| Artist: Kanye West |
| Format: | CD |
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Product Summary
Format: CD
Manufacturer: Universal Music Group
Buy.com Sku: 60625342
UPC: 602498617403
UPC 14: 00602498617403
Release Date: 2/10/2004
See more in Rap / Hip-Hop

Song Listing
Disc 1
Song Title
Sample
Album Notes and Credits
Notes & Personnel Info |
|
| Personnel: Kanye West, CLC, Consequence, Jay-Z, J. Ivy, Talib Kweli, Twista, Ludacris, Mos Def, Freeway (rap vocals); Jamie Foxx (spoken vocals); The Harlem Boys Choir, Syleena Johnson (background vocals). | |
| Producers: Kanye West, Brian Miller, Miri Ben-Ari. | |
| Composer: Miri Ben-Ari. | |
| Personnel: Ken Lewis (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, percussion, sampler); John Legend (vocals, piano, background vocals); Tarey Torae, Tiera Singleton, Lavel Mena, Aisha Tyler, Tony Williams , Thomassina Atkins, Kevin Shannon, Candis Brown, Brandi Kuykenvall, Beverly A. McCargo, Dray, The Boys Choir of Harlem (vocals); Jeffrey Glenn, Eric Johnson (guitar); Miri Ben-Ari (violin); Josh Zandman (piano); Keith Slattery (keyboards); Bosko (talk box); Tracie Spencer (background vocals). | |
| Audio Mixers: Manny Marroquin; Mike Dean . | |
| Recording information: Baseline Recording, New York, NY; Conway Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Digital Insight, Las Vegas, NV; Edie Road Recording Studio, Argyle, NY; Full Time Dreamer Studios; Larrabee Sound North, Los Angeles, CA; Light @ The End Of The Tunnel, New York, NY; Quad Recordings, New York, NY; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; The Enterprise, Burbank, CA; the Record Plant, Hollywood, CA. | |
| Unknown Contributor Roles: James "JT" Knight; Diamond Alabi Isama; Terrence "T-Berry" Hardy. | |
| For most artists who are discovered behind the mixing boards, making the transfer from producer to MC proves a daunting task. Fortunately for Kanye West, his verbal skills more than rise to the challenge of his consistently superior beats. A sprawling concept record that tackles issues of everyday life with wisecracking humor and unexpected honesty, THE COLLEGE DROPOUT confirms West's status as one of hip-hop's most refreshing voices. | |
| The leadoff single, "Through the Wire," perfectly exemplifies West's distinct vision. Recorded while his jaws were still wired shut after a near-fatal car accident, West hilariously reflects upon his predicament over a sped-up Chaka Khan sample. Other songs address potentially somber topics--ghetto life ("We Don't Care"), religion ("Jesus Walks"), and family turmoil ("Family Business")--yet somehow retain a truly hopeful spirit. Although THE COLLEGE DROPOUT features top-notch cameos from Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, Freeway, Jay-Z, Ludacris, and Twista, it's clearly West's show. | |
Engineer: Keith Slattery; Anthony Kilhoffer; Carlisle Young; Andrew Dawson; Eugene Toale; Rich Balmer; Jacob Andrew; Brent Kolatalo; Jason Rauhoff; Marcus Fuller; Francis Graham; Rabeka Tuinei; Gimel Keaton; Tatsuya Sato; Michael Eleopoulos; Dave Dar |
|
Musical Guests | |
| Syleena Johnson | |
| Jay-Z | |
| Common | |
| Talib Kweli | |
| Twista | |
| Jamie Foxx | |
| Ludacris | |
| Mos Def | |
| The Boys Choir of Harlem | |
| Consequence | |
| GLC | |
| J-Ivy | |
| Freeway | |
Compilation Appearances
Associated Artists and Works
| J. Period | |
| Jay-Z | |
| Watch the Throne [PA] ~ Jay-Z | |
| Watch the Throne [Clean Version] ~ Jay-Z | |
| Williams, Pharrell |
Technical Info
| Release Date : 02/10/2004 | |
| Original Release Date : 2004 | |
| Catalog ID : 20350 | |
| Label : Roc-A-Fella Records (USA) | |
| Number of Discs : 1 | |
| Studio/Live : Studio | |
| Mono/Stereo : Stereo | |
| SPAR Code : n/a | |
| UPC : 00602498617403 |
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (3/4/04, p.63)
- 3.5 stars out of 5 - "West has something to prove on DROPOUT....His ace in the hole is his cozy sound - dusty soul samples, gospel hymns, drums that pop as if hit for the very first time."
- 3.5 stars out of 5 - "West has something to prove on DROPOUT....His ace in the hole is his cozy sound - dusty soul samples, gospel hymns, drums that pop as if hit for the very first time."
Rolling Stone (p.153)
- Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records Of 2004 - "[T]he red-hot producer delivered a solo debut that partied all over its contradictions..."
- Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records Of 2004 - "[T]he red-hot producer delivered a solo debut that partied all over its contradictions..."
Spin (p.68)
- Ranked #1 in Spin's "40 Best Albums of the Year" - "He is witty, provocative, and intensely devoted..."
- Ranked #1 in Spin's "40 Best Albums of the Year" - "He is witty, provocative, and intensely devoted..."
Entertainment Weekly (2/13/04, p.71)
- "[H]is surprising debut disc is the most impressive hip-hop CD of the young year....[T]he Chicago native shuns hip-hop's tired SCARFACE iconography for a broad topicality..." - Rating: A-
- "[H]is surprising debut disc is the most impressive hip-hop CD of the young year....[T]he Chicago native shuns hip-hop's tired SCARFACE iconography for a broad topicality..." - Rating: A-
Uncut (5/04, p.106)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "West's rhymes are wry, witty, warm and unswervingly self-aware."
- 4 stars out of 5 - "West's rhymes are wry, witty, warm and unswervingly self-aware."
Uncut (p.75)
- Ranked #12 in Uncut's "Best New Albums of 2004" - "[H]e leavens the swagger and bling of hip hop with lyrics that are wry, witty and aware."
- Ranked #12 in Uncut's "Best New Albums of 2004" - "[H]e leavens the swagger and bling of hip hop with lyrics that are wry, witty and aware."
Mojo (Publisher)
(p.102)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "The numerous guests never out-shine their host's vocals, meaning this is one drop-out graduating near the top of his class."
(p.102)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "The numerous guests never out-shine their host's vocals, meaning this is one drop-out graduating near the top of his class."

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