But lest you think that scholar/player is the only dichotomy here, check out the variety of ideas and complexities displayed across even just three of the albums tracks: Add to those the over-the-top New Workout Plan, both a hilarious parody of an aerobics routine and a platform for Kanye to wrap his words around weird shifts in tempo and style; Never Let Me Down, where Jay-Z rhymes about attaining status and power, Kanye one-ups him with a show-stopping attack on racism and meditation on death, and J Ivy offers words of spiritual upliftment; Slow Jamz, both an ode to quiet-storm R&B and a goof on it; Two Words, a deafening mix of social critique and bragging with Mos Def, Freeway and the Harlem Boys Choir; Family Business, a sweet, soulful tribute to family; and a few tracks with him boasting and goofing over slamming funk-n-soul tracks, and you have an album thats complicated in exactly the right ways. Of course, Kanyes history has been so rocky over the course of his career that hes long since spent any of the good will he built up during those early years.

Today In Hip Hop History: House Of Pains Self Titled Debut LP Turns 30 Years Old! Yes, the track that so much of that attention has been focused on Through the Wire, Kanyes confessional rap about his horrific car accident, capably rhymed while his jaw was still wired shut is as riveting and moving as everyone says it is. The content on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Albumism. He wrote the album during the long recovery period from the accident, with a new perspective after his near-death experience. Even as he disparages the personnel from various labels who didnt take him seriously as a rapper, he gives props to guys like Talib Kweli for giving him the best early opportunities as a rapper.

Slow Jamz, the albums second single, comes off as a bit of a novelty, with appearances by both Jamie Foxx and Chicagos Twista (as well as ad-libs by Aisha Tyler), but it still features some of Kanyes most clever lines. West explains the necessity of his confidence, rapping, Now I could let these dream killers kill my self-esteem / Or use my arrogance as the steam to power my dreams / I use it as my gas, so they say that I'm gassed / But without it Id be last, so I ought to laugh. And his attitude has helped him seize control of his destiny, as he raps, I aint play the hand I was dealt, I changed my cards / I prayed to the skies and I changed my stars.. He rails against his school, his job, and various industry insiders he asserts never thought he was going to make it.

This last claim is a little disingenuous, even by his own admission. Released on Feb. 10, 2004, Kanye Wests The College Dropout rocketed the Chicago rapper into global superstardom that, for better or worse, hasnt waned in the 18 years since. The record, which has gone four-times platinum as of 2020, also displayed Wests signature production chops, an irresistible concoction of pitch-shifted autotune (dubbed chipmunk soul) mixed with soul and R&B samples, all of which is kept grounded by the drum machine skills that West had emulated from the influential production style of the late J Dilla. Its not hard, then, to look back on Wests debut album as one of the greatest pieces of popular music in the 21st century. GLC and Consequence also contribute solid verses, with the latter reflecting on the embarrassment of being forced back to the realm of the 9-to-5 after briefly gaining recognition as an emcee. Jay-Z would make it onto one of the albums most notable tracks, Never Let Me Down.. The albums focus on old-school soul, gospel and funk sounds, with classic R&B hooks often processed and looped at a songs center, fits thematically with the albums look at survival, struggle, and community. He had many doors closed in his face, and he had to continue persevering to bring his vision to life.

