The College Dropout

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

The College Dropout · Kanye West had been making beats for others for years, including Jay-Z and Talib Kweli, but the music world did not take him seriously as an artist. He signed with Roc-A-Fella and from 1999 worked for four years on his debut. In 2002 he broke his jaw in a car accident, and two weeks later he recorded a track with his jaw still wired shut. The record was produced mainly by West himself and has a sound known as chipmunk soul: sped-up voices from old soul and R&B, his own drum programming, strings and gospel choirs.

Instead of the gangster persona that was usual in hip hop at the time, West rapped about family, doubt, materialism, faith, racism and going to college. The record received glowing reviews and won a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Many magazines count it among the best albums ever.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Intro0:19Apple Music ↗
2. 2We Don't Care3:00Apple Music ↗
3. 3Graduation Day1:22Apple Music ↗
4. 4All Falls Down (feat. Syleena Johnson)3:44Apple Music ↗
5. 5I'll Fly Away1:10Apple Music ↗
6. 6Spaceship (feat. GLC & Consequence)5:24Apple Music ↗
7. 7Jesus Walks3:14Apple Music ↗
8. 8Never Let Me Down (feat. JAŸ-Z & J. Ivy)5:24Apple Music ↗
9. 9Get Em High (feat. Talib Kweli & Common)4:49Apple Music ↗
10. 10Workout Plan0:46Apple Music ↗
11. 11The New Workout Plan5:23Apple Music ↗
12. 12Slow Jamz5:16Apple Music ↗
13. 13Breathe In Breathe Out (feat. Ludacris)4:07Apple Music ↗
14. 14School Spirit Skit 11:19Apple Music ↗
15. 15School Spirit3:02Apple Music ↗
16. 16School Spirit Skit 20:44Apple Music ↗
17. 17Lil Jimmy Skit0:54Apple Music ↗
18. 18Two Words (feat. Mos Def, Freeway & The Boys Choir of Harlem)4:26Apple Music ↗
19. 19Through The Wire3:41Apple Music ↗
20. 20Family Business4:39Apple Music ↗
21. 21Last Call12:41Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