Kanye West - Late Registration - 2 LP set

Late Registration 
Rockafella - 2 LP set

Late Registration is the follow up to Kanye's smash debut The College Dropout. The first single 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone' samples vocals of the legendary Shirley Bassey. Highlights include 'Gold Digger' featuring Jaime Foxx and 'Hear Em Say' featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5. John Mayer also makes a guest appearance on what is sure to the album of the year. Def Jam. 2005
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

     Songs are; 
Wake Up Mr. West 
Heard 'em Say (feat Adam Levine of Maroon 5) 
Touch the Sky (feat Lupe Fiasco) 
Gold Digger (feat Jamie Foxx) 
Skit #1 
Drive Slow (feat Paul Wall & GLC) 
My Way Home (feat Common) 
Crack Music (feat Game) 
Roses 
Bring Me Down (feat Brandy) 
Addiction 
Skit #2 
Diamonds From Sierra Leone (remix) (feat Jay-Z) 
We Major (feat Nas & Really Doe) 
Skit #3 
Hey Mama 
Celebration 
Skit #4 
Gone (feat Consequence & Cam'Ron