Kanye West has done the impossible: He has created an album even better than "College Dropout." He strays from the norm of hip-hop yet again with "Late Registration", a 21-track album full of collaborations with everyone from Adam Levine of Maroon 5 to Jamie Foxx, as well as Brandy.
"I'm sky high," West says in "Touch the Sky," and he's right. After "College Dropout" was released last year, West has blown up in the world of music. And he deserves all the hype. West knows exactly how to incorporate hip-hop with orchestra music, rock and funky rhythm.
On "Heard 'Em Say," Levine helps West sing the chorus, creating the perfect hip-hop and R&B mix. Every song on the album blends genres to create a new sound. No two songs are alike, and they shouldn't be with everyone West has enlisted for this album.
"Touch the Sky" includes music from Curtis Mayfield, and has an old-school feel to it. "Celebration" also has a '70s beat mixed with West's witty lyrics. The song has a variety of string and brass instruments including the viola, trombone, trumpet, French horn and cello. "We Major" also infuses instrumental with rap, something West has become an expert at producing.
"Diamonds From Sierra Leone" features Jay-Z and begins with an excerpt from the classic James Bond theme "Diamonds Are Forever." West's incredible talent for blending music together to create new songs is evident throughout the entire album, but especially in this track.
"Addiction" also mixes old with new. Etta James' voice is heard in between West singing about his addictions. "You make me smile with my heart," James sings while West says "I tried to stop man, I tried the best I could ... What's your addiction? Is it money, is it girls, is it drugs. I've been afflicted, by not one, not two, but all three."
"Roses" portrays West's sensitive side. "I'm at a loss for words, what do you say at this time ? family cryin'," West sings about his grandmother dying and his family dealing with it.
On the other end, "Gold Digger" is an amusing hip-hop track with lyrics like "met her at a beauty salon/with her baby Louis Vuitton under her arm." This song also shows off West's clever song-writing skills.
"Hey Mama" begins with la la's and a slower rhythm. The moving song is West's tribute to his mother. "You work late nights just to keep on all the lights ... and you never put no man over me and I love you for that Mama, can't you see."
The hidden track, "Late," is a classic R&B and rap song all in one and finishes off the album perfectly. West raps about being late to school, and says he missed his major by a couple of seconds, tying in with the title, "Late Registration."
Chances are West will be around for a long time if he keeps making music like this.
