Late Registration

Late Registration is Kanye West's second album, co-produced by Jon Brion. Standout tracks include Addiction, featuring an acoustic guitar loop over an Etta James sample, Hey Mama with its folk-rock vocal, and the single Diamonds from Sierra Leone, built on a sped-up soul sample from Shirley Bassey's Diamonds are Forever. Kanye's conversational flow and production prowess shine throughout this essential hip-hop album.