In the 1990s, Kanye West became known as a producer who created beats for several prominent hip-hop artists. Many credit the beginning of the fall to his infamous interruption of Taylor Swifts Video Music Awards acceptance speech in 2009. Happy 15th Anniversary to Kanye Wests debut album The College Dropout, originally released February 10, 2004. Furthermore, he presented himself as the functional bridge between the two commercial and underground sides of hip-hop music. He resurfaces every few months to stir up shit through his Twitter account or TMZ, only to disappear again just as suddenly. 2008 Ne-Yo's sophomore album, Because Of You, wins the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album. It was his way of healing himself both physically and emotionally. Although the band is huge in Europe, American success has proven elusive. The Brock Press recognizes that the land that we operate on is the shared territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. So to keep making his album, he had to borrow studio time from other artists whenever he could.. Theres something to be said for rooting for someone who works to do something no one thinks he can do. certified platinumcollege dropout albumdebut albumgrammy awardskanye westRoc-A-Fella records, Powered by Source Digital, Inc & The Northstar Group, Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information, Snoop Dogg, Benny Blanco and BTS Collab Gets A Release Date, California Formally Returns Stolen Land Worth $75M Back To Bruce Family, Kim Kardashian Backs Gunnas Release From Jail With #FreeGunna Tweet, Photo Of Lil Reese Behind Bars Surfaces Online, [WATCH] Mike Tyson Says Hes Going To Die Really Soon, Trinas 17-Year-Old Niece Baby Suga Fatally Shot In NW Miami. Kanye positions himself as the underdog, a kid who no one believed in who realized his full potential. In his role as a Drumf-loving C.H.U.D., hes made some incredibly ignorant and dangerous statements in the last year or so. Its the story of the kid who struggled to be taken seriously, but eventually transformed himself into the Louis Vuitton Don, and ended up getting signed to the hottest hip-hop label in the land, co-signed by arguably the genres biggest stars.

Call for essays, reviews, interviews, and list features. However, as sample clearances had become cost prohibitive in the late 90s and early 00s, many artists were opting for sample-free production. On December 2, 2003, Kanye released the albums second single, Slow Jamz.. With that in mind, Ill say this: Kanye West has always been an asshole, but at least 15 years ago, he was an asshole who made good music. 2004 Eminem is among the guests heard on the second season premiere episode of Comedy Central's Crank Yankers. Kanye certainly remembers what he used to be. Coodie, friend to West and the man behind the camera for all of jeen-yuhs archival footage, explained that West had to call in favors from friends just to do basic things as an artists such as get into the studio to record.

It's a wildly innovative song, mixing a gospel choir with an army aesthetic, the kind of fresh take welcomed in a hip-hop scene that is getting a little stale. It is Wests best-selling album in the United States, with domestic sales of 3.4 million and worldwide over 4 million copies. This is his second year with The Brock Press, as he previously was an Editor-at-Large.

American Israeli hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari, whos a frequent guest on the album, adds her unique talents as well. On song after song he uses his own life to rap about growing up and trying to survive in a harsh world, about the things we do just to get by.

He also takes Best Dance Recording for "LoveStoned/I Think She Knows.". Kanyes a Whitmanesque everyman figure who stands out in a genre where even the most complicated MCs the sensitive gangstas still all too often feel like theyve built themselves personas to sell. In one moment hes a street journalist who dissects the low expectations America has for young black teenagers and who understands the mechanics behind crime and the criminal justice system all too well; on the first track We Dont Care he offers this wry chorus as a graduation anthem, and gets a kids choir to joyously sing it: All you people thats drug dealing just to get by/ Stack your money till it gets sky high/ We wasnt supposed to make it past 25/ Jokes on you we still alive. Then in another moment all he cares about is shiny car and womens bra sizes. I used this entire album as my rehabilitation, he admitted in the documentary. He also pays respect to the various A&Rs who did try to champion him to their label heads, their pleas falling on deaf ears.

