Albums That Probably Wouldn't Exist Without The College Dropout
As Kanye West's debut turns 10, we celebrate its influence.
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Albums That Probably Wouldn't Exist Without The College Dropout - As hip hop fans, we owe a lot to The College Dropout. The debut album from Kanye West is not only a classic effort musically, but it jumpstarted a cultural shift as well and also launched the career of one of music's great talents. The impact of the album, which turns ten years old today, can still be seen and heard in the styles that emerge and the music that comes out. Here, we look at a number of artists and albums whose very emergence and popularity rely in varying ways on The College Dropout. (Photo: Roc-a-Fella Records, Def Jam)
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Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: The End of Day - Though he’s no longer officially a G.O.O.D. Music member, Kid Cudi and his debut, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, owe a lot to both Yeezy and The College Dropout, from the varied musical influences to the lyrical intospection. It was a two way street, though. Cudder lent a helping hand to Kanye for his 808s and Heartbreak album a few years later. (Photo: G.O.O.D. Music)
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Drake, Thank Me Later - Without Kanye really breaking down the New Millenium’s barrier that made it acceptable for mainstream rappers to get emotional on record, we’d probably never know Drake in the way we do today.Yeezy’s pre-rap childhood in a middle class home, highlighted on The College Dropout, also paved the way for the coming of age subject matter on Drizzy's debut, Thank Me Later.(Photo: Young Money)
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J. Cole, Cole World: The Sideline Story - J. Cole has often listed The College Dropout among his favorite albums, and it comes through in his music, especially his debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story. Not only did Jermaine attend college like Ye, but he also produced the majority of the album. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)
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Big Sean, Finally Famous - Not only is Finally Famous a sonic derivative of The College Dropout, but Big Sean has also said that the album's "Last Call" made him tear up and inspired songs of his own, like "Memories." Plus, Kanye signed Sean to G.O.O.D. Music, and there's no G.O.O.D. without 'Ye's trailblazing debut. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)
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Lupe Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor - After some success in the 1990s, Chicago hadn’t had an artist blow in some time — until Kanye and The College Dropout. Not only did that open the door for other artists from the Chi, like Lupe Fiasco, but also many of the socio-political themes that permeate Yeezy’s debut warmed the public and labels for ideas Lupe would soon build upon. (Photo: Atlantic Records)
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Rhymefest, Blue Collar - Rhymefest, who helped Kanye pen the Grammy Award-winning “Jesus Walks,” was able to earn a mainstream look and recognition, thanks in large part to his work on The College Dropout. (Photo: J Records)
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Consequence, Don't Quit Your Day Job! - Though he had been around for over a decade, since first appearing on A Tribe Called Quest’s 1996 album Beats, Rhymes and Life, Consequence didn’t release his debut album until 2007. That was thanks in large part to Kanye, who signed him to G.O.O.D. Music and featured him on The College Dropout’s “Spaceship” — a song whose theme carried over to Cons’ Don’t Quit Your Day Job!(Photo: G.O.O.D. Music)
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Common, Be - Though Common undoubtedly influenced Kanye West with his early work, The College Dropout helped Com, as well. Not only did his verse on "Get Em High" warm listeners after the tepidly received 2002 album Electric Circus, but Yeezy went on to produce Be — considered by many to be the Chicago vet's best album. (Photo: G.O.O.D. Music)
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Childish Gambino, Camp - Kanye West and The College Dropout helped a new generation of kids who didn’t fit the then-current hip hop archetypes to find their way. Childish Gambino, as well as his particular brand of “Black nerd” delivered on his debut album, Camp, surely benefitted from the cultural shift instigated by Kanye. (Photo: Universal Records)