Review: Second Semester: Kanye Essentials 2 (mixtape) / Mick Boogie & Kanye West

When Kanye first hooked up with Cleveland DJ Mick Boogie in 2004, it was for the Kanye Essentials mixtape, a disc of rarities to accompany the newly-rleased College Dropout. A lot has changed since then, and Second Semester is a bit of a victory lap. That being said, you won't find much that comes close to Late Registration, instead a showcase of freestyles, works in progress, rejected beats and lots of guests; it's not a record per se - it's more of a lesson in artistic process. More-than-casual fans will enjoy an intro that cuts bits from Kanye's interview with Barbara Walters over his most famous beats, which then leads to a stellar live version of "Diamonds..." In this version, Kanye drops verses from the single and the remix, establishing the bling vs. political conscience dynamic better than the two songs do on their own. Other high points include the James Brown-sampling "Brand New," "Back to Basics" with Common, and Lupe Fiasco's "Kick Push." Fiasco proves himself a gifted MC over an old-school snare, piano and strings beat that recalls A Tribe Called Quest. For those who remember the much-hyped collaboration with John Mayer that didn't make "Registration," "Bittersweet" is included here as a bonus track. While Mayer fans may rejoice, the track proves Adam Levine is a lot more likeable.

3 STARS (out of 5)