The promotion of Ye coincided with embarrassing appearances on TMZ and in the Oval Office, both punctuated by beyond cringe-worthy screeds. Heres hoping that Kanye can again become someone who people can root for, instead of the sad spectacle with little to no self-awareness that he currently is. And all of them are musically engaging an instrumental version of this album would rock the house. Following success producing for numerous contemporaries including Talib Kweli, Beanie Sigel and most notably Jay-Z, Kanye West released his debut studio album, The College Dropout, on February 10, 2004. In the early days of his career, when he was still an up-and-coming artist, he wouldnt let anything stop him from achieving his dreams. Which is at least partly why the albums first single Through the Wire was such a hit. ", 1971 Carole King releases her seminal album Tapestry.More, 1968 Rolling Stone magazine offers free roach clips to new subscribers.More, 2020 While performing at the Get Out The Vote rally in New Hampshire in support of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, The Strokes debut the animated video for their new single "At The Door." On College Dropout you could hear Jay-Z on a track that ended with a prolonged spoken-word piece and underground hero Mos Def appearing on the same track as Philly-roughneck Freeway. Released a decade and a half ago, it was an excellent entry that would mark the beginning of Kanyes unexpected career as a rapper, where he would reach the heights that few who came before him, and even fewer who came after him, would attain. Alongside top-notch production, the song balances both socially and self-conscious lyrics with apt religious motifs; its spiritually Kanye West through and through, and not the unfocused spiritual flourishing found on last years Donda or 2019s Jesus is King. But in the subsequent decade since that incident, hes gone from arrogant annoyance that makes good music to delusional rambling jerk possibly suffering from mental illness. PopMatters is wholly independent, women-owned and operated. 2008 Amy Winehouse is the big winner at the Grammy Awards, taking five trophies, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (both for "Rehab"). The five singles that achieved chart success and got him a Grammy awardat the 47th Grammy Awards include Through the Wire and Jesus Walks. He set out to appeal to those who may spend their time listening to backpacker hip-hop, but could still appreciate the artistry and skill of a rapper like Ludacris. The College Dropout is a dazzling debut from West, who gets away from the gangsta rap template to cover topics more introspective and spiritual. 2006 James "Jay Dilla" Yancey dies of a heart attack at age 32, just three days after the release of his final album, Donuts. Over the next several years, he becomes one of the most controversial, awarded (Late Registration wins the Grammy for Best Rap Album) and accomplished artists of his time. Especially when you need to balance who an artist was 15 years ago with what he or she has become, both in terms of their music and personality.

The album ends with Last Call, which serves as an extended explanation of the reasons behind Kanyes seemingly massive ego. Springsteen covered Morricone's classic "Once Upon a Time in the West.". On All Falls Down he criticizes consumerism as an expression of self-hatred rooted in history (We shine because they hate us/ Floss cause they degrade us/ We tryin to buy back our 40 acres), and then implicates himself in the same process. Though hes nothing short of a controversial figure now, Wests debut album was an earnest and successful attempt to break hip hop out of its moribund gangster fixations by presenting an emerging African American middle-class experience in all of its complexities. His mother later commented on him dropping out, saying: It was drummed into my head that college is the ticket to a good life but some career goals dont require college. Though Kanye came off as more brash and confident than most, he recorded material that worked to make him more relatable to the everyday person, touching on themes that many could sympathize with. But The College Dropout represented more than just a dope album back in early 2004. On Jesus Walks Kanye proclaims his devotion to Jesus as seriously as the most devotional hymn singer would, while illustrating the way he falls in and out of what he perceives as the good path to follow. Many maintained that he should stick to his bread and butter as a producer. It's the singer-songwriter's first Grammy win. Binge-worthy entertainment news and celebrity interviews. From there, West was determined to become a successful rapper himself. For what its worth, Kanye was instrumental in bringing soul back to mainstream hip-hop releases. But throughout College Dropout he finds a way to maximize his talents. The album features string arrangements, choirs and his signature soul sampling, frequently branded as chipmunk-esque for its sped-up and high pitched nature. The more you listen to The College Dropout the harder Kanye becomes to define. I realize that its unreasonable to expect West to rap and smoke blunts in front of The GAP, but I imagine hes still capable of creating music that people can relate to. Early on, Kanyes rapping skills were, to be generous, limited. Call for essays, reviews, interviews, and list features for publication consideration with PopMatters. Thats just the beginning of what The College Dropout is all about, only the first in the long list of reasons why the album is so unique, and so powerful.

