West also set a precedent for record production in regards to his choices in musical collaborations on "Late Registration". "Heard 'Em Say" features a duet between West and Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine. During the song, West raps two verses which are followed by a chorus that he delivers in tandem with the singer. Levine's smoothing tenor singing voice punctuates the introspective tone. Adam Levine and Kanye West had first worked together when Maroon 5 commissioned West to remix "This Love," the second single from the band's debut studio album, "Songs About Jane" (2002). Some time later, a friendship developed between the pair when they sat together on a flight to Rome for the MTV Europe Music Awards. In a "Playboy" interview, West revealed that he himself sang on the original version of "Heard 'Em Say." Although he considers the imperfection of his singing to be a relatable quality, West felt in this particular case that it was hampering the record. Levine's contribution is just one of several guest appearances throughout the studio album. The creative direction that West took on "Heard 'Em Say" and other songs on "Late Registration" would later inform musical and collaborative decisions on his third studio album, "Graduation" (2007).