CD: "Late Registration" by Kanye West

Release: Aug. 30

Style: Rap/hip-hop

My take: There may not be a musician more savvy than Kanye West, longtime producer for Jay-Z, Common and Talib Kweli. "Late Registration" marks West's second album and is the follow-up to 2004's critically acclaimed and publicly adored "The College Dropout." West understands how the music industry works and acts accordingly: He is able to tackle tough issues such as racial and social inequalities while not being too hard-edged or "street" to alienate the common upper- and middle-class listener.

The album's first song is "Heard 'Em Say," a softer, piano and synth-driven track track featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5. "Touch the Sky" chronicles West's coming up through the ranks, a theme that isn't uncommon among rappers. West's songs about his rise to stardom are usually done in a humorous fashion, like when he claims he went "to Jacob (a legendary New York City jeweler) an hour after I got my advance" and that he has "a problem with spending before I get it." Although West may not offer the most sound financial advice, he speaks about his meteoric rise in a way that makes the listener smile, and "Touch the Sky" is a song that has a strong enough beat to be a huge hit in dance clubs worldwide.

"Gold Digger" is one of the album's highlights, with funky synthesizer lines and guest Jamie Foxx singing. West's funny one-line quips such as "she was supposed to buy your shorty (child) Tyco with your money, she went to the doctor got lypo with your money" and call for listeners to get "prenups" make for a very entertaining listen and a huge radio and video hit.

"Roses" lets West air his beliefs about the inability of the poor to get fair treatment in America, which he publicly stated during a TV benefit for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. While West is free to voice his beliefs, this song is probably one of the few low points on the album. And while the song "Hey Mama," an ode to his mother, is very thoughtful, it probably also is the only other weak track on "Late Registration."

There are two versions of "Diamonds from Sierra Leone," which includes a sample of the Shirley Bassey song "Diamonds Are Forever" from the James Bond movie of the same name (West is being sued for not acquiring the rights to use the Bassey tune). Both display West's trademark ego, though the remix featuring Jay-Z has West contemplating whether his diamonds were harvested by exploited workers in Sierra Leone, and wondering how something "so wrong could make him feel so right." This sort of internal battle over bling is almost unheard of in the rap world and is part of what makes West so universally endearing. But the same song has West bragging about everything he has, making him an enigma, too.

Although this record has a few flaws, it really is solid and one that will stand the test of time. It is a thought-provoking record that also can be played at parties to keep the room entertained.

Joshua Masayoshi Huff, a graduate of Moanalua High School, attends George Washington University in Washington, D.C.