Jackson G. Tickle Enterprises Presents…Panama’s Propositions

[***This right here is another Panama-length post (roughly 1,500 words). That Panama cat needs to quit being so damn longwinded.***]

****FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE…GO VISIT WJGT RADIO TO HEAR (IT AIN’T AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD). IT’S OVER THERE ON THE RIGHT UNDER WJGT RADIO, GRADUATE.****

First and foremost, I like Kanye. I’m a fan of his music.

Whew…glad I got that out of the way.

So apparently I’m a reactionary by nature. I tend to feel the need to respond to things or offer my take after reading or hearing opinions that totally throw me for a loop. Hell, that’s the reason I reviewed John Legend’s album. I had to stop myself, nearly daily, from reviewing Common’s Be album, though that was mostly because I assumed I picked up a different version of the album than did everybody else, since mine wasn’t a classic and apparently everybody else’s was. And it doesn’t make sense to review a different version than everybody else.

And for the record, my version (which had the exact same tracklisting…must have been a problem at Best Buy that day) was more like a 3.5/4 out of 5 stars, or more like a XL, not a XXL…unlike other publications and shit.

The trend of Kanye related projects for which I must proffer an opinion continues with his newest (August 30, 2005) release, Late Registration. And let’s get STRAIGHT to the punch…this album is just…

…okay.

Now apparently the buzz surrounding this album has it being lauded as potentially the best album of the year, and some great pop album (which is closer to the truth than it isn’t), or even as good as The College Dropout.

Umm…it’s not any of those things.

Let me put this out there again, I’m a fan of Kanye’s music.

I think as a person he’s an asshole who thinks he’s WAY more important than he might be, however, he knows that and is okay with it, so who am I to judge. Ironically, that same assholishness gets lauded by people as him being so honest and open and willing to express himself. Even in the Time Magazine blowjob, excuse me…article, they discussed how his dual, hypocritical nature is what draws everybody to him.

But I guess some say potato and others say umguferschlagen.

Once again, I’m a Kanye West fan.

I guess by now I should actually get to the album, huh?

Cool.

My overall reflection of the album is this: this album has some well produced (musically) tracks that won’t have you wanting to hear them OVER AND OVER. As of right now, there are only two tracks on this album that I have had on repeat. The track “Gone” featuring Cam’ron and Consequence, and the bonus track “Late.”
“Gone” is a perfect Cam’ron beat…real flightly and quick paced which allows Cam to do his stoccato rap thing which is always entertaining. In fact, it’s one of the most entertaining all around tracks on the album. “Late” sounds like a RZA throwback (with better sound quality) as its just a looped sample that doesn’t sound chopped or anything. Here, Kanye discusses how he ended up successful and the trials and tribulations he went thru early on due to his being late or constantly waiting for shit.

Other standout tracks that I don’t necessarily have to listen to ever again are, “Testify”, the Just Blaze produced (umm…huh??) track that is loud and hornfilled like every other Just Blaze track where Kanye does what he does best…talks about himself struggling to make it in the game and still being successful anyway. In fact, that seems to be one of Kanye’s favorite topics.

And yes, he mentions being in that accident…again. On this song.

No really, I’m a fan.

“Crack Music” featuring the Game is another joint worth listening to at least once. Wait, to say featuring The Game would imply that Game actually has a verse as opposed to just a chorus. Let me just say, that is a crime. To have Game on your album and just give him a chorus?? It doesn’t help that the song feels like an undeveloped thought either, but the beat is good enough.

This is getting long…other standouts, “Gold Digger”, “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”, “Bring Me Down” featuring Brandy (where he talks about struggling and being successful…again)

So let’s talk about what’s wrong with this album and why it isn’t as great as its being lauded. Shall we?? Yes, let’s.

First off, the production is good as far as musicality (if that’s a word) goes. It’s Kanye, he isn’t putting his name on any garbage. However, that doesn’t mean that the actual music is that great. There are some beats I just think suck. And I’m talking about “Hookers At the Point” kind of suck, too. But they sound good sucking!!!

For instance, the ass melage that is “We Major”. My goodness. And I give a shit that folks actually love this joint. Sometimes I think we have far too much appreciation for different…cuz sometimes, shit just sucks no matter how innovative it is.

