Late Registration
by Kanye West
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 1302 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,153 out of 1302
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 1302
  3. Negative: 110 out of 1302

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  1. JayN
    Aug 27, 2005
    10
    Heard 'Em Say, Touch the Sky, Roses, Bring Me Down, Hey Mama, Celebration, and Gone could be their own album, and I'd give that 10 as well. And for the review that said this album wasn't as "lively" as College Dropout quite OBVIOUSLY hasn't even listened to Late Registration.
  2. Ben
    Aug 27, 2005
    9
    Yeah, this won't stay at 9.5 Quasimoto was at 9.5 after like 7 reviews and look at it now 7.8 :(
  3. salmonpc
    Aug 27, 2005
    8
    everyone who has ever picked up a musical instument(or not in the case of most modern "musicians", is superior to Sufjan Stevens. Seriously.
  4. ChristopherK
    Aug 28, 2005
    9
    What if Kanye West and Sufjan Stevens did an album? Oh my God, that would be beautiful. I think this is one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time and well deserving of many many great scores. Crack Music!!! listen and purchase this milestone in rap/music history! But don't forget Sufjan.
  5. dave
    Aug 28, 2005
    10
    HADDOOOOOOOOGET
  6. davet
    Aug 28, 2005
    10
    Best hip-hop album of the year, right next to Common's BE. Chicago is on FIRE!! Best songs are Hey Mama and Heard 'em Say.
  7. SlimJin.
    Aug 28, 2005
    10
    Gets better with every listen and a vast improvement on College Dropout as far as the depth of the album. Kanye has come back stronger than anybody could have expected. No sophomore slump for the college dropout.
  8. BigAL
    Aug 28, 2005
    10
    Unbelievable production. So imaginative, just plain ... good. Some may overlook this wondering where the club bangers and gangsta vibe are ... but, to those true *music* lovers, this is a masterpiece.
  9. petes
    Aug 29, 2005
    9
    Kanye has certainly transcended the label of being purely a "hip-hop" artist. This album is certainly more poetical and mature than The College Dropout; however, I'm not sure that, for everyone, this album is as original sounding as it could have been. Overall, it's great album, and alot of work went into its production.
  10. jonr
    Aug 29, 2005
    10
    wow.....crack music. dont worry all, sufjen and kanye can exist in the same universe.
  11. tony
    Aug 29, 2005
    10
    incredible!
  12. AaronS
    Aug 29, 2005
    10
    The best rap album of the year. In fact, one of the best records of the year period.
  13. BrandonC
    Aug 29, 2005
    10
    Maybe the lyrics aren't a ten but this has to be one of the well-produced, most listenable, complete albums in modern hip-hop. There's little filler, if any, and repeat listens are rewarding.
  14. KanyeEast
    Aug 31, 2005
    10
    read the rolling stone review, it basiclaly sums up how genius this album really is
  15. RobE
    Aug 31, 2005
    9
    I'm so sick of the claims of Kanye's arrogance and poor MC skills. He is so arrogant that he devotes songs to his family in the hospital, his mother and his struggles with addictions. Few of the best MCs in the game could keep our ears glued and our guts bustin with this type of material. Kanye does it with ease. Ye has made an album that does not contain the so-called "fun I'm so sick of the claims of Kanye's arrogance and poor MC skills. He is so arrogant that he devotes songs to his family in the hospital, his mother and his struggles with addictions. Few of the best MCs in the game could keep our ears glued and our guts bustin with this type of material. Kanye does it with ease. Ye has made an album that does not contain the so-called "fun tracks" that we heard on Dropout, but one that's possibly even more entertaining to listen to. The only reason that I would not give the album a 10 is because I honestly don't think we've seen the best of West yet.… Expand
  16. JimW
    Aug 31, 2005
    8
    This CD is not as great as COLLEGE DROPOUT, but Kanye still delivers with humor and wit. His lines are fresher, but he has lost some from his first CD. As for Gnarles, Kanye is not at all overrated. Late Regis. might have been a bit overhyped, but College Dropout was a legend, one of the few quality Hip-hop cd's to come out in the pas 3 or 4 years.
  17. Tricky
    Aug 31, 2005
    10
    the best
  18. JimmieP
    Aug 31, 2005
    9
    A brilliant follow up to he College Dropout, it shows growth and unparalled originality. Once again, a breath of fresh air for hip hop!
