Introduction

Late Registration, Kanye West’s second studio album and the second in his college trilogy, was released on August 30th, 2005. The now successful producer turned rapper released this album as a direct sequel to his first album, The College Dropout. Released by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Records dually, the album became an instant success in Kanye’s catalog. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold a total of 860,000 copies in its first week. Eventually reaching 3 million sold copies in the US, the album received a five-time platinum certification. Winning the Best Rap Album Grammy in 2006 and was ranked at 117 on the Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” are a few of the feats this album took home. Now, let’s get a little more personal with one of Kanye’s greatest releases.

15. “Addiction”

Produced by: Kanye West and Jon Brion

“Addiction” is the clear-cut worst song on Late Registration. The song has a bright meaning behind it: with fame comes many addictions, including sex, drugs, and money. Kanye admits that he was “afflicted by not one, not two, but all three,” solidifying that his rise of fame is riddled with addiction. He furthers this argument by describing a mutual addiction between a woman he is infatuated in and himself, calling himself “her drugs.” One of the most prominent lines in this track comes when he starts to stutter a handful of words, similar to that of an addict. This adds an extra layer on the surface that adds depth to his lyricism.

While the premise was certainly here, Kanye sounds simplistic. This doesn’t mean he sounds bad; he just sounds plain. Furthermore, there is no meat here that really makes this track stand out, especially on a loaded track list like that of Late Registration. One of the focal points here, however, is the backing vocals by Etta James, which is provided via one of the many samples on the album of her song “My Funny Valentine.” All in all, this track is really basic and just folds under the rest of the track, while still being a solid song in all means.

14. “Celebration”

Produced by: Jon Brion and Kanye West

There is one separation point between “Celebration” and “Addiction,” and that is the attention to detail on this track. Jon Brion conducted an entire 20-piece orchestra to produce this gem of an instrumental. It almost gave it a feeling like that of Kanye’s prior album, The College Dropout. The beat also gives the track a feel that he is literally celebrating, which is sort of the premise behind this song. This is Kanye continually rapping about drinking his pains away, smoking until he reaches his peak, and having sex with woman. That is all. Apart from the meaningless feel, Kanye does bring his all with a different style of his vocals, which certainly stood out for me here; however, there is nothing more that can solidify this song any higher on the album.

13. “Late”

Produced by: Kanye West

Kanye wrote this entire song backpacking off his notoriously bad time management skills. No, I’m serious. Multiple times throughout the song, mainly in the first verse, he references this issue of his. For example, Kanye mentions that he hears his alarm but ignores it, which is a minor issue. A more serious issue he faces in this song is being late back to his girlfriend’s house. This leads her to believe he is cheating on her. This also spans back to him being initially late on both The College Dropout and Late Registration, which he mentions at the end of the song. So, the meaning does have multiple implications on him, but a whole song over it is slightly interesting.

Moving away from his obvious meaning, Kanye truly does his thing on the production of this track. The opening seconds of the song sound absolutely fantastic, bringing in a string section to start off the beat. He also wonderfully included vocals that matched the instrumental perfectly. Apart from the instrumental, Kanye doesn’t have anything else that stands out here. There isn’t anything else needed, however. All in all, this is a great song, but as I had said, the album has a great list of songs.

12. “We Major” (feat. Nas & Really Doe)

Produced by: Kanye West, Jon Brion, and Warryn Campbell

Featuring: Nas & Really Doe

“We Major” is a song that is highly regarded by most on the album, and rightfully so. Starting right at the title, the song has quite the meaning. “We Major” references a college major or being on top of a crowd, which the song mostly focuses on the latter. Really Doe’s verse mainly references what makes his life “major,” which includes money and drugs. Then comes Kanye’s verse, where he talks about a common talking point of the album: his humble beginnings. He concludes his verse by adding to his humbleness, mentioning himself bringing his friends up with him. The song doesn’t connect well via the verses, which certainly takes away from it. This aside, the song does try to provide as much meaning as possible.

As for what this song lacks, or quite the opposite, is the runtime. The song is nearly seven minutes long, which could be cut down by two minutes if not for the excess instrumental at the end. While the producers do a great job on the beat, it certainly doesn’t need the extra time. As far as the meaning goes, it’s a very directionless song as well, which degrades the song’s value on a very meaning-filled project. The song is good, don’t get me wrong, but there are definitely better ones.

