Remember
that first kiss? That first slow dance? The first time
you fell in love? How can you top that-whether good or
bad, it’s usually
nothing as memorable as the “first” anything.
With that in mind, the sophomore album can be one of the
most intimidating projects for most rap artists and understandably
so -especially if your first album was a bona fide hit. With
that first album you’ve been acclimated by your celebrity
peers and most of all, by your fans. Now that the blood,
sweat and tears from the first go round are probably non-existent
at this more comfortable place in life- where’s your
passion?
Well, for some reason, I don’t think lack of motivation
or passion is something Kanye West tosses and turns about
in his sleep at night. I mean anyone who can request a
beat machine to finish working on their cd while being
hospitalized with broken jaws wired shut- is just driven
period! (Yes, Kanye actually worked
and recorded Through the Wire from his first cd, The College
Dropout with wired jaws!). His drive coupled with his confidence is sure to
keep him at the top of the charts. Although with Kanye
West, I’m not always sure if it’s confidence
or arrogance as he did practically denounce just about
any living thing who didn’t believe in his talent
and greatness after his first album dropped, but moving
on….
With guest appearances by Jay-Z, Jamie Foxx, Cam’ron,
Common (who’s current album was produced by Kanye),
The Game, Brandy and Adam Levine from Maroon 5 just to
name a few, Kanye West’ second cd Late Registration
(Aug. 30th release) is sure to follow it’s predecessor.
Call me a
chicken head, but I don’t think a rap album
holds as much validity without mentioning some of
the materialistic things and people that make some
smile as they eagerly rap along, while others might
nod their heads in shame.
Late Registration (co-produced
by Jon Brion best known for producing Fiona Apple tracks) touches
on success, street life, racism, classism and let’s
not forget the “hoes, cars and ice/diamonds.” Call
me a chicken head, but I don’t think a rap album
holds as much validity without mentioning some of the
materialistic things and people that make some smile
as they eagerly rap along, while others might nod their
heads in shame. So the ghetto mentionables in Drive
Slow on the album don’t bother me a bit. “You
never know homey, might meet some hoes homey, you need
to pump your breaks and drive slow homey.”
On Addiction,
Mr. West talks about his weakness for girls, weed and money-
and we all can relate to some type of addiction, at least
the first line in the song makes you wonder if perhaps you
might have one … “What’s your addiction?
Is it girls, is it money, is it weed? I’ve been afflicted
by not one, not two but all three.” One of the best
party tracks, Touch the Sky, (in which
Curtis Mayfield is musically present via the sampling of
Move on Up) should
undeniably be the next release after the currently released
Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx -another great hit by the
way!
Touch
the Sky is the type of party song that has a beat fast
enough to get up and dance, yet subtle enough to look cool
and just bop your head with a drink in your hand or a bottle
at your table- players holla! “I gotta testify, come up in
the spot looking extra fly! ‘for the day I die I’m
gonna touch the sky.”
Late Registration
isn’t as fun (Breathe In,
Breathe Out) or as serious(Jesus
Walks) as The College Dropout, but with 21 tracks, multiple
Bernie Mac skits and songs that range from talking about
how good mama was (Hey Mama) to guest star Jay-Z boasting
about getting off the boat so he could “walk on water,” (Diamonds
From Sierra Leone) along with more maturity, without sacrificing
any of his creativity, Late Registration does offer a little
something, something for everyone.
