 
I have a confession: I admirer humility and detest inflated egos, so when I read articles reporting Kanye West compare himself to legendary artists like Prince and Stevie Wonder, I must admit I listened to Late Registration hoping to be the slightest bit disappointed with his sophomore release, but it’s undeniable: West has created an impressive album of notable beats, lyrics, and collaborations. While most of his tracks contain samples, knowing who to sample from and how to produce it gets West his kudos. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” would not be a hit without the live drumming and influence from Shirley Basset’s “Diamonds are Forever.” “Gold Digger,” featuring the vocal talents of Jamie Foxx and lyrics full of wit and comic relief, sample from Ray Charles’ “I Got A Woman,” yet West’s careful production is nothing without his virtuous rhymes on success, family, politics. “Roses” paints a picture of West’s sick grandmother in the hospital; “Crack Music” addresses the negative impact of drugs on Black communities, and I love how West calls out U.S. presidents Reagan and Bush for answers. My only lyrical complaint goes to the chorus of “Celebration”: “It’s a celebration bi*ches/ Grab a drink, grab a glass/ After that, I grab your ass.” Am I supposed to be impressed by West’s use of alcohol and ass? I’m not; it’s cliché and the album could have done without this track. West partners with Common, Jay-Z, Nas, Brandy, Game, Paul Wall, and additional vocals from Keyshia Cole, just to name a few, but his collaborations with those outside of the hip hop arena is what creates a mass appeal for the Louie Vuitton Don. “Heard ‘Em Say” features the vocals of Maroon 5’s front man, Adam Levine, and contains excerpts from Natalie Cole’s “Someone That I Used to Love,” and Jon Brion, known for his co-production of Fiona Apple’s Extraordinary Machine, shines his expertise behind the scenes on at least half of Late Registration. I don’t believe West’s sophomore release is comparable to The College Dropout; sure, the skits this time around are no way near as funny - if you don’t know anything about Greek college life, you’re sure to be lost - but Late Registration is simple reassurance of West’s talents. Listen to his words, don’t forget about the hidden 21st track, and if you’re still not convinced, invest in seeing this man live; thanks to his surprise performance at KMEL’s Summer Jam, I know for a fact West brings his all to the stage. With that, I can’t be mad at him; West has every right to pop the collar of his crisp polos. - Evelyn Molina
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Kanye
West