hiphop-elements.com

Label : DefJam / Roc-A-Fella (2005)
Production : Artist

1. Wake Up Mr. West [intro]
2. Heard 'Em Say featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5 (3,5)
3. Touch The Sky featuring Lupe Fiasco (3:5)
4. Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx (3)
5. Skit #1
6. Drive Slow featuring Paul Wall & GLC (4)
7. My Way Home featuring Common (5)
8. Crack Music featuring The Game (4)
9. Roses (4)
10. Bring Me Down featuring Brandy (3,75)
11. Addiction (3)
12. Skit #2
13. Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix) featuring Jay-Z (5)
14. We Major featuring Nas & Really Doe (4)
15. Skit #3
16. Hey Mama (3,5)
17. Celebration (4)
18. Skit #4
19. Gone featuring Consequence & Cam'Ron (4)
20. Diamonds From Sierra Leone (original) (4,5)
21. Late (3,5)

Overall : 3,75 / 5

This is probably one of the most hyped albums of 2005 with magazines already planning which rating they want to give it (which apparently influenced the rating of "The Minstrel Show" in XXL....). Unfortunately it doesn't quite live up to the hype.

First of all let me say that there are no bad songs on this album. The biggest problem is the length and the lack of diversity. Too many tracks sound the same and skits haven't been relevant since De La Soul died.

Kanyes flow is nice in small amounts but halfway through the album it's rather boring. The beats are good but doesn't sound as fresh as on "College Dropout", probably because everybody is biting his sound at the moment (and he used the best beats for "BE"). The best track is "My way Home" which is basically a Common track since Kanye doesn't rhyme on it (which is probably why it's so good). Jay proves he hasn't lost a step on the remix of "Diamonds From Sierra leone" and Nas rips it on "We Major". Paul Wall, really Doe and Lupe Fiasco on the other hand does nothing but prove they doesn't deserve a record deal at all.

Loose the skits and the filler tracks ("Gold Digger", "Addiction", "Hey Mama") and you have a pretty dope album, as it is now you'll probably soon loose interest.

"Addiction" is so annoying to me.

3.5 mics

Lyrically it holds no weight whatsoever.. can't really picture myself listening to this album in about 3-5 years.


"Drive Slow" is real though.

Will this be getting uploaded?

The three songs I've heard are terrible, but I still want to hear the whole thing.

Nevermind. I found it.

Production is to theatrical for me. Compensating for the lyrics or something. All the guest spots are unappreciated except a couple like Nas, Jay, Paul Wall fit with the theme of the song perfectly. Seems like Kanye put Camron on the wrong track. Crack Music was going nowhere I was waiting for Game to spit a verse, kind of like that track on College Dropout with Ludacris. Kanye can't write skits and that's the end of that.

Lose the skits and cut some tracks and you would still have an album that's something like a high 3 out of 5

3/5

ive been skipping through it but i have started listening from front to back


i didnt pay attention to the track with the maroon 5 guy

altough i do like gold digger i like the ray charles sample i think he went the "eminem" route which is give the record company a radio friendly club hit. But overall it doesnt fit in with the rest of the album

The skits i like them they definently fit into the whole college dropout but im back signing in late theme but yes theres alittle bit to much of them and they do get annoying
broke phi broke foo haha

Drive slow that is definently one of my highlights so far the beat is reallly dope IMO kanye's verse isnt to bad but Paul Wall and GLC rip it. I have a feeling that this might be the next single either that or testify

Testify now that shit is dope i love the curtis mayfield sample
thats all i really have to say on that

This album is nothing like College Dropout which the big reason why i said what i said in regards to "golddigger" most people just go off the radio and buy the album if they are buying the album just off the strength of that single then they are in for a big surprise. This album is really a laid back album which i think can be dug buy all people. I see it as almost a overextension of de la and commons album those albums were short and sweet and left you wanting more while this album is long and sometimes drawn out. I mean can you imagine another 20-25 minutes added on to the grind date or BE??

but yeah i have to listen to the rest of the album and i can see what i can see and maybe my mind might change

btw We Major does sound like a Madvillain production to me i say that because madlib and doom carry the same sound and it erks me when people get ahold of the album and that song wil get talked about alot and then youll see that production style by everybody being done
Kanye Give Props where they are due and just admit that kind of influence

I read that Drive Slow is the next single.

and rightfully so haha

on the real though this album doesnt have anything that you could really play in a club or anything like that so i think the single selection is going to be tricky

Blah.

Jay's verse is the highlight.


2.5/5

does bun have a tumour in his neck?

