"Heard 'Em Say" was included as the opening song on the track-listing of "Late Registration" (2005), the second studio album by American hip-hop recording artist and record producer Kanye West. It was written by West with Adam Levine, lead vocalist of the American pop rock band Maroon 5. West co-produced the track with record producer and multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion. The song contains excerpts of "Someone That I Used To Love" as performed by soul singer Natalie Cole. Its hauntingly understated record production is primarily built on a twinkling piano figure over tumbling beats. Although "Heard Em Say" is the first song on "Late Registration", it is preceded by a track that features a reprisal of West's critical inner voice. This introductory track continues where West's debut album "The College Dropout" left off, opening with a skit spoken by Deray Davis, who is playing a school administrator still unsatisfied with West's classroom performance. The college teacher exclaims, "I knew I was gon' see you again!" in an impersonation of comedian Bernie Mac and questions, "Where your goddamn book bag at?" As the piano instrumental rises in the background, West falls asleep in class, until a yell of "Wake up Mr. West!" wakes him from his stupor. This tirade ends with the echoing "Wake up Mr. West" refrain and fades into the beginning of "Heard 'Em Say." The phrase and its accompanying piano melody purposefully bleeds into the album's opening track in full.