  19. DwayneW
    Sep 11, 2005
    9
    Kanye is definately 1 of the most ambitious& talented artistes to have emerged in recent memory, and Late Registration cements that fact! Jon Brion brings texture & depth to an otherwise overlong (can you honestly name 1 rap album except for Common's BE, that isn't overlong & self-indulgent?), though interesting album. The album also showcases West's growth as an MC in Kanye is definately 1 of the most ambitious& talented artistes to have emerged in recent memory, and Late Registration cements that fact! Jon Brion brings texture & depth to an otherwise overlong (can you honestly name 1 rap album except for Common's BE, that isn't overlong & self-indulgent?), though interesting album. The album also showcases West's growth as an MC in songs like Diamonds Are Forever & We Major. A very memorable album, though even I must admit that it has nothing on the instant classicism of last year's College Dropout (the album, in my opinion, that should have won the Album of the Year Grammy!). I'm very disappointed in popmatters w/a rating of 7, & very surprised w/Rolling Stone & pitchfork w/ratings of 5stars & 9.5 respectively! M.I.A.'s Arular aside, Late Registration may very well be the album of the year ( though i'm yet to hear Sleater-Kinney's The Woods, Sufjan Stevens Illinoise &The New Pornographers' Twin Cinema)! The string instrumentations are lush & vivid! Touch the Sky is definately the opus' highlight (how ironic, the song was produced by Just Blaze!). Other great tracks- Heard 'Em Say, Gold Digger, Drive Slow, Crack Music, Roses, Celebration & Gone! Kudos for Kanye for again raising the bar on what rap and MUSIC should sound like!… Expand
  20. RicardoL
    Sep 11, 2005
    10
    The only albums this album doesn't compare 2 are Only Built 4 Cuban Linx,De La Soul is Dead,and The Low End Theory,otherwise its 1 of the greatest albums made.don't hate
  21. DaveB
    Sep 22, 2005
    9
    Not as good as the College Dropout, but only because Kanye set the bar so high with his debut. A solid album. Interestingly, it seems all the people who gave it bad scores are people who don't really like rap and only bought it because of the hype. Obviously if you don't appreciate the genre, you won't like the album, no matter how good it is, bitches.
  22. JC
    Sep 26, 2005
    8
    First I'd like to say that I'd give this an 8.5 if I could, but I can't... Secondly...you must realize that this album takes some listening to get used to. You probably won't like it the first time you play it through. All of you that give this album less than a 7 either need to stop hating or give the album a few more chances. I'll admit it, my first go-around, I First I'd like to say that I'd give this an 8.5 if I could, but I can't... Secondly...you must realize that this album takes some listening to get used to. You probably won't like it the first time you play it through. All of you that give this album less than a 7 either need to stop hating or give the album a few more chances. I'll admit it, my first go-around, I was very disappointed. I only liked "Gold Digger" and "Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)". But after a few more listens, a few more songs grew on me..."Heard 'Em Say" is probably my favorite song on the album. "Touch the Sky", "Hey Mama", "Roses", "Bring Me Down", "Gone", "Addiction", and "Crack Music" also grew on me. "We Major" is a major letdown, its really two songs rolled into one...I mean come on, it has 2 choruses, he's not fooling anyone. "My Way Home" is half a song and I really wish Kanye dropped a verse on that. I'm starting to like "Drive Slow" too. The only songs I skip are "Late" and "Celebration". Be patient people...give the album a second, third, fourth chance if you need to...it really is a great album.… Expand
  23. TyeN.
    Aug 13, 2006
    10
    This album is my second favorite of 2005. Who would have thought that getting Jon Brion to produce would turn out to be such a great move? I love Jon Brion and Kanye, but it just didn't seem like a good match. That is, until I heard it. The production is amazing, and the album is filled with wonderful songs. My favorites are "Gone", "Diamonds (From Sierra Leone)", "Hey Mama", "Crack This album is my second favorite of 2005. Who would have thought that getting Jon Brion to produce would turn out to be such a great move? I love Jon Brion and Kanye, but it just didn't seem like a good match. That is, until I heard it. The production is amazing, and the album is filled with wonderful songs. My favorites are "Gone", "Diamonds (From Sierra Leone)", "Hey Mama", "Crack Music", "Addiction", "Heard 'Em Say", "Roses", and "Touch The Sky". The entire album is amazing though. Kanye West has become one of the few artist who's albums I always look forward to. I hope the rumors are true that he and Chris Martin did a song together for his third album...that would be amazing.… Expand
  24. AndyW
    Nov 15, 2005
    10