Kanye explained the title in an interview with MTV: The name of my album is called The College Dropout. Witty, rebellious, triumphant, and arrogant; there are a few different ways to describe Kanye West at the beginning of his career, and theyre rightfully contradictory. Kanye uses samples and beats in a highly emotional way that feels entirely authentic even in the albums most heart-on-sleeve moments, like Family Business. Kanye explores his duality, positioning himself as the first n***a with a Benz and a backpack, but still boasting about his material possessions, even though I got to apologize to Mos Def and Kweli probably. Over a horn and guitar samples from Jackie Moores Precious Precious, Kanye laments, Always said if I rapped Id say something significant / But now Im rappin bout money, hoes, and rims again. Though the song is heavy on juvenile humor, it features Kanye using his most varied delivery, rapping, I blow past low-class n***as with no cash / In the four dash six, bitch you can go ask / So when I go fast, popo just laugh / Right until I run out of gas or til I go crash.. 2008 Famous spaghetti western composer Ennio Morricone and Bruce Springsteen win the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental. In the two decades since then, West has become a universally recognized rapper and producer with countless hit songs and pop culture moments to his name. For Kanye to make an album called College Dropout, it was more about having the guts to embrace who you are, rather than following the path society has carved out for you.

Yes, Kanye Wests debut album The College Dropout is proof that you can be one of hip-hops hottest producers and still be proficient at writing and delivering rhymes, that not all producers sink a track when they get on the mic.

Even the 12-minute autobiographical monologue that closes the album is off-the-cuff and honest, against the odds. A college dropout himself, West uses the cover art and a serious of skits to frame the album as a commentary on the educational system, a criticism of what people expect to gain from school and of the tenuous connection which that often has to what is taught and learned.

Kanye West would go on to drop more mainstream shattering albums after The College Dropout, all of which still spark debate amongst his most die-hard fans about which one is his best. Another related theme on the album is rising up to conquer adversity. Just to add, after hearing Kanyes screeds over the past year or so, its clear that the guy probably could use a few more years of higher education. That level of realness, the way that the songs ring true whether hes bragging or self-criticizing, joking or praying, is what makes The College Dropout more than worthy of all of the attention that its getting. Kanye himself happens to be a college dropout: he initially attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago and then transferred to Chicago State University, where his mother was a professor. Yes, the beats on this album are at least as hot as those hes grown famous for. The Grammy-winning album would even spawn its own sub-genre in the second half of the 2010s that still exerts an influence on production styles today. Spaceship is one of the better songs on College Dropout, as it encapsulates the frustration of those striving to pursue their dreams being caught in dead-end jobs in order to make a living. I listen to John Mayer, and his song No Such Thing is exactly what my [philosophy] is about, but in different words. He rhymes with conviction, and then steps back and laughs at himself but instead of cutting against what hes saying, that style makes the songs feel more honest. However, 15 years ago there was still a level of respect and empathy that remained beneath the swag. Contrary to the popular gangster-persona lyrics that were so popular in hip-hop at the time, his lyrics mostly revolved around themes of family, materialism, religion and racism. Copyright 2022 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1990 Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract," a duet with MC Skat Cat (Minnesota DJ Derrick "Delite" Stevens), goes to #1 in America, where it stays for three weeks. With his jaw wired shut, he recorded the albums lead single, Through the Wire, which was released on September 30, 2003. Ian quips: "I keep thinking there's got to be a punchline here: an ex-president, the First Lady and three lesbians walk into a bar", 2008 Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around Comes Around" wins the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Take into account the doo-wop style in which Ill Fly Away is sung, and the Marvin Gaye sample the song uses, and you have a rich study of themes in the history of black music as well as a working mans anthem. I assume the Kardashian/Jenner family feels the need to be sequestered from him somewhere out of fear hes going to tarnish their brand and money-making machine.

