Analysis
This article is a very comprehensive outlook into the making of
The College Dropout from the perspective of many people who worked with
Kanye West.
Summary
*This summary was initially generated by AI but is modifiable by users
Introduction
This article presents an oral history of
Kanye West's groundbreaking debut album,
"The College Dropout", which was released ten years prior to the article's publication. Released at a time when hip-hop was deeply divided between gangster rappers and conscious backpackers, the album served as a bridge between these disparate worlds. The article features insights from numerous collaborators, industry figures, and friends who were part of Kanye's journey from producer to rapper.
Chicago Beginnings
Kanye's story begins in Chicago, where he connected with GLC through a mutual friend in 1993 when they were both around 16 years old. GLC recalls visiting Kanye's home, which was filled with African art and various interests including music, black liberation, and women. While their peers were out chasing women, Kanye would often stay home for days working on his craft, showing tremendous focus and dedication from an early age.No I.D., Kanye's mentor, remembers the challenges Kanye faced trying to be taken seriously as an artist. Common, another Chicago native, admits that although he knew Kanye could rhyme (they even battled on radio once), he wasn't initially impressed with Kanye's production skills compared to No I.D.'s more polished work.
Moving to New York
Kanye's career took a significant turn when he moved to New York and began working with Roc-A-Fella Records. Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua, who first met Kanye in 1996, eventually brought him on as a producer for Roc-A-Fella in 1998. Kanye's production on tracks like "The Truth" for Beanie Sigel and "This Can't Be Life" for Jay-Z helped establish his reputation as a producer.While building his production career, Kanye consistently expressed his desire to be signed as a rapper, not just a producer. Gee Roberson, who worked with Kanye, recalls the countless phone calls he received after sessions where people would complain about Kanye rapping instead of focusing on beats. Despite this, Roberson saw something special in Kanye and continued to support his ambitions.As Kanye shopped his demo to various labels, he faced repeated rejection. Many industry executives couldn't envision him as a rapper because of his non-gangster image and conscious content. Dame Dash recalls how Kanye's appearance and ability to "articulate authentic culture in a way that was safe to white people" made him valuable for opening doors.
The Turning Point: The Car Accident
In October 2002, Kanye was involved in a serious
car accident in Los Angeles that left his jaw wired shut. This near-death experience became a pivotal moment in his career. Gee Roberson remembers visiting Kanye in the hospital and being amazed when Kanye, despite his injuries, expressed confidence that this event would help launch his career.While recovering at the W Hotel in Los Angeles, Kanye turned his hotel room into a makeshift studio, working tirelessly on his album. It was during this period that the album truly began taking shape. According to Hip Hop, watching the documentary "Tupac: Resurrection" around this time helped Kanye realize he could be authentic to himself as an artist.
Creating the Album's Signature Tracks
["Intro"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-intro-897) / ["We Don't Care"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-we-dont-care-898) / ["Graduation Day"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-graduation-day-899)
These opening tracks set the tone for the album. "We Don't Care" was originally titled "Drug Dealing" but was changed to a more mainstream-friendly title. Deray Davis performed the skits on the album, including the "Graduation Day" segment, where he impersonated Bernie Mac after Kanye couldn't get the actual Bernie Mac to participate.
["All Falls Down"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-all-falls-down-647)
Originally featuring a sample of Lauryn Hill's "Mystery of Iniquity," the song had to be reworked when Hill wouldn't clear the sample. Syleena Johnson was brought in to sing the hook, which many collaborators believe actually improved the song. The song embodied Kanye's honest approach to discussing materialism and insecurity.
["I'll Fly Away"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-ill-fly-away-900) & ["Spaceship"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-spaceship-901)
"Spaceship" began as a song for GLC before Kanye decided to include it on his own album. GLC's verse was deeply personal, referencing the loss of his mother and his own medical struggles. Consequence and Kanye later added their verses, creating what Consequence calls "the blue-collar anthem of the album."
["Jesus Walks"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-jesus-walks-902)
This track is highlighted as a groundbreaking moment for mainstream hip-hop, tackling religious themes in a way that remained accessible to a wide audience. Despite industry concerns that radio wouldn't play a song about Jesus, the track became one of Kanye's most impactful songs, eventually winning a Grammy. The song featured contributions from various artists, including John Legend singing through Auto-Tune for one of the unique sounds in the track.
["Never Let Me Down"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-never-let-me-down-903)
Featuring Jay-Z and poet J. Ivy, this track came together when Kanye was supposed to be at Jay-Z's Madison Square Garden concert but decided to go to the studio instead. J. Ivy recalls writing his powerful verse in a moment of inspiration and performing it over the phone to Kanye, who immediately wanted him on the track.