    "I think I died in an accident cuz this must be heaven!!" As well as a good line that fits perfectly well in a great song, it also states what this album is like. Kanye has soul in his music, and he knows it. He tries to show it through every song he makes. Whether it's his past releases such as "Jesus Walks", or some of the new songs he's written, including the mini monologue "I think I died in an accident cuz this must be heaven!!" As well as a good line that fits perfectly well in a great song, it also states what this album is like. Kanye has soul in his music, and he knows it. He tries to show it through every song he makes. Whether it's his past releases such as "Jesus Walks", or some of the new songs he's written, including the mini monologue at the end of "Crack Music", this guy just keeps on hammering away one perfect song after the next. If you tried to put West in the middle of the field with sheep, in matter of seconds, you'd probably see them wooless, because he's made a pimp jacket out of all of the wool. He'd probably have em dancing too! The point I'm trying to get at, is that Kanye West is a master of his domain, and he should stay that way for a while, until it comes to a time where he needs to change. Even then, he'll bust out some rhymes that are so amazing, YOU'D think you died and went to heaven (hence the topic sentence!) Late Registration is the greatest rap album ever. Period!… Expand
  25. MattB
    Nov 17, 2005
    8
    There's only one thing more entertaining than listening to a bunch of "true heads" write off Kanye while playing up mediocre stuff like Blackalicious or Sage Francis, and that's listening to his work. Maybe not the unabashed genius of his debut, but there's a ton to like here, and with "Gone," he turns in his most accompished verse to date. Hate on him all you want: this is There's only one thing more entertaining than listening to a bunch of "true heads" write off Kanye while playing up mediocre stuff like Blackalicious or Sage Francis, and that's listening to his work. Maybe not the unabashed genius of his debut, but there's a ton to like here, and with "Gone," he turns in his most accompished verse to date. Hate on him all you want: this is the best Sophomore Slump in years.… Expand
  26. LINDAG
    Nov 28, 2005
    10
    I'm 56 and a mother of a 21/31 daughters who luv rap. They played this for me and I stole the CD from them. Takes me back in the day. Luv this generation, however, you can't make music like we did back when--so sweeties just embrace as Kanye has--let it flow. CD is Awesome--HipHop for the older folks--Can he do it again?
  27. KEvinA
    Dec 16, 2005
    10
    This CD is spectacular... from every track to every verse, Kanye did it again.
  28. Osiir
    Jun 18, 2013
    10
    From one of rap's best debuts to one of it's greatest follow-ups, not to mention, one of the best albums to ever spawn from the genre. Stylistically and sonically a step-up from it's predecessor, undoubtedly from the help of "Jon Brion on the keys". "Touch The Sky", "Celebration", "We Major", "Gone", an album all about showing off and livin' it up, in all it's glory and in all it's folly,From one of rap's best debuts to one of it's greatest follow-ups, not to mention, one of the best albums to ever spawn from the genre. Stylistically and sonically a step-up from it's predecessor, undoubtedly from the help of "Jon Brion on the keys". "Touch The Sky", "Celebration", "We Major", "Gone", an album all about showing off and livin' it up, in all it's glory and in all it's folly, it's jealously and it's unintended victims, "Gold Digger", "Addiction", "Bring Me Down", "Diamonds From Sierra Leone". From "putting those hazard lights on" picking up girls with "Drive Slow", to realizing and understanding that "Nothing lasts forever" and even though "it hurts", that "it may be the only way" on the street-poet-spilling-his-heart "Heard Em Say", to the soft, sweet, love-filled ode to his Mom "Hey Mama", this album found me really appreciating all the tracks not just for them in themselves, but what they added to the whole. Classic Album. 9.5/10… Expand
  29. His-Dudeness
    Mar 2, 2015
    10
    Ten years on Late Registration has aged brilliantly compared to Kanye West's other critically acclaimed work. The production is still the best Kanye contribution to date, and is arguably one of the finest to ever in it's genre. The guest verses are unconventional, especially at the time, yet they work in perfect harmony with Mr West. Such crisp production and light on the ear rhymes areTen years on Late Registration has aged brilliantly compared to Kanye West's other critically acclaimed work. The production is still the best Kanye contribution to date, and is arguably one of the finest to ever in it's genre. The guest verses are unconventional, especially at the time, yet they work in perfect harmony with Mr West. Such crisp production and light on the ear rhymes are what continue to make Late Registration a timeless classic.… Expand
  30. cdgui
    Aug 31, 2021
    10
    The best album of all time, all tracks are goat material, great flow, great hooks, great production, great beats, everything about this album is absolutely perfect
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best Album of 2005
4
#4 Most Discussed Album of 2005
6
#6 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Slant Magazine
    Feb 17, 2011
    70
    Late Registration's salvation (and, undoubtedly, Kanye's own) are when it basks in the sunshine after the rain.
    Read full review
  2. Village Voice
    Jan 3, 2011
    90
    Each of these songs offers more exquisite details than I could earmark in twice this space, many of them literary, which the English prof's dropout son rightly claims as his calling. But secret brilliance is more likely to emerge from the sops to his hip-hop base.
    Read full review
  3. Amazon.com
    90
    Late Registration can't replicate the novelty of last year's College Dropout, but otherwise, this is an impressively more mature and labored-over album.
    Read full review
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