Late Registration

Late Registration is the second studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West, released on August 30, 2005, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Jamie Foxx, Common, Nas, Jay-Z, and Brandy, among others. Kanye West worked with various producers, including Just Blaze, Jon Brion, and Che Vicious, to create the album's sound, which was influenced by The College Dropout, his debut album. The album's title, Late Registration, refers to Kanye West's experiences as a college dropout, as well as his feelings of being an outsider in the music industry, similar to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

Background and development

The development of Late Registration began in 2004, when Kanye West started working on new material, following the success of his debut album, The College Dropout, which featured Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and Freeway. Kanye West has stated that he was inspired by the works of The Neptunes, Timbaland, and DJ Premier, and wanted to create an album that would showcase his growth as an artist, similar to The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. He worked with various producers, including Just Blaze, Jon Brion, and Che Vicious, to create the album's sound, which was influenced by Soul music, Jazz, and Electronic music, as seen in the works of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Herbie Hancock. The album was recorded at various studios, including The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California, and Sony Music Studios in New York City, where Kanye West collaborated with Jamie Foxx, Common, and Nas.

Music and production

The music on Late Registration features a mix of Hip hop and Rap, with influences from Soul music, Jazz, and Electronic music, as seen in the works of Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Kanye West's mentor, Jay-Z. The album's production is characterized by its use of Live instrumentation, Orchestral arrangements, and Electronic beats, similar to the works of The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, and De La Soul. Kanye West worked with various musicians, including Jon Brion, Mike Dean, and Eric "E-Bass" Johnson, to create the album's sound, which features guest appearances from Jamie Foxx, Common, Nas, Jay-Z, and Brandy, among others. The album's lyrics explore themes of Fame, Wealth, and Social commentary, as seen in the works of Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Michael Jackson.

Critical reception

Late Registration received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with many praising Kanye West's lyrical depth and the album's production, which was compared to the works of The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and Prince. The album holds a score of 91 on Metacritic, based on reviews from Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and Pitchfork Media, among others. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice praised the album, stating that it was "a triumph of Kanye West's Ego and Talent", similar to the works of Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix. The album was also praised by Jay-Z, Nas, and Dr. Dre, among other notable figures in the music industry, including Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and The Wu-Tang Clan.

Commercial performance

Late Registration was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, with over 860,000 copies sold in its first week, making it one of the best-selling albums of 2005, along with The Massacre by 50 Cent and The Emancipation of Mimi by Mariah Carey. The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold over 3.5 million copies in the United States alone, making it one of the best-selling albums of the 2000s, along with The College Dropout and Graduation by Kanye West. The album also spawned several successful singles, including Gold Digger, Touch the Sky, and Hey Mama, which were produced by Kanye West and featured guest appearances from Jamie Foxx and Common.

Track listing

The track listing for Late Registration includes: 1. Wake Up Mr. West (feat. Bernie Mac) 2. Heard 'Em Say (feat. Adam Levine) 3. Touch the Sky (feat. Lupe Fiasco) 4. Gold Digger (feat. Jamie Foxx) 5. Skit #1 6. Drive Slow (feat. Paul Wall and GLC) 7. My Way Home (feat. Common) 8. Crack Music (feat. Game) 9. Roses 10. Bring Me Down (feat. Brandy) 11. Addiction (feat. Anthony Hamilton) 12. Skit #2 13. Hey Mama 14. Celebration 15. Talk About Our Love (feat. Brandy) 16. We Major (feat. Nas and Really Doe) 17. Skit #3 18. Gone (feat. Consequence and Cam'ron) 19. Diamonds from Sierra Leone (feat. Shirley Bassey) 20. Late 21. Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix) (feat. Jay-Z)

Personnel

The personnel involved in the production of Late Registration include: * Kanye West: Rap, Production * Che Vicious: Production * Devo Springsteen: Production * Just Blaze: Production * Jon Brion: Production, Keyboards * Mike Dean: Guitar, Bass * Eric "E-Bass" Johnson: Bass * Jamie Foxx: Vocals * Common: Vocals * Nas: Vocals * Jay-Z: Vocals * Brandy: Vocals * Anthony Hamilton: Vocals * Paul Wall: Vocals * GLC: Vocals * Lupe Fiasco: Vocals * Game: Vocals * Consequence: Vocals * Cam'ron: Vocals * Really Doe: Vocals * Shirley Bassey: Vocals * Bernie Mac: Vocals * Adam Levine: Vocals Category:Hip hop albums