late-registration

No.1: Late Registration

There is not a song on Late Registration that could be called anything short of amazing. Every single lyric means something, every beat was carefully crafted (at least in part) by Kanye himself, and he is more passionate and energetic here than on any other project. The album is cohesive from beginning to end, cycling through the topics that Kanye loves most.

More than any other album, Late Registration shows off every aspect of Kanye’s genius. For example, he puts up and coming artists on the map on “Touch the Sky” where he brings on a young Lupe Fiasco to spit right along side him. He shows off his lyrical dexterity on “Gone”,  boasting playful jabs like “Damn Ye it’d be stupid to diss you/even your superficial raps is super-official.” He even crafted some of the most memorable beats of the last decade on the Jamie Foxx sampling “Gold Digger.” Late Registration, allowed Kanye to show off his immense talents, while making a deep connection to his audience.

Late Registration dives into some of Kanye’s fears that everyone can relate to. On Late Registration, Kanye is relatable, which is something that is almost unthinkable for a contemporary Kanye album. He has overcome the need to prove his rapping abilities that he dealt with on College Dropout, and is now focused wholly on making the best music he can.

If you’ve never heard a Kanye song in your life, your introduction to him should start with this album. From beginning to end, Late Registration showcases why Kanye West is the greatest artist of our generation.

(Photo: Kenny Sun/Flickr)