This album did nothing to help my opinion of Kanye West as average and a little boring. But Drive Slow is dope and definitely raised my opinion of Paul Wall.

Label : DefJam / Roc-A-Fella (2005)
Production : Artist, Just Blaze

1. Wake Up Mr. West [intro]
2. Heard 'Em Say featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5 (3,5)
3. Touch The Sky featuring Lupe Fiasco (4) (Just Blaze)
4. Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx (4)
5. Skit #1
6. Drive Slow featuring Paul Wall & GLC (4.5)
7. My Way Home featuring Common (no rating available)
8. Crack Music featuring The Game (4)
9. Roses (4)
10. Bring Me Down featuring Brandy (2)
11. Addiction (3)
12. Skit #2
13. Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix) featuring Jay-Z (5)
14. We Major featuring Nas & Really Doe (3)
15. Skit #3
16. Hey Mama (3,5)
17. Celebration (4)
18. Skit #4
19. Gone featuring Consequence & Cam'Ron (4.5)
20. Diamonds From Sierra Leone (original) (4,5)
21. Late (4.5)

Overall : 4/ 5

Id Like to start of by saying if you are expecting another College Dropout then dont bother.
This album IMO is way different then anything thats being done on a "mainstream" level
Which to me is both good and bad. Good meaning we know how people are they like to bite and copycat but bad meaning some of these tracks sound just like some shit our favorite "underground" heros do and have been doing so there style no becomes secondhand "at least in the eyes of those who are just getting into them.
Bring me down" gets a low rating for the shear fact he respit his verse from "Wack Niggas"
Ill start off with Gold Digger which from what i can see is the only "radio friendly get the chicks moving in the club" Song.
Dope Ray Charles sample .
From there and like many points throughout the album it moves into a pretty worthless skit. It adds nothing to the album whatsoever and if anything it makes you want to have your hand readdy on the skip button.
The next track in line is "Drive Slow"
This song is dope banging with or with out Kanye. Paul Wall And GLC rip this to shreds and IMO if there is to be any more songs out there made about flossin they should be made like this.
Next up we have "My Way Home" there is no rating available for this song because point blank there is no way you can give this track a number. This shit is WAY TO FUCKIN ILL to suffice it with a rating. all i can say is Common> your favorite emcees mom's favorite emcee>the universe.
Dope sample usage. and of course Common. They did save a lil bit for later haha

Now Crack Music is where shit starts getting uninteresting . The Beat is pretty Nice Game is only on the hook the hook is beyond wack. Its a really good song but yet When youthrow in GAME, then this track loses points.
So moving on we eventually get to "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" straight out banger good choice in putting the remix on there with Jay-Z this track is aobut 2 things the beat and Jay "im Not a business man imma business, MAN" nuff said
Next track up is "We Major" the only reason why this song to me is a 3 is the beat. The Beat is fuckin ill but DOOM called he wants his style back.
Nas is the fucking man. We will be getting a DOOM, Ghostface collab soon but please can we please throw the God's Son on there?!.
Next up ill take on "Gone" the beat is really dope and just like "Drive Slow" the featured emcees rip the track and leave us like "kanye needs to step it up" But everything cam spits is a quotable so its pretty hard to beat that *nohomo*
"Diamonds From Sierra Leone *original*" closes out the album im not sure why this is on there other thanhe wanted to be on the track by himself im not sure why this gets the 4.5 primarily of the epic beat
"Late" is a bonus track this could have gotten a regular track posistion instead of bonus the beat is really dope Kanye actually spits something nice on here. Even the added biggie reference is dope *hahahahah* <--- the laugh from whatever song that was i cant think of it right now

So in conclusion. This albums is pretty dope. It Could be alot better, minus the skits and a few of the songs.
This definently has a more laid back vibe to it where as College Dropout had more a party feel. CD had quite a few club hits but if your expecting to be in the club shakin your ass tosome Kanye you better be happy with "Gold Digger and move the fuck on.
I applaud Kanye's Effort to be different. I Definently feel his Movement *no homo* Taking it back to the day with sample heavy beats and actually having emcees that can spit on his records "Talib, Mos Def, Commmon,Nas<Rakaa Iriscience, etcetc"
So bottom line alot of people have predisposed notion of kanye because hes everywhere you look give him a chance and yeah you might be surprised.

4/5

Late-5/5

4/5.

im switchin up no homo

"Late" gets a 5 and "Addiction" gets a 4

im still on a 4/5 though

better than late registration

I thought that was one of Paul's worst verses.

your still in the parking lot boppin.