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
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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 ... Read More
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.
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.
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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