For his second studio album, West collaborated with American film score composer and multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion. With its layered arrangements and meticulous attention to songwriting, Brion's involvement is evident on "Heard 'Em Say" and throughout "Late Registration", and together the two managed to craft sophisticated, baroque hip-hop. West's sonic reference points go well beyond the realm of mainstream hip-hop artists, drawing from British trip-hop band Portishead, the Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Pink Floyd. He recruited Brion to dress the record with orchestrations and lush arrangements that fit widening his musical vision. Brion's orchestral arrangements and progressive rock flourishes infused the graceful opening song with a high sense of drama while enabling him to be vulnerable across the record. "Heard 'Em Say" and other songs from ""Late Registration" would lay out the foundation for West's maximalist approach to lyrical tone and musical arrangement. This musical trait would become a hallmark of his subsequent works, most prominently on the studio albums "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" (2010) and "Cruel Summer" (2012).