By shelz.

Red-lining based on area code is slowly becoming un-hip in the Hip-Hop nation. Hip-Hop is embracing a post-regional America and good music is accepted from all corners of the country. None of that east coast/west coast shit is allowed anymore.  This new found philosophy rubs some old heads the wrong way as they prepare for another wave of southern-influenced New York releases.  One group that may benefit is the eclectic artists who call the Mid-West home. They never had a signature sound so they never ruled the rap roost.  However, their ability to pull from the left and right coasts to mix, and heat and serve as Hip-Hop gumbo has led to their crafting of some of the greatest albums recorded in the 21st century. Two of their best are Common’s Be and Kanye West’s Late Registration.

Both albums dropped in 2005 during a Southern revolution that was meandering from state to state without missing a beat or conceding an inch of burn to the rest of the union. One of the strengths of the Southern assault was its ability to mass produce from several different states so they had the Midwest beat in quantity. Be and Late Registration though, cemented the heartland as the king of quality.  Late Registration took Hip-Hop production to new, cinematic heights while Be reminded the world of Common’s depth and soulful delivery after the eccentric presentation that was Electric Circus.  But which one is the better?

People prepared for Late Registration with a tinge of doubt.  College Dropout was a masterful freshman offering and folks didn’t want to waste their $15 on a sophomore slump.  What they received in exchange for their pennies was arguably the best album of the year.  Instead of following the equation that brought him glory with his first album or making a hard left to display musical diversity, West built on the foundation that College Dropout laid.   

With production help from Jon Brion, the sped-up soul samples were reduced and orchestral elements were added.  There were strings and pianos, bells and harpsichords layered thickly over a Hip-Hop thump that didn’t resemble anything Hip-hop had ever produced.  It was a lush soundscape that pushed Hip-Hop’s sonic boundaries without the pretension that is normally accompanied such ambitious projects.  

West also stepped up his rhyme prowess and incorporated a myriad of lyrical subjects to match the epic tracks.  He plotted a long winding path that detailed the triumph and tribulation he encountered while trudging up his musical mountain. He managed that climb to the top with both his talent and hubris in tow. He fought battles with naysayers and gold diggers, considered societal injustice here and abroad, told his Mom and Grandmom he loved them and even had a few minutes left over for personal reflection.  

Many found the drama of Late Registration mind blowing.  Others however, found it over-whelming and for them the succinct construction of Common’s Be was absolutely perfect.  Be was the calm after the Electric Circus storm that allowed Common to center himself and continue to create music that both he and his fans could enjoy.

Common starts with a thoughtful monologue on the plight of the hood, a concept he regularly tackled on previous releases.  His delivery is confident and it’s obvious his return to his tried and true style puts him in a good place lyrically. There is a sweaty lust filled number by the name of “Go,” the type of song that would normally put Common’s female fans on edge, but it’s racy without the smut and just sultry enough to turn the ladies on instead of off.  It’s also balanced out by sympathetic tales with female protagonists. There is some engrossing Hip-Hop theatre on Be but the overall feeling is smooth soulful goodness with John Legend and Bilal rounding out the R&B sound. His observations are poignant.  His word play is relaxed and for Common’s fans it was like the return of a long lost friend.

With Kanye West and Jay Dee behind the boards, the musical background was as comfortable as Common’s voice.  The smooth jazzy styling of the tracks is low-key enough for Commons words to shine through but dramatic enough to play the able co-star.

So there you have it.  During the beginning stages of the Southern Dynasty a pair of Mid-Westerners managed to outshine throngs of crunksters without a large middle American Hip-Hop movement supporting them. They did it with impossibly perfect production, considerate lyricism and a little help from each other. The lines of regional demarcation have since blurred but this pair of towering albums set the bar very high for artists from coast to coast.  Only one can be the top dog though.  You decide.

BE  LISTEN

LATE REGISTRATION LISTEN

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