11. “Bring Me Down” (feat. Brandy)

Produced by: Kanye West and Jon Brion

Featuring: Brandy

“Bring Me Down” was added mainly to serve as an “I told you so” to Kanye’s early haters. And it only really serves as that. Kanye continually mentions his greatness, even going as far as to mention that if a girl doesn’t like him, they must be gay. In the beginning of the song, he also mentions that most rappers don’t deserve a track from him. However, he does touch on the other side of fame: the hate. He provides an example of people saying they would kill themselves if they were him, to which he responds by not letting it faze him. So, while Kanye does emphasize his greatness, he brings himself back down to Earth, even if it is only for a split second.

Brandy’s addition to the song is certainly a highlight. She sounds wonderful in virtually every line she sings. Paired with the climactic parts of the instrumental in the chorus, the hook is near perfect. Not to mention the piano backing Kanye’s flow in his verse, making the song a wonderful addition to Kanye’s discography. Kanye comes from a production background, and that shows here. From this point on, the remaining songs are on an entirely different tier from the previous ones.

10. “My Way Home” (feat. Common)

Produced by: Kanye West

Featuring: Common

We could argue whether this is Kanye’s song or Common’s, but nevertheless, there is no debate on the quality here. Sampling Gil Scott-Heron’s “Home Is Where the Hatred Is,” Kanye’s production here is top-notch. His inclusion of Heron’s vocals really tops the instrumental off. Common sounds great, whether regarding his voice or flow. While Kanye isn’t vocally apparent on this song (at all), you could definitely tell his elements are here. Obviously, he was the producer, but Common really adapts to what Kanye visualized for this track, which brings the track full circle.

Moving on, the song has a very humble purpose. Common initially wishes that “[his] arms reach the masses,” showing that he hopes to utilize his influence for the better. He further enhances this by stating he wishes to reach people who come from similar backgrounds, young folks in poor conditions. One of the ways he feels he can achieve this is by pushing people to find someone to back them in their corner like boxers: “Someone to stay in their corner like Mike Tyson.” All in all, this song is a very humble example of positive influence, which is topped off by Kanye wonderfully sampling and creating his twist on a classic song.

9. “Crack Music” (feat. The Game)

Produced by: Kanye West and Jon Brion

Featuring: The Game

“Crack Music” is definitely a politically heavy song. This demonstrates, again, Kanye’s attempt to use his influence for the better. The whole song is about the title, the crack cocaine epidemic in late 20th-century America. He starts off by talking about the negative effects of the epidemic, stating that it has taken many black idols out of the spotlight due to their use of the drug. He also highlights the increase in the murder rate in DC following the alleged introduction of crack to the black community. The number of homicides increased in D.C., peaking at 479 in 1991. The rest of the song focuses on the premise of the black community’s economic reliance on the drug, which was a big downfall for said community. One of the best ways he illustrates this is by comparing it to his music-making process: having to “cook it,” “cut it,” “measure it,” “bag it,” and “sell it.” To sum it up, Kanye uses his platform to maximum efficiency, cramming this song with meaning in every word.

Furthermore, Kanye returns with a much harsher tone when he raps here, especially following “My Way Home.” Of course, this is Kanye just being Kanye, but I feel there is more to this switch in tone. He does this to truly emphasize the importance of this song to him. It is almost like he is rapping with a purpose. Instrumentally, Kanye puts more focus on the usage of drums and a lower brass section, which also contributes to the harsher tone. Kanye also puts more emphasis on the background vocals in this track, which further add to the overall tone. Kanye puts forth his best effort on this song and succeeds.

8. “Heard ‘Em Say” (feat. Adam Levine)

Produced by: Kanye West and Jon Brion

Featuring: Adam Levine

The “first” track on this album does pack a punch and sets the tone for the project. The whole premise here is that Kanye raps about the harsh realities in life, something he comments on quite frequently. The other premise is that everything happens for a reason, which definitely takes a backseat to the prior. Kanye opens by talking about the minimum wage being useless as it is often less than the cost of living. He connects this to the hood, as he finds that this commonly occurs in that area. This often leads to addiction as a coping method, which is explored more in depth in “Addiction.” He finally believes that money isn’t the true key to happiness and that it is a false narrative driven by the general public. All in all, Kanye brings a humble touch to the opening track and certainly shows his humanity through the message.

