samples more the lyrics. The Hank Crawford sample used on "Drive Slow" reminds me of the one used on a track off 2Pac's All Eyes on Me. Kayne West helped Game out on "Dreams" so it makes sense that he return the favor on "Crack Music". Brandy laces "Bring Me Down" with some smooth vocals, while Kayne West talks about the haters. The remix of "Diamonds From Sierra Leonne" feat. Jay-Z follows. Hov's former rival Nas drops in and provides some substance on "We Major". Kayne West praises and shows his love for his mom on the dedication "Hey Mama". Consquence and Cam'Ron hook up with Kayne for "Gone" another standout, which samples Otis Redding's "It's To Late". Production wise this album is impressive, West samples and innovates well. Lyrically I find Kayne West to be hit or miss, shining on some tracks while barely leaving an impression on others. That said he remains the same rapper, and I respect him for not trying to take on another persona as some do. I recommend picking up "Late Registration" its an album that vibes well, one which fans of many different musical genres will enjoy.