CD Review

Like OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Kanye West's Late Registration takes on the so-called mission of revolutionizing hip-hop. The Chicago native turned pop music upside down with his breakthrough 2004 debut, The College Dropout, which earned West three grammys and three million sales. On West's second chapter in his four-chapter anthology, producer Jon Brion is brought along to mold fresh beats, atop witty commentary while crusading the everyman saga. Sure the sample heavy credits read like assembly instructions for a Weber grill, but Kanye West is a guy who sets lofty expectations for himself as a form of exercise.

Clocking in close to an hour and a half, Late Registration is clearly over done on ambition. But when you get to the meat of the album, you’re thankful West is no burnout, as he makes hip-hop almost understandable for those who aren't privy to The Source. Highlights are many, but standouts include "Touch the Sky,” which shakes up a sample of Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” with Lupe Fiasco onboard. Jamie Foxx lays some pipes toe to toe with a Ray Charles cut on “Gold Digger,” while Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, continues to prove color is no soul boundary on “Heard ‘Em Say.” Although West name drops cohorts Common and Howl like a cheap gimmick, having pop princess Brandy onboard for “Bring Me Down” is right on. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” featuring Jay-Z is another single in waiting with its action flick chorus, while the soulful "Hey Mama" allows the lead man to pay respects to his mother.

West’s creativity runs deep and listening to Late Registration only begs you to be a fly on the wall in the studio to capture how the man gets the job done. After absorbing the beats, samples, guest appearances, rhymes and poignant lyrics, Late Registrationserves as an important blueprint for pop music finally making a turn for salvation.