To kick off the first of many articles in The Sting’s new #TBT series, I’ve decided to review Kanye West’s sophomore effort, Late Registration. Every Thursday (starting today), we’re going to publish one review of an album, film, or TV show that’s at least a decade old.
Before I start this review, I have a confession to make: I always had trouble getting into this album. I have no idea why it was such a struggle, but I’m glad I decided to revisit it for this review.
Late Registration is a logical progression from The College Dropout – it features more of ‘Ye’s signature sound (albeit more polished) with a star-studded cast of singers and rappers featured throughout the album.
The album is punctuated with humorous skits performed by a fictional fraternity called Broke Fi Broke; the school administrator from The College Dropout also makes an appearance. West uses these skits not only to give the listener a break from the hour-plus of material, but also as an opportunity to demonstrate some self-awareness. After releasing his debut, he got to experience fame, realizing that it is both a gift and a curse (I’m not sorry for this pun – I spent entire minutes deliberating whether or not to keep it).
The opening skit incorporates vitriol from people critical of his fashion in order to poke fun at himself (“Where your goddamn bookbag at? Always carryin’ that lil’ bookbag. Nobody wants to see that! Goddamn fourth grader.”) Later skits put more emphasis on his transition from underdog producer to millionaire rap star.
The lyrical content is similar, though there’s also an intense focus on race and how it intersects with his new class identity. Kanye raps about feelings of conflict pertaining to owning jewelry (“blood diamonds” from Africa), the struggles of family members stuck in middle or lower class positions, and the crack-cocaine epidemic in America (cleverly analogized to the creation and consumption of hip-hop music). There is breadth and depth.
If you are one of the many people who despise Kanye for his arrogance, I implore you: listen to The College Dropout until you can get it out of your head that Kanye is a self-entitled egomaniac who hasn’t earned his “imagined” social position. Experience the progression of his career by working through his discography. Kanye was my first real introduction to rap (I say “real” because I don’t like to acknowledge my past with Fort Minor’s The Rising Tied); I bought the edited version of Graduation in middle school and still keep up with his music to this day.
I’m not saying all this because I want to convince people that Kanye is a good person – I’m saying this because I wholeheartedly believe that Kanye West is one of the greatest artists of our generation.
In conclusion, I think it’s safe to say this album has stood the test of time. In my opinion, it’s perfect. The production, the lyrics – even the finer details like the track length and order – there’s nothing that could be better. Late Registration clocks in at a little over an hour with no time wasted. Eleven years later and this album is still a celebration of Kanye’s success. It is a crown jewel – not just in his discography, but in contemporary music.
Score: 5/5