Late Registration Closing

         For this particular track I would like to explain the story of Late Registration as I see it. Just bare with me.
I felt The College Dropout and Late Registration could be looked at as the story of one person. After The College Dropout, the story of Late Registration beings.
         This is all running through my mind, and everytime I lie down for a complete listen of the album the story plays through my head in between day dreams. The story can be looked at with any imagery that dances through your head. I just wanted to make a post about how I feel the album's order of tracks make for almost a movie like experience in your head. It'll be complicated to explain fully, so don't try to hard to figure anything out, always think of your own stories as well!
         The opening skit plays and I imagine myself in a school, the same depicted in the album photography. Heard Em' Say is played and I am ambitious striving toward something, it's heartwarming. The lyrics in that track and all others paint the pictures in your mind. Then Touch the Sky is up next and I have realized there is a possibility. A song that amps you up and makes me imagine the dream of success is about to come true. And for awhile it does, I am in a fairytale, a personal utopia. Then my life becomes a train wreck, I was so absorbed in the happiness I had found, that I was blinded from simple dangers. The gold digger is one such danger. I use to have values and I was never so absorbed into material objects. I pay the price, but then I am nowhere. I am forgotten, gone with the wind, I am no longer at my status and have lost my value and fame. However, my life was soon not over, I still had a chance, a chance to change, a chance to learn my lesson. I would find refuge in the fraternity of Broke Phi Broke, this would be my way to turn these things around. This would be my Late Registration.

        From there I would discover people who had greater values and people who had suffered longer than I had. I reflected on past moments of my life. Of my childhood, I would Drive Slow with my friends and we had such great times. I needed to rediscover myself, and live a normal life that would teach me the do's and don't's of this earth. I become angry and learn the evils of this world while at the fraternity, that people suffer through the wrongs of government. I had learned that in the track Roses. I discover I have become an inspiration and that others wanna bring me down. It is between skit's 1 and 2 that the album is very dark and angry. Then I progress as my time goes by through the fraternity then becoming more intelligent, and ready to face situations, here Diamonds is were I would achieve my personal fame, and achieve something. Then We Major is played, here I have become very successful but I don't become forgetful of my past struggles and I have made different friends who have also become quite successful. I am at an all time high, and there are no problems that I face in my life. I am content, satisfied, and motivated to do more. I then return to Broke Phi Broke to gather and honor our customs, "when your mama would walk in the room and pretend she was the tree". I had found true happiness, and beauty in life.

       I now had full understanding of what I appreciated and how everyone faces struggles in there life and gets through them. I would thank the most important person in my life, my mother. I was glad to be alive, and was still tasting success. It was time for a Celebration, time to hold onto my values, but let go of my worries. Get lost in the bliss of success. This wasn't modest and I hadn't been suttle about my success, and I should've been more careful. This didn't end up how it was suppose to and something was about to happen, but I didn't know what. I was now gone from Broke Phi Broke, they didn't like my success. I was gone from the fraternity, that had saved my life.
       Sure I was gone, but I wasn't left alone. I had not just myself, but all I had learned to accompany me. I was ready to be on my own, and be careful. I had learned so much, and while being banned from once my only refuge,  I had learned to accept it. I was content and I was ready to go off into the world, and make my mark on the world I had once looked at. One that I thought was just all mine, something I could exploit. I had learned from my education from Broke Phi Broke, and the world was under control. I would be forever known by only myself, because only I could understand myself. I was gone.

However, there were things left behind. Such is a track as Late. It is an effort unexpected, just a prime example of all that is a surprise whether good or bad. The pause after Gone, leave me content, showing me I was the same for awhile and had fulfilled my dreams, becoming a master of my life. So Late is just after that story. It shows how life can again change and the mood and outlook of things is all blurred. And in retrospect to Gone we don't really know what is ahead. We only assume past what we know, and our knowledge of what is ahead is forever limited.

       Yet, after Late I would be done. I had finished I had left the school knowing what I would need to know. I had Graduated. My Late Registration was a success. It was all worth showing up even though I was behind everyone else in the world. I had gotten to class late, but I had learned.

I hope this had put some thoughts in your head, and that to the best of my ability I have explained Late Registration well. The story I made hopefully clear, and that you have enjoyed the tracks that I reviewed. Maybe now you can see why I love this album so much. Yet there is always more to dive into, just as there will always be more unexpected occurrences in life.

There you have it ladies and gentleman, after nearly a month of blog work, and a year of listening...
Late Registration is done. Goodbye for now. Head towards the light.

Gone - Kanye West

 

        Gone is a track that I feel showed true progression in the story of Late Registration. I will be exploring that story in the future. Therefore I don't want to get into too much detail. The skit that ties in with this piece helps to explain a lot.