The choice to have Adam Levine back Kanye’s vocals proves to be a wonderful idea, as although he has a minor role here, Adam does bring his own great elements to the song. Furthermore, Kanye’s usage of a piano throughout to back his own vocals, with Adam, ties all aspects together wonderfully. Even when taking a bigger role, such as the post-chorus, Adam Levine truly shines. Concluding the song the way Kanye did, with the switch in the instrumental, really tops off this wonderful opening to Late Registration.

7. “Gone” (feat. Consequence & Cam’ron)

Produced by: Jon Brion and Kanye West

Featuring: Consequence & Cam’ron

There isn’t much to say about “Gone.” There isn’t much meaning in this song, and it’s just repeated lyrics from previous songs; however, this song does excel greatly. Starting at the production level, Jon Brion and Kanye West produce a wonderful track here. The piano takes the foreground on the beat, which was a wonderful addition, and it certainly sounds good with the vocals. Moving forward with the vocals, the sample of Otis Redding’s “It’s Too Late” was a smart choice. The piano mixed with Otis’s voice is the best part of the track. Jon, of course, orchestrated an orchestra here as well, which also sounds great. Not to mention, both Kanye and Cam’ron sound phenomenal in their verses respectively. This track certainly sounds great, and that’s where it stands out from the other tracks.

6. “Drive Slow” (feat. Paul Wall & GLC)

Produced by: Kanye West

Featuring: Paul Wall & GLC

This song makes heavy reference to the common theme of the album: Kanye’s upbringing in the hood. Starting with his first verse, he talks about the danger of his neighborhood, which was riddled with gangs such as the Stones. Not only does Kanye build on this theme, but both Paul Wall and GLC reference it as well. Paul Wall talks about the cars and shoes that are stereotypical of the “ghetto,” utilizing language often associated with these neighborhoods. On the other hand, GLC talks about his “bling” and his grill throughout his verse. The overall premise here is how to navigate life in the hood and take it easy.

As for the actual song, it samples Hank Crawford’s “Wildflower.” Although it doesn’t appear much as a sample, the essence of the song is derived from it. Kanye introduces drums, which are often used on this project, enhancing the overall track. The vocals by all three rappers are also remarkable, complementing the slower, more mellow vibe created by the song. This contributes to a well-rounded performance on this track. One of the most notable strengths of the song is the way Kanye switches the instrumental at the outro, lowering the octave significantly. This aspect has stuck with me since the first listen and made the song one of my favorites. Additionally, featuring Kanye’s regular collaborator, Tony Williams, creates a perfect outro to a perfect song.

5. “Diamonds from Sierra Leone – Remix” (feat. Jay-Z)

Produced by: Kanye West, Jon Brion, and Devo Springsteen

Featuring: Jay-Z

Arguably the second most politically heavy song on the project, Kanye goes into detail on the faults of “conflict diamonds.” These diamonds are purchases that help fund wars against innocent people. While Kanye does contradict himself here, the meaning does get across. He initially questions the morality of his chain, asking the jeweler if his chain is made with such diamonds. He follows this up by saying he doesn’t want to support these purchases, but he does want to keep “shinin’.” The connection here is Sierra Leone is one of the locations where this trade is prominent, leading to the death of many innocent Africans, which Kanye, of course, does not support. He contradicts himself, however, when saying he will not return his chain, showing that is where his support ends. Jay-Z, on the contrary, does not comment on this political matter at all during his verse, instead opting to talk about his rap label.

The song itself has quite a mysterious opening. Between the instrumental and Shirley Bassey’s vocals, the song certainly stands out in the beginning. Moving forward, the song has quite an electric feel, which is different from any track here. While still utilizing Bassey’s vocals in the background throughout, the song does maintain the same vibe that was created at the beginning. Furthermore, the transition from Kanye to Jay-Z was wonderfully handled and is quite seamless. All in all, Kanye, Brion, and Springsteen do their thing on this track, and it deserves to be considered one of the best tracks on Late Registration.

4. “Roses”

Produced by: Kanye West and Jon Brion

Between this song and “Hey Mama,” these are the two tracks that have the most personal connection to Kanye. “Roses” talks about the experience Kanye had when his grandmother was in a near-death experience. He explains the state his grandmother, or as he calls her “chick” (his nickname for her), was in. The doctors refused to treat her surgically due to her deteriorating health and her heart issues. He wants to tell her she’ll be alright, but he and she both know that is a lie. Distancing himself from the personal aspect here, he talks about the lack of help for the hardworking members of a capitalist society. His grandmother, being a secretary for a church for many years, isn’t guaranteed fair treatment because she isn’t rich, citing Magic Johnson for his treatment of AIDS. One of my favorite touches is his repetition of words at the start of his second verse to imitate his grandma’s heartbeat. This song clearly has a personal connection to him, and he gets his feelings across wonderfully.

