"I'm carrying the whole of hip-hop," Kanye West declared prior to the release of this all-important followup to the brilliant The College Dropout.

Fightin' words, were they not undeniably true.

With Late Registration, Kanye kicks up so much dust that contemporaries positively beg to be involved -- even if it means placing sworn enemies like Jay-Z and Nas together on the same disc.

Other unlikely cameos include: Ray star Jamie Foxx, whose contribution on Gold Digger is boldly placed atop a Ray Charles sample; the out-of-his-depth Game; and the ever-underrated Brandy. All struggle to keep up with an artist who dares to make rap matter again, challenging peers (not that there are any at this point) to address concerns other than the bling, government to take health care seriously and all of us to wake up to the situation in Sierra Leone.

The music is equally powerful, eschewing College Dropout's occasionally gimmicky sped-up samples for the real grooves courtesy of Curtis Mayfield, Otis Redding and Etta James.

The College Dropout was an impressive effort for a junior. Now that he's a sophomore, Kanye is seated comfortably at the head of the class.

Track Listing:

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