        It helps to show the maturation and progression of Kanye West as an artist. That really explains a lot when looking at his work. He is leaving his roots, but he still wants to be with them and use those talents, but ultimately has larger ideas he wants to get out. Very much the case with further albums, while he can still make similar music he is trying new things, and to me it is all beautiful work. He stays true to his work, making good music, and keeping his style real and interesting, always changing. I feel no artist can remain the same once they become famous, and now that he had the resource to make what he wanted, he most certainly did. Thus the change is ultimately witnessed in this album. Very different from The College Dropout, more elaborate production, progressing his music in new ways. To bring it all together, I looked at the Gone skit as a metaphor to his career. leaving Broke Phi Broke[style of his early material] because he has changed, and while he still wanted to be a part of the fraternity life, he ultimately left taking what he knew with him and moving on.
       Then the song jumps in. Kanye's verse fits right in from the skit. It as if he has just made greater success after leaving Broke Phi Broke. His rhymes are a lot of fun, and he throws some clever lines in there. Rhymes that boast his success, and some that show he's still who he is and those roots are still attached:

Says she want diamonds, I took her to Ruby Tuesdays

What you rappers could get is a job from me
Maybe you could be my intern, and in turn
I'll show you how I cook up summer, in the win-turr

This fits right along with the beat, and very light playflu lyrics. All the references are just positive. Something that makes you happy. When you picture these things in your head you may think of the movies, being a kid and the baby-sitters, and perhaps Ruby Tuesday's. Great feel to it. 

      Then Cam'ron goes in for his verse. Basically giving his own twist on his success. How he plans to defend it and also how he knows, "you wanna see my demise". Also making a reference that he, "gave Weezy a piece of pie". Having no knowledge of him, that line may mean that Cam'ron helped a lot in Weezy's early career.

     Now Consequence's verse is certainly very interesting. He uses the first third of verse only rhyming words with gone. Which certainly puts alot of "Wooaahhh!" when hearing his verse. Also putting the word gone into every line of his verse definitely taking some serious skill. He then proceeds to give us what we need. A nice story, and it is only proper that it also traces the whole theme of this song, and leaving behind your personal Broke Phi Broke, whatever it is that may be. Consequence tells of a good friend of his, and how they've passed away, and he resorted to drinking.Then a little dispute occurs when he discovers his friend stole his cash. Leading to a fight where he apparently, "went too far". This story reflects the theme of "Gone" and the "Gone Skit" very well. As the tone of the verse goes from a positive story to something negative. Which may go the opposite for other people.
     The production is very strong. While normally Kanye West and Jon Brion produce together. Kanye West produced this by himself. Which is a great achievement considering he got the beat to change with each verse. Of course, John Brion does conduct the orchestra! The beat is drums, and the strings steal the show. However, before we get into those you can't forget Otis Redding's "It's Too Late". Where we get our beautiful vocals from and the quick tempo of the piano. Now the beat changes once Cam'ron goes and the strings play slower instead of quick notes in Kanye's verse. Then once again transitioning into Consequence's verse changing pitch. However, while the emotion stays the same, all changes once Kanye transitions the beat into his 2nd verse(4th verse in "Gone").
     The drums maintain there pace and the strings play slower. Then Ye starts his verse. The beat them turns into something sinister. The triangle plays in the background, and the strings hit darker notes. As for the complete verse, it is fire. I could give you a list of my favorite lines but they are all so cohesive in the rap and blended so beautifully I couldn't decide. This incredible transition shows once again the versatility and the change in beat can help project Kanye's emotion. Although this one line is very important:

They claim you never know what you got till its gone

I know I got it I don't know what y'all on

A beautiful lyric, while there is some powerful feeling and intensity in his voice, it says a lot about how Ye feels of his status as an artist at this point. Afterwards, the song stops and their is silence for about 20 seconds, great point made taking the song lyrically. Letting you soak in the song before the final track on the album (Not Diamonds as that is a remix).

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     The skit and "Gone" itself create something beautiful. Showing progression, and how we find happiness once we move on, and how things change. Adding another beautiful track to this masterpiece, contributing the emotion of joy(1st 2 verse), despondency(Consequence's story), and annoyance(the last verse).

