The College Dropout

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
College Drop Out, the debut from the most sought-after hip-hop producer not named Pharrell, delivers the unthinkable: West magically sledgehammers home his opinions on taboo topics over beats that are equally daring. The envelope-ripping beats shouldn't come as a surprise given that he's supplied the soundscapes to monster singles by everyone from Alicia Keys ("You Don't Know My Name") to Talib Kweli ("Get By"). What is freakish is that in West's world, rhymes about strippers, God, college life and guns can coexist tidily and not undermine each other. On "Breathe in Breathe Out" he raps "I gotta apologise to Mos and Kweli/ Is it cool to rap about gold if I told the world I copped it from Ghana and Mali"--tongue firmly planted in cheek. On the catchy "Through the Wire", fuelled by a Chaka Khan hook, he spits some impeccable rhymes despite his jaw being wired shut after a near-fatal car accident. Maybe it was this brush with mortality that kicked his lyrics into high gear on "All Falls Down". The skits on here are just as potent, one poking fun at the overeducated underclass that makes a small fraction of the loot he does. With jaw-dropping cameos from Jay-Z, Common, Mos Def and the Harlem Boys Choir plus the feel-good club tune of the year, "Slow Jamz" featuring Twista, College Dropout is as explosive, contradictory and complex as rap music gets. --Dalton Higgins

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-06-05 rating:
Well, we know he can make hip-hop at least...
This album has rightly been lauded by just about everyone. It's an incredibly clever and interesting piece of work. The tracks are varied in their feel and attitude, from "thuggish" to thoughtful and reflective. If anything the problem is that West is trying too hard to be all things to all people. He's a thoughtful, reflective soul who believes in Jesus and disapproves of drug use (in principle) but who is also happy to hand out beat-downs, steal and deal drugs (or to do whatever he has to "to get by"). Most rappers are guilty of trying to take the moral high ground while also maintaining their street cred by acting like delinquents, but with many rappers (e.g. Tupac) this seems to be a genuine contradiction (or perhaps a paradox if you want to be really flattering). With Kanye West, you get the feeling that at least some of it has to be an act. Either he's genuinely a bad boy who doesn't give a sh*t, or he's basically a good guy who acts like a thug for the sake of street cred. I don't really buy the apparent contradictions that I see in his attitude.

That said, there are some simply unforgettable tracks on this album. I think it's true to say that the production is consistently sublime and inspired, and it is in this department that Kanye is above reproach. Tracks like "Jesus Walks", "Get em high", "Through the wire" and "All falls down" are instant classics, and are all quite different to most of what you hear in hip-hop, not to mention being quite different from each other. A lot of the other tracks are less noteworthy, particularly in terms of lyrical content, and yet the album never fails to be listenable. At times it descends into silliness somewhat with tracks like "The new workout plan", but given the quality of the album, it's hard to take issue with Kanye's dafter moments.

Kanye's follow-up, "Late registration" was less well-received than this debut, and perhaps it's because the man himself has a tendency to wear a little thin. Many rappers have a very strong identity and ethos which marks them out as individuals, and yet Kanye is so determined to be all things to all people that he's in danger of ending up pleasing noone. He's a truly superb producer, a talented rapper and an all-round creative guy. If he can just make up his mind who he wants to be and find himeslf a niche, he could be truly unstoppable.

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review by: fluffybunny date: 2008-05-09 rating:
Awful
I liked 'Jesus Walks' and 'Through the Wire' and another track which I can't remember the name of, so bought the album. I hate all the talky bits inbetween the tracks, can't stand it.

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review by: D.K date: 2007-09-21 rating:
best album made
To me this is the best album ive ever heard i like nearly every song on the album unlike most albums where i only like some songs this is classic kanye west.

I love kanyes new album graduation and late registration but this is still his best work some of my favourtite songs like slow jamz, family business, we don't care and never let me down this album is well worth its money and id recomend it to anyone even if your not a big kanye west fan.

But id also recomend checking out graduation this is nearly as good but in different ways more mature and more solo songs its fresh and bold great for relaxing and chilling out to.

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review by: date: 2007-09-06 rating:
Seriously a classic.
This is possibly my favourite album of all time. In years to come this WILL be a named a classic and rightly so.

Having heard Kanye's 2nd and 3rd albums, while I still love them and still remain a fan, College Dropout is THE Kanye West album. It tops them all by miles.

Even if you're not a rap fan, I think Kanye West is the type of artist that breaks genre barriers and reaches out to people that enjoy all different types of music. He's the guy that would make you say ''I don't like rap but I love Kanye''.

You need this album in your CD collection, if no other.




review by: date: 2006-04-07 rating:
Kanye West-The College Dropout
We Don't Care- A good way to strat the album. A bright song complete with kids singing in chorus and Introduction but somehow it doesn't sound cheesy. It is about giving a positive message to young people and the person listening of not caring what people say. The song sounds lame but works well, one of my favourite tracks from the album, keep you listening.

Graduation Day- This is one of the many interludes on the album. Links the tracks very well though-out the album. This track features 'land of hope and glory' sounds good which the gospel vocals.

All Falls Down- A single taken from the album. This is another of my favourites tracks. I think this is lyrically one of kanye's best songs along with 'Jesus Walks'. Has a tight bass line and a catchy rhythm. One listen of this track and you'll be hooked!

I'll fly away- This interlude features a group of male gospel singers and a jazz piano! Very original to any other hip-hop album. Sounds really good and shows Kanye sticking to his roots.

Spaceship- a song about his hatred for his old job before he became the rap icon he is now. A cleaver song including a sample of the Marvin Gaye track 'Distant Lover'.

Jesus Walks- This is the song that Kanye will always be remembered for. A song about racism and his drive too succeed. This song broke into new levels in the hip-hop industry.

Never let me down- there are a lot of vocals in the sweet track. I really like what this song is about and comes with a well-deserved tribute the inspirational late Aaliyah and Lisa (left eye) Lopez.

Get em' high- this is one of my least favourite tracks on the album. I love the beat and is good in clubs. But I think it goes back on what Kanye raps about mostly on how much he hates talking about girls, cars and money.

The Workout Plan- I hate this song! A real let down, it's boring, isn't about anything interesting and has an annoying string sample!

Slow Jamz- This is a really fresh track, with its soulful vocals and gentle raps. I love that Twista's rap contrasts with the song in that his rap is so fast it's unreal and the song is really chilled.

Breathe in breath out- I love this samples in the track. Kanye speaks out about his life and how he loves music. It Features Ludacris who really brings the beat together. You really hear Kanye's rapping ability in this track when the beat it taken down and u here his free-styling skills.

School Spirit- This track comes with a lot of interludes at the beginning but they are well worth a listen they are a good laugh. There is a jazz and soul approach to this song which works really well for his voice.

Two Words- this is another of my favourite tracks on the album and is where the album picks up again. The song is about prison and how tough life can be. A lot of samples in this tracks but they work really well. Over all this is an amazing song.

Through the wire- this is a song solely about Kanye's lifer and surviving his near fatal car accident. I like this track because it is real and going back on what a record label would tell you to rap about.

Family Business- Again, this is another of my favourite tracks. It gives you a glimpse into Kanye's life and when he has lost people close to him. A highly sampled track but comes with a lot of vocals and a nice piano sample.

Last Call- This song goes on forever! But you really feel like Kanye is directly talking to you at the end when he tells the story of how he got into the industry. I like to look at this song as a mini documentary of Kanye West!

Overall I really like the album, an amazing introduction to Kanye and his future albums to come. Oh yeah and good luck trying to read to track listings on the back of the album!

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