Late Registration, as shown, has some of the best production value in the genre. “Roses” doesn’t fall flat in this aspect. He opens the song with a sadder feel, obviously imitating the lyrics. He sets the scene wonderfully through his production. Furthermore, he switches the beat to a more upbeat feel in the chorus, showing that he has slight hope for his grandmother. Sampling “Rosie” by Bill Withers was great, as Withers sounds wonderful in his limited appearance. Patti Labelle also is given time to shine in the outro, which brings the song to a poetic ending. While Late Registration often depicts Kanye as a famous, successful rapper, this track brings him back down to Earth and shows that he’s a human just like the rest of society.

3. “Hey Mama”

Produced by: Kanye West and Jon Brion

“Hey Mama” is exactly what you think it’s about: Donda West. It is a great testimony to the love and bond between Kanye and his mom. Kanye achieves such a high level of respect towards his mom, constantly listening to what she has said to him, such as going back to school. The whole first verse references many things Kanye respected from his childhood: his mother’s chicken noodle soup, her late nights working, etc. He also explains his protectiveness of his mother, especially regarding her previous relationships. My favorite line here is when he compares her to a book of poetry, referencing how amazing she is to him, just like poems are amazing to their readers. Kanye creates a very welcoming and familiar scene through his usage of a choir, clapping, and the signature “la-la-la,” all of which contribute to the intended vibe.

2. “Touch the Sky” (feat. Lupe Fiasco)

Produced by: Just Blaze

Featuring: Lupe Fiasco

The clear runner-up for the best song on Late Registration is “Touch the Sky.” The song opens with Kanye’s common message throughout the whole album, about how he overcame many struggles and doubts. This certified platinum song includes many references to his past life and his current life. For example, Kanye used to have to wait in lines at clubs, but now he gets escorted into them. Furthering this idea, Kanye mentions having to take his dates to KFC, which obviously is no longer the case. Of course, Kanye is now an A-list celebrity who no longer has to lower his standards the way he used to, which was his goal. Lupe’s verse doesn’t necessarily have the greatest reason, but he was very smart with his lyricism, which greatly enhances his verse.

The song has a very upbeat feel, making it a borderline party song. Kanye does a wonderful job creating the beat using a brass section and clapping. His flow is outstanding on this song and really matches the instrumental. His usage of background vocals is also exceptional. Lupe fits the style Kanye envisioned, which also adds to his verse and its meaning. He ends the song simply, which works for such a great song.

1. “Gold Digger” (feat. Jaime Foxx)

Produced by: Kanye West and Jon Brion

Featuring: Jaime Foxx

The clear-cut number one song was “Gold Digger.” A bit cliché, as this song is now eight times platinum, but it excels in every aspect it was going for. Jamie Foxx sounds fantastic in the intro and chorus, something that was not expected from the actor. He also seamlessly leads into the first chorus, which sounds amazing. Kanye does his thing and sounds fantastic rapping. A common utilization point on Late Registration was the drums and clapping, which also excel on this track.

Kanye wished to explore the theme of “gold diggers” and does so greatly. He goes in-depth into the many facets of these women. He believes the woman he is pursuing is quite expensive as she is carrying many children, all of whom bring their friends along with them. Establishing the negatives of this art, he goes into detail about child support and how it ties a man to a woman just by having a kid with them. Often, child support money goes to the needs of the mother instead of its intended purpose, which Kanye also comments on, showing the flaws of the legal system. The final verse moves away from the common “gold digger” perspective, showing that women can prey on a poor man in hopes of getting rich, which is when they “strike.” Kanye provides multiple perspectives on these common issues, which certainly takes a different approach from what is expected going into the song.

Final Notes

Song rankings are always subject to change over time, so don’t take these too to heart. They also are just my opinion. With that being said, I would love to hear your opinions, so leave them in the comment section below. We also suggest subscribing to our blog. To do so, go under the tab “Contact” and fill out the form. That will allow you to receive emails of new blogs. Finally, go give Late Registration a listen for yourself, as I highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys excellent hip-hop projects with top notch production.