We Major - Kanye West

          We Major is a highlight of Late Registration. In fact around the internet it is without a doubt over looked and underrated when looking at Late Registration. The track deserves all the praise I will be giving it. What Jon Brion and Kanye West have done is create what I feel one of the best beats of all time. Now of course it is to our opinion that we truly decide what beats are great. However, We Major is so complex and gives such incredible feeling when listening to it has to be my favorite beat of all time.
         Often considered a victory-lap track; which it most certainly is; the idea of this track is well, "We [are] Major". There are tracks on Late Registration that do cover ambition, and this one is the track to celebrate . Giving the listener the idea that not only Kanye West is major and has reached achievement(reaching his dreams through music with The College Dropout), but that the listener has also done something incredible, unique, and it gives them a sense of accomplishment. This feeling comes from the outstanding production and incredible hook that Penafire sings, as well as the verses. And so a victory-lap it shall be for the verses.
         The first to speak is Really Doe. He raps the chorus with a lot of emphasis on words, dragging out a lot of the syllables. It works beautifully with the beat. The chorus; repeated 3 times; stands alone strong as its own verse. The rap itself is very strong. The lyrics are great, and go perfect with the theme. The first few lines really describe the feel of the song for me:

You motherfuckers better do your job and roll up

And watch how we roll up

I can't control it, can't hold it, it's so nuts

I take a sip of that n'gak, I wanna fuck

As the verse says the feel is indescribable but it feels great and you just gottta let yourself go, and give up all control. The rest of the verse contains lines that symbol perfection,"don't fuck up the rotation" and "High off the ground, our status skyscraper". This incredible verse gives way to Mr. Kanye West.

         Kanye West goes from present to past to present. First stating, "Feeling better than some head on a Sunday afternoon." From there he goes to tell of struggles whether real or not that. A good example of such is the lyric; "Get they first car and then IRS show up" ; that runs parallel with Heard Em' Say: "but they can't cop cars without seeing cop cars". At the end of the verse Ye jumps back to the present saying that:

I ain't in the Klan, but I brought my hood with me

I looked at this metaphorically. What I understood was that he hasn't reached such success before(joined the Klan), but god dammit he is ready to reach it and join the others, bringing his hood with him. 

        Next after the Really Doe goes in again, is perhaps the greatest rapper alive, Nas. Nas takes Kanye's idea to the next level. Having a longer career as a rapper he discusses his humble beginnings. Telling us that he is major and has reached legend status:

I survived the livest niggas around

Lasting longer than more than half of you clowns

Look, I used to cook before I had the game took

Either way my change came like Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke was a famous singer, since passed, one of his greatest songs is called, "A Change is Gonna Come". Nas really puts a lot of life into this track, not only because he feels that "companies being stealing the life", but because he loves to give, "my[his] blood sweat and tears to the mic. Simply a fantastic job, everyone on the track had killed it, and stuck to the same scenario, putting their own twist on it. However, I believe I forgot to mention a Mr. Tony Williams?

         The track that Tony Williams stands out, and is brought to attention. singing the beautiful chorus after Nas finishes. All attention he is given is simply great, when Kanye West asks in the end if you think if he sings beautifully. All I can think to say is yes. And that is true, his voice is so beautiful. His chorus is just amazing, having an incredible piece to add to the track. Just nailing the theme that everyone else stays with. Which is so great to be "Feeling better than I ever felt before today" when the beat rides with him to the end. 

         The production is something that just blows me away everytime. There is just so much going on and it all blends so beautifully to create the ultimate vibe. Thus I claim it to be my favorite beat of all time. 10 seconds in the first time I just knew the beat was going to be classic itself. We Major consists of glorious horns, trumpets, and a great arrangement of drums. And every once in a while a drum snare just hits you. The harps also add a sort of heavenly sound to it. Everything comes together to make something that even I can't explain. It is just some natural high you achieve. Again, making the listener feel accomplished and victorious. The song just keeps at it for a good 4 minutes. While I was unaware of the length of the track, the beat just stops at what you would feel to be the appropriate time. Then for a split second it just stops, and synthesizers step in as Mr. West says, "Can I talk my shit again?". On a track like this, yes you can Kanye, yes you can. He goes on to mention everyone on the track, as he puts an echo to his voice, mentioning Tony Williams, Jon Brion, and Warren Campbell. The synthesizers have replaced the trumpets, and have made the track pure magic, and have really made the track that much better. Knowing that Kanye could keep the beat the specific structure just changing the instruments. At this point in my headphones, I feel there is some kind of aura surrounding the beat, like a halo.
        With all this said. I can say that everyone can together to make this track pure gold, a classic right on its release. Crowning Kanye West as an incredible producer, alongside John Brion. In fact, the beat is entirely original. The sample, "Action" by Orange Krush has no major connection with We Major, I believe a drum was sampled. That is what truly surprised me. A legendary beat, without a base sample? Which is why We Major is something that will always live. A pure victory-lap in all forms. Pure celebration, and the reminiscing of rougher times, teaching us that we are major for getting through. Listening to all struggles in the album at this point, and coming to success, coming to a break, and what I feel the highlight of the track.

So do you now know why they call it Late Registration?
Cause we taking these mothafuckers back to school!