The College Dropout
by Kanye West

This album helped change hip-hop arguably more than any album in the history of the genre. For the 10-15 years before this album, it was difficult to have anything other than a "gangsta" persona and be successful commercially. Kanye changed that. You could rap about insecurities, college, religion, and even touch on social issues in a fresh new light. Look at all the new school backpacker rappers that he has clearly helped pave a way for. Fittingly, the chorus to the first song on this album rings "WE DONT CARE WHAT PEOPLE SAYYY"

And as much as people want to knock Ye' for his arrogance, without it, he wouldnt have the balls to make this or to walk into a "try-out" wearing a polo and backpack and impress Jay-Z enough to sign him. We wouldnt have the innovation musically he has largely caused in mainstream hip-hop production. His influence is enormous. I say thank god for Kanyes ego, otherwise we'd still be listening to 50 cent and washed up Dre beats, instead we're bumpin "CAN WE GET MUCH HIGHAH" nuff said. Favorite Tracks: We Dont Care, All Falls Down, New Workout Plan, Slow Jamz, Two Words, Through the Wire (Edited)

From Onater 02/08/2018 03:50 | #207398 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

@wooolf
The reason it "doesn't sound very exceptional" is because everyone has been copying it since. Listen to just about any hip hop before this album: a good 99% was your typical tough guy, "I've got all the money and all the bitches" kinda hardcore hip hop (not that there's anything wrong with that, quite a few classic albums have come out of that style). Suddenly, Kanye comes out with this album full of lyrics about school, family, insecurity, religion, and so many things that previously nobody would have dared rap about for fear of ruining their image. Sure, Kanye got more than a bit full of himself in the years to come, but this is an incredibly humble album, especially when compared to its contemporaries at the time. As well, the soul samples on this just weren't the kind of things that people were doing before this album. Admittedly, I'm sure that there were similar albums before this one (though I'm not aware of any) but obviously none of them had the same impact as this.

From sophialeviev 06/10/2018 00:12 | #216450 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

His best album, in my opinion. Before the gross big-headedness of MBDTF, Kanye was just Kanye. His honesty and personality here is way more refreshing than that on any of his later releases. Not to mention this record remains probably the most fresh sounding hip-hop release of the early 2000s that holds to this day. 'Ye set hip hop's sonic standard for the next 10 years, easily.

From ProfessorSquid 04/08/2013 16:07 | #71964 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Makes the classic mistake of having skits and too many tracks, but the good tracks are fantastic. As a beat maker West is one of, if not, the best of his era.

I'm a white guy from Maine who headed down to Virginia for college. My freshmen year this album was released. I had made a couple of black friends who every day for what felt like forever would sing the songs on this album wherever we walked. The gym, food court, football game, and I would tease them relentlessly because at the time I was an ignorant idiot.

This album is awesome. Twisted Dark Fantasy beats by a smidge but man what a debut. I wore a backpack everywhere for way longer than I ever should because of this guy.

Kanye's workout plan is hilarious.

Jesus Walks gives me chills still.

Two words is genius.

Spaceship grooves.

It's all fantastic. And his career album to album has been fantastic.

Love me some Kanye