Cam O'bi on Kanye West's "Late Registration" (2005)

When Kanye West first announced the follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut, The College Dropout, the biggest question on everyone's mind was "can he do it again?" And Kanye proved without a doubt that he can. He enlisted composer/producer Jon Brion to help create a much more lush and dense record. They dug through the crates and flipped some fantastic records and collaborated with some of the biggest artists at the time, like Jay, Nas,  Jamie Foxx, even Adam Levine came into the studio for this one.Fellow producer-turned-rapper Cam O'bi sits down with us to discuss  Kanye West's sophomore album, Late Registration. We talk about the prolific use of samples on the album, the changing image of Kanye at the time, and the influence it had on Cam's own producing techniques.More on CamCam's single "Tenderheaded" featured on NPRBeat Break: Cam O'bi Shares the Story Behind His 5 Biggest Songs (DJ Booth)Bandcamp | TwitterMore on Late RegistrationEvery sample used on Late Registration (Bandstand)How Kanye West Handed In A Stone-Cold Classic (uDiscoverMusic)Heard 'Em Say animated by Bill PlymptonShow Tracklisting (all songs from Late Registration unless otherwise indicated):Gold Digger (Radio Edit)Cam O'bi: PerfectJay-Z: This Can't Be LifeCelebrationLupe Fiasco: Kick PushDiamonds From Sierra Leone (remix)Skit #1Heard 'Em SayNoname: YesterdayNoname: Shadow ManCinderella (1950): Sing Sweet NightingaleNoname: Diddy BopHeard 'Em SayKanye West: ImpossibleWe MajorOrange Krush: ActionWe MajorAddictionTouch the SkyCurtis Mayfield: Move On UpTouch the SkyDrive SlowCowboy Bebop: Tank!Akifumi Tada: White IceLateSean Rose: TomorrowGold DiggerGoneThe Whatnauts: I'll Erase Away the PainLateThe Kay-Gees: Heavenly DreamCelebrationDiamonds from Sierra Leone (remix)Kanye West: Love LockdownDrive SlowJay-Z: Izzo (H.O.V.A.)Common: ResurrectionPink Floyd: MoneyHere is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on thereIf you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!