“We Major”=Shit.

Period.

Did I mention I like Kanye?

“Roses” is a song he talks about his grandmother passing in the hospital. Umm…that’s all well and good and I’m sorry to hear that, but the beat is garbage and with lines like, “we got so many aunties we could have an auntie team”…

…well I just want to slap him with a battery and some fluffy white slippers.

“Drive Slow” featuring Paul Wall and GLC is just boring to me. And Kanye’s verse is, how do you say this in English…POINTLESS. Paul Wall is Paul Wall (and “Sittin’ Sidewayz” is my shit). And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.

Can we take a tangent right quick? Even if you say no, we’re going to take a tangent.

I know people keep praising Kanye as this man about social issues and shit and as a man with something to say about society but sometimes shit just sounds a tad…forced. For instance…how many muhfuckas REALLY believe that when he came up with “Diamonds” (the original version) he was thinking about some damn conflict diamonds??

Not I.

Bumaya Kanye!! Bumaya Kanye!!!

I think it came up later and he shot a video and recorded another version to talk about it, but umm…no. Same thing with “Crack Music”. I see what he was trying to do but it seems like he tried a little too hard and it didn’t quite work out. On second thought, I’m listening to it right now and I honestly don’t know what he was trying to do. All I know is that, “it’s that crack music, nigga…that real black music, nigga.” I’m sure somebody will tell me the point of that shit…I mean I like it anyway, I’m just saying.

This brings up something else…Kanye ain’t exactly the best rapper out there. I’m not saying he isn’t good, he’s good at what he does. He’s more of a presence than he is a lyricist, which says a lot since many rappers can rap but you’d rather listen to air than them.

Oh yes, Kanye has a track dedicated to his mother called, “Hey Mama”. I’d like to put a moratorium out on all rappers doing songs dedicated to their mother. Tupac ruined it for all of you. Not that it’s even bad…it’s just not “Dear Mama.” And it’s not his fault that it isn’t as compelling.

It’s George Bush’s fault.

But that’s neither here nor there.

The fact here is that this album isn’t nearly as good as The College Dropout. Now I know its not fair to compare it to his last album, so I won’t. I will, however, compare him to the quality he’s put out since he came on the scene. And it doesn’t quite measure up. And I blame Kanye for that. He has consistently put out music worth listening to on repeat since 2001 (The Blueprint). Most things he’s had his name attached too have been better than average and his production has been damn near stellar. Though I don’t think Common’s album was classic, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the song “Be”, or “Faithful”, or “They Say” weren’t some of the best damn beats in years. And yes, I stand by that statement.

Go Kanye…it’s ya birthday!!!!

Maybe I’ll keep listening and the album will grow on me, but for now, I’m just not impressed and I was expecting to be.

To the legions of people who will undoubtedly love this album (and there will be legions) and think I’m a hater because I’m not feeling it as much as you will…

…fuck you.

It’s still worth picking up.

Panama’s Rating: 3.5/5 Pimpslaps

GO GET LATE REGISTRATION…AUGUST 30, 2005.

Kanye West-Late Registration
Official Tracklisting

1. Wake Up Mr. West (:41)
2. Heard ‘Em Say featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5 (3:24)
3. Touch The Sky featuring Lupe Fiasco (3:56)
4. Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx (3:27)
5. Skit #1 (:33)
6. Drive Slow featuring Paul Wall & GLC (4:32)
7. My Way Home featuring Common (1:43)
8. Crack Music featuring Game (4:31)
9. Roses (4:05)
10. Bring Me Down featuring Brandy (3:19)
11. Addiction (4:27)
12. Skit #2 (:31)
13. Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix) featuring Jay-Z (3:53)
14. We Major featuring Nas & Really Doe (7:28)
15. Skit #3 (:24)
16. Hey Mama (5:05)
17. Celebration (3:18)
18. Skit #4 (1:19)
19. Gone featuring Consequence & Cam’Ron (5:33)
20. **BONUS TRACK**Diamonds From Sierra Leone (3:58)
21. **HIDDEN TRACK** Late (3:50)

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