As he tours and promotes the album, it becomes clear that West is as unpredictable and irreverent as his music. The New Workout Plan isnt the albums best song, but its a preview of things to come for West as a beat-maker. West is indeed a college dropout, bowing out of Chicago State University (where he majored in English) after a year and taking a production deal with Jay-Z's label, Roc-A-Fella Records. 2019 At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Leon Bridges and PJ Morton tie for Best Traditional R&B Performance when Bridges' "Bet Ain't Worth The Hand" and Morton's cover of the Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love" both win the title. This album peaked at#1 onBillboardsUS Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and US Rap Albums and#2 on theBillboard 200. 1999-2021 PopMatters Media, Inc. All rights reserved. However, the song is best remembered for its nearly nine-minute outro, where Kanye explains the lengthy process that led to him getting signed with Roc-A-Fella Records as a rapper. Haytham is currently the Managing Editor with The Brock Press. Almost Midnight: An American Story of Murder and Redemption by Michael W. Cuneo, Aaliyah: The Legacy of the Perfect R&B/Pop Record, The Past Isnt Past in Stanley Kwans Fantasy Drama Rouge, New Weds and Nearly-Deads: 10 Under-Appreciated Elvis Costello Albums, Translation As a Tool of Power: An Interview with Novelist R.F. The first single, "Through The Wire," he wrote and recorded in the weeks after a devastating car accident broke his jaw in three places - he literally sang through the wire that held his jaw shut. "Anyone who doesn't give it a perfect score is lowering the integrity of the magazine," he says of the reviews. 1997 Blur's eponymous fifth album is released. On The College Dropout, Kanye West feels not like a persona but a person, and one whos remarkably gifted at putting his worldview into a song, even when its messy and contradictory. College Dropout really finds its groove in its back half to final third. Here what would be hokey in another musicians hands makes you feel real shivers, maybe even cry real tears.

His big break as a producer came in 2001 with the release of Jay-Zs seminal album The Blueprint, regarded by many to be one of the greatest rap albums of all time.

He appeared to hit rock bottom with The Life of Pablo (2016), but further cratered with last years Ye (2018). They also perform the forthcoming followup single "Bad Decisions" for the first time.More. All thats saying is make your own decisions. Extra dimensions are added to the song by the intense, cinematic presence it has, with all of the drama of a gangster films climactic scenes, and by a Curtis Mayfield drop that makes the song ripe for a study of intertextuality. Hence, paying tribute to The College Dropout, Wests first album, is a difficult proposition. 2017 Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kanye was far from the first producer to utilize chipmunk soul; RZA had built the production of the early Wu-Tang releases around the production technique in the mid 90s.

The album has been certified four-times platinum with over four million copies sold. 2008 Daft Punk make their first televised live appearance at the 50th Grammy Awards, joining Kanye West in a performance of "Stronger" at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Her movie The Wedding Planner is #1 at the box office, making her the first person with a #1 movie and album at the same time. 1981 Natalie Cole is trapped in her suite on the 26th floor of the Las Vegas Hilton hotel when it catches fire.More, 1978 Van Halen release their self-titled debut album. Famously recorded weeks after he was involved in a serious car accident, he delivered his raps in the studio while his broken jaw was wired shut. The College Dropout was certified 4x platinum by the RIAA on November 23, 2020. explained the title in an interview with MTV, he already had a production deal on the table. They were recording the song at Foxxs home studio, which was a blessing for West, as he didnt get as much time in his official studio because of budgeting constraits due to his record label.

Kanye builds the track around sped-up samples of sections of Chaka Khans hit Through the Fire.. 2017 Tom Petty is honored as Person of the Year at the MusiCares gala, held two days before the Grammy Awards. Still, the entire outro serves as an extremely lengthy set-up for Kanyes last line on the album, Man, you think we could still get that deal with Roc-A-Fella? Kanyes transformation into hip-hop artist was complete, and the rest was history. In terms of production, Kanye throws in everything but the kitchen, layering more Miri Ben Air strings and the Harlem Boys Choir over chunks from Mandrills Peace and Love (Amani Na Mapenzi): Movement IV (Encounter). But the lyrical techniques of Mos and Freeway shine the brightest, as they emphasize two words (or syllables) per line.