Better late than never
Lauren Jack, Staff Writer

The release of “Late Registration” was a highly anticipated date because many music lovers were anxious to see if Kanye West could top his debut release of “College Dropout.” During the week that West’s album was set to be released, I heard more about his thoughts about hurricane Katrina, rather than the release of his CD. I was driving in my car oneday and listening to the radio, when the DJ on 106.1 KMEL was discussing that West had told reporters that Bush “didn’t care about Black people.” West made this comment because he felt that President Bush wasn’t doing enough to help the survivor's of hurricane Katrina. If he released his CD and all he did was talk about money, sex, and cars; his credibility would be ruined.

I sat down in my room and popped in “Late Registration” with an open mind. The only thing I knew about the about the CD was the single “Gold digger,” which has been on heavy rotation on several stations for the past couple of weeks. As I sat in my room and listened to the entire CD, my opinions were challenged as I listened to the lyrics that West recited.

Throughout the CD, West addressed several different issues, but he had an interrelated theme. Track #8 was my favorite of the entire CD because of one line: “Former slaves trade hooks for Grammy’s.” I thought this was a powerful statement because he was speaking of the long line of progress that African Americans have made. Although Kanye was speaking of the progress that African Americans have made as a people; I felt like he also was criticizing this progress in his song "Crack music."

This song was interesting because I felt like he was saying that the music he was making and all the music that young people listen to, is addicting. Youth base their trends and styles on what their favorite artists do and say. In a way, his success is an paradoxical because he has made a lot of money, but millions of people are trying to adopt his way of life.

I enjoyed "Late Registration" because I felt like I was being taken on a journey throughout the life of Kanye West. He began talking about his struggle to make it in the music industry. Then once he finally made it, he reflected on the difference in the way people treated him with his newfound fame.

West spoke of the time his grandmother became sick and the doctors told him and his family that there was nothing they could do for her, but asked him if he could sign some t-shirts. He used an interesting analogy between his grandmother and Magic Johnson. He said that he found it ironic that Magic is now cured and well, but his grandmother and millions of other people are still dying. West went on to say that he guessed his grandmother had to be basketball player to be treated with the proper care.

Not only did West have songs that revealed to us some of his life experiences, he had songs that were upbeat and fun to listen to such as "Gold digger", featuring Jaime Fox.  I would recommend this CD as something to put in your CD player in your car when you’re taking a long drive or doing your homework, because it’s a rare CD where

you won't need to skip to the songs you like.

West improved upon his sound and his message on this album. Listening to this CD and having heard his last album, I can hear not only the growth that he as made as an artist but as a lyricist as well.

For all you hip-hop fans who have friends who say that they don't like rap because all rappers talk about is bitches and hoes, play "Late Registration" for them, because there is a such thing as rap with a message.