Late Registration (Limited Deluxe Edition) [Limited Edition, Explicit Lyrics]

The CD starts off with a continuing theme from College Dropout and goes into "Heard `Em Say" with vocals by lead singer of Maroon 5, Adam Levine. Levine brings a whole new dimension to the song and shows Kanye`s diversity. He gives advice to all to live life to the fullest because the next day may never come, and the future is not promised.

Most of the songs are up beat and meaningful and Kanye`s beats create a soulful feeling. It seems like all the hooks have a deeper meaning and Kanye has definitely stepped up his rap game from that of College Dropout. It is hard to top a classic, and he may have done it with this one.

After the collaboration with Levine, Kanye does a collaboration with an artist by the name of Lupe Fiasco on "Touch the Sky". Lupe adds a surprisingly solid verse along side the improved Kanye and together they get people moving. Kanye talks a little about his rags to riches story and in the chorus Kanye devotes himself to being positive ("til the day I die, I'm gone touch the sky") and announces that he is on top of the world.

Kanye teams up with Jamie Foxx yet again on "Gold Digger". On "Gold Digger" Kanye uses a Ray Charles inspired sample from the motion picture "Ray" sang by Foxx. Kanye talks about the girls that come along with the business who hook up with superstars to soak up the fame and wealth. Girls who you can't help but spoil and tells the story of a guy who experiences paying child support for eighteen years, "...and on the eighteenth birthday, he found out it wasen't his..."

There are four skit throughout the whole CD, which are humorous and talk about being "broke, broke-broke, broke-broke" and unlike College Dropout, the skits are short.

When I heard Paul Wall was going to be on a track, I expected the song to be taken over by the Houston sound; as heard on Mike Jones and Slim Thug songs. I was surprised when I heard Kanye slow it down and keep it some what, soulful. West and Wall are joined by Kanye's artist GLC, and they talk about being "the man", and to slow down through life and enjoy the times before you settle. After this track Kanye duplicates that of Memphis Bleeks 534's "Dear Summer" with Jay-Z, and allows Common to take the spotlight on a vicious verse about the struggles in life and "life fighting". I think this element makes this LP even more outstanding.

Kanye brings in the element of gangster rap when he is joined by The Game on "Crack Music". This song talks about the rise and fall of the Black Panthers. The only thing that this song lacks is a verse by Game but just hearing Game's voice increases the level of the song and shows that Kanye is not alone on his political opinions. Next on "Roses", Kanye gets more personal and talks about his life and a near-death experience of his relatives. He talks about a loved one in the hospital and talks about his feelings and emotions during that time.

Kanye has a collaboration with Brandy on "Bring Me Down" and Kanye's opening line strsight kills it; "we going to mass today, we have to pray, besides what the pastor say, I have to say, since Pac passed away, most of you rappers don't even deserve a track from me...". Brandy provides the right chorus to fit the song and you can almost immediately tell that Kanye's rapping skills have evolved. Kanye also talks about his addictions in life, on "Addiction" and how they can bring you down, and in order to stay positive, you have to ignore them. Kanye asks, "what's your addiction, is it money, is it girls is it weed// I've been inflicted by not one, not two, but all three..."

Kanye decides to make "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" a bonus cut and let the diamonds remix featuring the greatest rapper alive, Jay-Z. Hov talks about the fall of the ROC and his ambitions of the future of the label. While Kanye goes into deeper context about the diamond mining in Sierra Leone and children who suffer and experience pain and amputations, "I used to think my Jesus piece was so harmless// until I seen a picture of a shorty armless..."

My favourite song has to be "We Major", with Nas and G.O.O.D music`s Really Doe. The beat is amazing and resembles that of an orchestra; with incorporations of horns and drums. Nasty Nas keeps it "Illmatic/ Stillmatic" when he drops an amazing verse and brings the song to the next level, when you hear his voice the whole flow just elevates. It's one of those hypnotic songs that keep you listening and you "can't control it, can't hold it, it's so nuuuts".

After this, Kanye drops a dedication to his mother, "Hey Mama". He show his appreciation to the person who has always been there and talks about what it is like growing up with a mother-figure as a role model. Next Kanye shows his excitement in his career, and is some what Chappelle Show influenced when he belts "it's a celebration bitches!" on "Celebration".

Kanye ends the classic with a sign-off song "Gone" featuring ex-labelmate, Cam'Ron and G.O.O.D Music Records protégé Consequence. This song is definitely one of the top songs on the CD. And at the end Kanye drops a verse alone to say goodbye. There is also a hidden track at the very end of the CD called "Late", which starts off with Kanye seeming amused and laughing emphatically to the beat.

Overall, this CD is amazing and it's a classic, and if it doesn't get high reviews in The Source, XXL or Vibe, you can count on Kanye to spaz out, as he is known to do. Late Registration should definitely be supported by all hip-hop heads out there, Tuesday, August 30th, 2005. "Graduation", in the works...

Kanye West has proven that he is a genius. The beats, the chorus', the rapping is out of this world, stupid crazy, go-go bananas good. Gold Digger and Diamonds were great start offs, but the album has WAY more depth than these 2 songs. The Skits are funny, but they dont take the focus off the songs.

Heard 'Em Say ft. Adam Levine
Great collabo, really great, fits Levines voice perfectly, it coulda been a great maroon 5 song, the chorus is really beautiful, "nothing lasts forever, but honest babe, it hurts but it may be the only way...". The piano and stutter step drum beat is great. 5/5

Touch The Sky ft. Lupe Fiasco
INSANE! COMPLETLY INSANE! This is the only beat not produced by Kanye West on the album, and its done beautifully by Just Blaze. I was told that it was based on and old Earth Wind and Fire song, which wouldnt surprise me, because Just Blaze has done it before ("As One" off Jay-Z's Blueprint 2). He talks about how hes starstruck and his move to NYC.
5/5

Gold Digger ft. Jamie Foxx
Always Good! Looking forward to Kanyes work with Foxx on Foxx's own album.
4.5/5

Drive Slow ft. Paul Wall & GLC
Another insane beat. Kanye kills it. The Beat feels like it was made to be chopped and screwed. great stuff.
5/5

My Way Home ft. Common
Feels like they left this track off Commons album. Quite good
4/5

Crack Music ft. Game
A lil' dissapointing... but the beat is good, and Kanye spits fire, Game doesnt rap, just does the chorus... still good tho
4/5

Roses
Really powerful song, about a loved one with aids. Very sad, but Kanye spits the truth. Must be listened to to get the full effect.
5/5

Bring Me Down ft. Brandy
Its a song about people trying to throw dirt on you when your in the clouds.
4/5

Addiction
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! amazing beat, amazing rapping. The next Jesus Walks.
5/5

Diamonds Remix ft. Jay-Z
Everyone already knows about this, Good though!
4.5/5

We Major ft. Nas & Really Doe
GENIUS! never thought that Nas would be on a Roc-a-fella record... but it happend, all three artists are amazing.
5/5

Hey Mama
I personally dont like this song, probably because it was on Kanyes Freshman Adjustment Mixtape (which is also very good) and ive heard it many many times. But its a great song about how much he loves his mom and everyone will like it.
5/5

Celebration
Great! really great, CELEBRATE LIFE!
5/5

Gone ft. Cam'Ron & Consequence
Great finish to the album!
5/5

This album just gets better as u listen to it, if u dont like a song, listen to it a few more times, u will probably change your mind.

Happy Buying!