Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
And then, in a flash, Kanye was everywhere, transformed from respected producer to big-name producer/MC, throwing a fit at the American Music Awards, performing "Jesus Walks" at the Grammys, wearing his diamond-studded Jesus piece, appearing on the cover of Time, running his mouth 24/7. One thing that remains unchanged is Kanye's hunger, even though his head has swollen to the point where it could be separated from his body, shot into space, and considered a planet. Raised middle class, Kanye didn't have to hustle his way out of poverty, the number one key to credibility for many hip-hop fans, whether it comes to rapper turned rapping label presidents or suburban teens. And now that he has proved himself in another way, through his stratospheric success -- which also won him a gaggle of haters as passionate as his followers -- he doesn't want to be seen as a novelty whose ambitions have been fulfilled. On Late Registration, he finds himself backed into a corner, albeit as king of the mountain. It's a paradox, which is exactly what he thrives on. His follow-up to The College Dropout isn't likely to change the minds of the resistant. As an MC, Kanye remains limited, with all-too-familiar flows that weren't exceptional to begin with (you could place a number of these rhymes over College Dropout beats). He uses the same lyrical strategies as well. Take lead single "Diamonds from Sierra Leone," in which he switches from boastful to rueful; more importantly, the conflict felt in owning blood diamonds will be lost on those who couldn't afford one with years of combined income. Even so, he can be tremendous as a pure writer, whether digging up uncovered topics (as on "Diamonds") or spinning a clever line ("Before anybody wanted K. West's beats, me and my girl split the buffet at KFC"). The production approach, however, is rather different from the debut. Crude beats and drastically tempo-shifted samples are replaced with a more traditionally musical touch from Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann), who co-produces with West on most of the tracks. (Ironically, the Just Blaze-helmed "Touch the Sky" tops everything laid down by the pair, despite its heavy reliance on Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up.") West and Brion are a good, if unlikely, match. Brion's string arrangements and brass flecks add a new dimension to West's beats without overshadowing them, and the results are neither too adventurous nor too conservative. While KRS-One was the first to proclaim, "I am hip-hop," Kanye West might as well be the first MC to boldly state, "I am pop."
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $17.49/month
Kanye West, MainArtist - Gerry Goffin, ComposerLyricist - M. Masser, ComposerLyricist - Deray, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gerry Goffin, ComposerLyricist - M. Masser, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Biller, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Dawson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - ADAM LEVINE, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ryan Neuschafer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Justin Smith, Drums, Keyboards, Bass, Sampler, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Dean, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kanye West, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Mayfield, ComposerLyricist - Lupe Fiasco, FeaturedArtist - Matt Green, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Dawson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Just Blaze, Producer - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Mo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - W. Jaco, ComposerLyricist - Nate Connelly, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jonathan H. Smith, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Dean, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ray Charles, ComposerLyricist - Renald Richard, ComposerLyricist - Matt Green, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Dawson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don C. Tyler, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Biller, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jamie Foxx, FeaturedArtist - Mike Mo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Plain Pat, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nate Connelly, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DJ A-Trak, Unknown, Other
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kanye West, MainArtist - Not Applicable, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Dean, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Slayton, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Harris, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Dawson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Wall, Additional Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Reitz, Recording Engineer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Mo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - GLC, FeaturedArtist - Nate Connelly, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gil Scott-Heron, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Dawson, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Common, FeaturedArtist - Taylor Dow, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jayceon Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Brian Sumner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Green, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlie Wilson, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Williams, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - The Game, FeaturedArtist - Andrew Dawson, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keyshia Cole, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - W. Meeks, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Bill Withers, ComposerLyricist - Brian Sumner, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Williams, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - JON BRION, Producer - Craig Bauer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ervin "EP" Pope, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Nate Connelly, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keenan "Kee Note" Holloway, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Aurwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Neuschafer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
A. Williams, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Brandy, FeaturedArtist - Julie Rogers, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Green, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Dodd, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Daphne Chen, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Gorfain, Violin, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce Otto, Bass Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Grant, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brad Warnaar, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Biller, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Craig Bauer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Holtman, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Lawrence, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Alyssa Park, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Wickman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marisa Kuney, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Cooker, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Glenny, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Audrey Solomon, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marda Todd, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Armen Ksajikian, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Todd, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Susan Chatman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Sage, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Martin, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Mo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Fornero, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Nate Connelly, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Victoria Lanier, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Torreano, Contrabass Recorder, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Tally, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Denise Briese, Contrabass Recorder, AssociatedPerformer - James Aurwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Neuschafer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Piotr Jandule, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Frances Senger, Contrabass Recorder, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tom Biller, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer - Craig Bauer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - R Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Strings, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - James Aurwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Neuschafer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kanye West, MainArtist - Not Applicable, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