["Get Em High"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-get-em-high-904)
This collaboration with Talib Kweli and Common represents the blending of different hip-hop worlds. Common saw it as an opportunity to return to his raw MCing roots after his experimental "Electric Circus" album. Kweli recounts how his verse was accidentally misaligned in the final mix, starting a bar late, though fans ended up embracing it anyway.
["Workout Plan"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-workout-plan-905) / ["The New Workout Plan"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-the-new-workout-plan-906)
This lighter track showcased Kanye's humor. John Legend contributed vocals on the song, and the video, directed by Little X, featured a cameo by Anna Nicole Smith that Kanye specifically requested.
["Slow Jamz"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-slow-jamz-907)
What became one of the album's biggest hits was initially not expected to make much impact. The song, featuring Twista and Jamie Foxx, was actually released on both Kanye's album and Twista's "Kamikaze" album as part of a strategic arrangement between Roc-A-Fella and Atlantic Records. When Twista's album sold over 312,000 copies in its first week largely on the strength of "Slow Jamz," the Kanye team worried about their own album's commercial prospects.
["Breathe In Breathe Out"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-breathe-in-breathe-out-908)
Featuring Ludacris, this track was a favorite of Def Jam executive Lyor Cohen, whose enthusiasm for the song helped Kanye secure budget approval for the album. Consequence mentions that Kanye was "on the fence" about including this track on the final album.
["School Spirit"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-school-spirit-910) and the associated skits
This track famously had to be kept clean even on the explicit version of the album as a condition from Aretha Franklin for clearing the "Spirit in the Dark" sample. The song's sample came from a crate of records given to Kanye by his girlfriend's father.
["Two Words"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-two-words-913)
Featuring Mos Def and Freeway, this track exemplified Kanye's ability to bring together artists from different hip-hop worlds. The song featured orchestral strings arranged by violinist Miri Ben-Ari, who recalls Kanye being so impressed with her work that he considered releasing a version with only the strings.
["Through The Wire"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-through-the-wire-649)
Following his accident, Kanye recorded "Through The Wire" with his jaw still wired shut. The song's video, directed by Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, was paid for by Kanye himself when labels wouldn't fund it. The video, which used a Polaroid-style visual aesthetic and incorporated documentary footage, helped people connect with Kanye's story and boosted his credibility as an artist.
["Family Business"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-family-business-914)
This heartfelt track was inspired by real family experiences, though not necessarily Kanye's own. Tarrey Torae, a singer who worked with Kanye, shared stories about her large extended family that Kanye incorporated into the lyrics, including details about cousins sharing bathtubs and beds, as well as a reference to getting "Stevie out of jail," which was about Torae's godbrother.
["Last Call"](https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kanye-west-last-call-644)
The album's closing track includes an extended outro where Kanye tells his life story and journey to getting signed. Producer Evidence shares the story of how the beat came to be, originally intending it for Jay-Z before Kanye decided to use it himself. The track includes a memorable line about "mayonnaise-colored Benz" and "Miracle Whips."
Additional Tracks Mentioned
The article also references several unreleased or non-album tracks that were part of Kanye's creative process:- "Do I Look Like Your Type?"- "Gettin Out the Game"- "My Way"- "Higher"- "Magic Man"- "Keep The Receipt"
Bridging Hip-Hop's Divide
One of the album's most significant achievements was its ability to bridge the gap between different hip-hop audiences. Common recalls the night Kanye performed at SOBs in New York before the album's release as the moment he knew hip-hop was about to change. He witnessed the unusual sight of backpackers throwing up the Roc-A-Fella sign, something previously unimaginable.The album featured collaborations with artists from both the mainstream (Jay-Z, Freeway) and the underground (Talib Kweli, Mos Def), helping to break down the artificial barriers that had developed within hip-hop. As Plain Pat notes, "hip-hop was way more segregated back then," and Kanye's willingness to bring these worlds together was revolutionary.
The Aftermath and Legacy
When "The College Dropout" was finally released, it exceeded expectations, selling over 440,000 copies in its first week. The album's success transformed not only Kanye's career but the trajectories of many of his collaborators as well. John Legend credits the album for helping him secure a record deal, while J. Ivy mentions that college professors now teach his verse from "Never Let Me Down."The album is widely credited with changing the sound and direction of hip-hop, creating space for more vulnerable, honest expressions and moving beyond the strict dichotomy that had previously defined the genre. Deray Davis, who performed on the album's skits, states that Kanye "birthed all that's going on now," referring to the emotional honesty and musical diversity that characterizes much of contemporary hip-hop.*There may be errors on this page.
