Aug 24 - Late Registration Receives Classic Ratings From XXL & Rolling Stone Magazine

As he appears on magazine covers and garners critical acclaim, Kanye West's buzz is building up to Late Registration's release scheduled for next Tuesday, August 30th.

As previously reported, Ye recently appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. Kanye is also slated to grace the cover of Blender Magazine's September "Hot issue." Blender placed him in the #1 slot of its Hot 100 list.

Meanwhile, heads have been raving about Kanye's improved flows and lyrics and Late Registration's experimental, yet superior production since the album leaked onto the internet late last week. XXL and Rolling Stone Magazine agree. XXL handed the LP a classic "XXL" rating in its September issue while Rolling Stone also gave it a perfect score, 5 stars. Reputed publications such as the aforementioned Time, New York Times and Newsweek, are also praising the album as arguably the year's best effort to date.

"It's hard when people are depending on you to have an album that's not just good, but inspired," West said in a statement. "I mean, my music isn't just music- it's medicine."

With less than six days left before the album's official release, West is keeping busy. This Sunday, August 28th, the Chicagoan is set to perform at MTV's Video Music Awards in Miami. He is also slated to perform at an in-store appearance at the Tower Records in Lincoln Center in New York next Tuesday, the day of Late's release. The performance will air as a concert special on the E! Network. He's later slated to make an in-store appearance in Chicago's Borders as well as hold an album release party September 1st. West will then go on a series of television performances starting with an outdoor set on "Good Morning America" on September 2nd. Ye will then hit the stage to launch the NFL season live on ABC on September 8th. Meanwhile, West's appearance and performance on "The Oprah Winfrey" show is also set to air September 8th.

Fans who would like a sneak preview of Late Registration can visit to their local Finish Line stores to sample the album. Attendees at the listening sessions will be given $10 coupons to use for Finish Line purchases. (Some restrictions apply).

Kanye West's Late Registration featuring production by Just Blaze and guest appearances by Jay-Z, Nas, Cam'ron, Common, Paul Wall and Adam Levine of Maroon 5 is slated to hit stores August 30th.

Finish Line locations for Late Registration in-store sessions:
Atlanta, GA @ Cumberland Mall
Morr Morrow, GA @ Southlake Mall
Staten Island, NY @ Staten Island Mall
Paramus, NJ @ Garden State Plaza
North Riverside, IL @ North Riverside Park Mall
Chicago, IL @ Ford City Mall
Culver City, CA @ Fox Hills Mall
Cerritos, CA @ Los Cerritos
Southfield Southfield, MI @ Northland Center Mall
Troy, MI @ Somerset Collection

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