D. Black, ComposerLyricist - D. Harris, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - John Barry, ComposerLyricist - Jay-Z, FeaturedArtist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Biller, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Craskey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Tozer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Devo Springsteen, Producer - Jarred Robbins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michele Gondry, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - A. Williams, ComposerLyricist - Warryn Campbell, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mike Dean, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - L. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - R. SIMMONS, ComposerLyricist - M. Reid, ComposerLyricist - Tony Williams, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Biller, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nas, FeaturedArtist - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Mo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Connelly, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Really Doe, FeaturedArtist - W Trotter, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kanye West, MainArtist - Not Applicable, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Matt Green, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Legend, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Biller, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Dawson, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Taylor Dow, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Donal Leace, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Julie Rogers, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Green, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Dodd, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Daphne Chen, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Gorfain, Violin, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce Otto, Bass Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Grant, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brad Warnaar, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - John Legend, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Biller, Recording Engineer, Strings, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Dawson, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Holtman, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Lawrence, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Alyssa Park, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Wickman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marisa Kuney, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Cooker, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Glenny, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Audrey Solomon, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marda Todd, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Armen Ksajikian, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rick Todd, French Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Susan Chatman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Sage, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Martin, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Foreno, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ervin "EP" Pope, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Taylor Dow, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Victoria Lanier, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Torreano, Contrabass Recorder, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Tally, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Denise Briese, Contrabass Recorder, AssociatedPerformer - Keenan "Kee Note" Holloway, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Piotr Jandule, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Frances Senger, Contrabass Recorder, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kanye West, MainArtist - Not Applicable, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Cameron Giles, ComposerLyricist - D. Mills, ComposerLyricist - Consequence, FeaturedArtist - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Chuck Willis, ComposerLyricist - Julie Rogers, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Dodd, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Daphne Chen, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Gorfain, Violin, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Biller, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Dawson, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Lawrence, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Alyssa Park, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Wickman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marisa Kuney, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Cooker, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Glenny, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Audrey Solomon, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marda Todd, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Armen Ksajikian, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cam'ron, FeaturedArtist - Susan Chatman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - David Sage, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Taylor Dow, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Victoria Lanier, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Tally, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Piotr Jandule, Viola, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
D. Black, ComposerLyricist - D. Harris, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - John Barry, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Biller, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - JON BRION, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Reitz, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Craskey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Tozer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Devo Springsteen, Producer - Jarred Robbins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michele Gondry, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sylvia Robinson, ComposerLyricist - Kanye West, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Miri Ben-Ari, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Williams, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Craig Bauer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Kilhoffer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ervin "EP" Pope, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - George Kerr, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
And then, in a flash, Kanye was everywhere, transformed from respected producer to big-name producer/MC, throwing a fit at the American Music Awards, performing "Jesus Walks" at the Grammys, wearing his diamond-studded Jesus piece, appearing on the cover of Time, running his mouth 24/7. One thing that remains unchanged is Kanye's hunger, even though his head has swollen to the point where it could be separated from his body, shot into space, and considered a planet. Raised middle class, Kanye didn't have to hustle his way out of poverty, the number one key to credibility for many hip-hop fans, whether it comes to rapper turned rapping label presidents or suburban teens. And now that he has proved himself in another way, through his stratospheric success -- which also won him a gaggle of haters as passionate as his followers -- he doesn't want to be seen as a novelty whose ambitions have been fulfilled. On Late Registration, he finds himself backed into a corner, albeit as king of the mountain. It's a paradox, which is exactly what he thrives on. His follow-up to The College Dropout isn't likely to change the minds of the resistant. As an MC, Kanye remains limited, with all-too-familiar flows that weren't exceptional to begin with (you could place a number of these rhymes over College Dropout beats). He uses the same lyrical strategies as well. Take lead single "Diamonds from Sierra Leone," in which he switches from boastful to rueful; more importantly, the conflict felt in owning blood diamonds will be lost on those who couldn't afford one with years of combined income. Even so, he can be tremendous as a pure writer, whether digging up uncovered topics (as on "Diamonds") or spinning a clever line ("Before anybody wanted K. West's beats, me and my girl split the buffet at KFC"). The production approach, however, is rather different from the debut. Crude beats and drastically tempo-shifted samples are replaced with a more traditionally musical touch from Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann), who co-produces with West on most of the tracks. (Ironically, the Just Blaze-helmed "Touch the Sky" tops everything laid down by the pair, despite its heavy reliance on Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up.") West and Brion are a good, if unlikely, match. Brion's string arrangements and brass flecks add a new dimension to West's beats without overshadowing them, and the results are neither too adventurous nor too conservative. While KRS-One was the first to proclaim, "I am hip-hop," Kanye West might as well be the first MC to boldly state, "I am pop."
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 21 track(s)
- Total length: 01:09:49
- Main artists: Kanye West
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Roc-A-Fella
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2005 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Distinctions:
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.