Kanye West - Late Registration
Kanye West continues to blur the line between rap and hip-hop with his sophomore album "Late Registration". It would be easy to expect West to continue in the style of his multi-platinum, Grammy award winning, debut album ("College Drop Out",) but he didn't. Instead of giving the listening audience what they were expecting (something that has almost become Kanye West's trade mark as a producer - R&B samples from the 60's and 70's with a sped up chorus), West chose to branch out, pushing the limits of main stream hip-hop/rap.
"I'm carrying the whole world of hip-hop" said West prior to the release of his new album. At times, West may come across as a little conceited but, in this case, he is absolutely correct. The hip-hop/rap community is watching him very carefully, not because he has become one of the hottest rap/hip-hop producers of the year or because West has carved out a niche for his positive street sound to exist in a market flooded with “gangsta” rap. The reason everyone is watching West is because he is a artist that challenges people - their beliefs and the way they see the world around them. Whether it's from his first single from his debut album, "Jesus Walks" where he challenges peoples traditional perception of Jesus, "I ain't here to argue about his facial features" or "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" off his latest release, where he forces people to face the atrocities committed for diamonds by feuding rebels in such African countries as Angola and Sierra Leone, "little is known about Sierra Leone, or how it's connected to the diamonds we own".
Arguably, West is not the most talented lyricist in the game today. His flow feels awkward at times and occasionally his voice sounds thin and whiny but what sets him apart from the mediocre rappers is his lyrical content. His rhymes are insightful and clever, making you laugh one minute and think the next. He speaks the truth in every track and is honest about himself - almost to a fault. West artfully expresses the insecurity of youth and the fear of the unknown in his slow jam "Drive Slow" where he warns, "you never know, you need to pump your brakes, and drive slow, Homie." This dark, jazzy tune is a perfect example of West's gift of amalgamating different forms of music with hip-hop/rap. "Gold Digger" featuring Jamie Foxx belting it out in his best Ray Charles impression, is a hilarious track where West begins to question the motives of the women that he is dating, "I ain't sayin' she's a gold digger, but she ain't messin' with no broke niggas."
Unlike many of his counterparts, West shows considerable growth and improvement with each album. With co-producer Jon Brion (Fiona Apple), West adds greater depth to his music, as well as, an array of instrumentation to serve as a backdrop for his improving lyricism. His ability to stay contemporary and his eagerness to work with different artists ("Heard ‘Em Say" Ft. Adam Levine from Maroon 5) will give this album some staying power.
"I'm carrying the whole world of hip-hop" said West prior to the release of his new album. At times, West may come across as a little conceited but, in this case, he is absolutely correct. The hip-hop/rap community is watching him very carefully, not because he has become one of the hottest rap/hip-hop producers of the year or because West has carved out a niche for his positive street sound to exist in a market flooded with “gangsta” rap. The reason everyone is watching West is because he is a artist that challenges people - their beliefs and the way they see the world around them. Whether it's from his first single from his debut album, "Jesus Walks" where he challenges peoples traditional perception of Jesus, "I ain't here to argue about his facial features" or "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" off his latest release, where he forces people to face the atrocities committed for diamonds by feuding rebels in such African countries as Angola and Sierra Leone, "little is known about Sierra Leone, or how it's connected to the diamonds we own".
Arguably, West is not the most talented lyricist in the game today. His flow feels awkward at times and occasionally his voice sounds thin and whiny but what sets him apart from the mediocre rappers is his lyrical content. His rhymes are insightful and clever, making you laugh one minute and think the next. He speaks the truth in every track and is honest about himself - almost to a fault. West artfully expresses the insecurity of youth and the fear of the unknown in his slow jam "Drive Slow" where he warns, "you never know, you need to pump your brakes, and drive slow, Homie." This dark, jazzy tune is a perfect example of West's gift of amalgamating different forms of music with hip-hop/rap. "Gold Digger" featuring Jamie Foxx belting it out in his best Ray Charles impression, is a hilarious track where West begins to question the motives of the women that he is dating, "I ain't sayin' she's a gold digger, but she ain't messin' with no broke niggas."
Unlike many of his counterparts, West shows considerable growth and improvement with each album. With co-producer Jon Brion (Fiona Apple), West adds greater depth to his music, as well as, an array of instrumentation to serve as a backdrop for his improving lyricism. His ability to stay contemporary and his eagerness to work with different artists ("Heard ‘Em Say" Ft. Adam Levine from Maroon 5) will give this album some staying power.
