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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

College Dropout
by Kanye West


9.3

based on 23 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 159 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The in-demand Chicago-based producer makes his debut with the help of guests Ludacris, Jay-Z, Mos Def, Dirt McGirt, and more.

LABEL:	Roc-A-Fella
RELEASE DATE:	10 February 2004
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Rap

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

Not only does he create a unique role model, that role model is dangerous--his arguments against education are as market-targeted as other rappers' arguments for thug life.

100

Dot Music

There will be few better albums released this year.

Stylus Magazine

Throughout The College Dropout, Kanye subverts cliches from both sides of the hip-hop divide, which again isn’t unprecedented, but still refreshing and revelatory coming from someone who could have just as easily stood pat on his massive Midas-producer stacks.

Entertainment Weekly

West delivers the goods with a disarming mix of confessional honesty and sarcastic humor, earnest idealism and big-pimping materialism. [13 Feb 2004, p.71]

The New York Times

2004's first great hip-hop album. [9 Feb 2004]

All Music Guide

Prior to this album, we were more than aware that West's stature as a producer was undeniable; now we know that he's also a remarkably versatile lyricist and a valuable MC.

Urb

Manages to be both visceral and emotive, sprinkling the dancefloors with tears and sweat. [Mar 2004, p.111]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

With sterling quality to match its massive advance hype, The College Dropout is one of those wonderful crossover albums that appeal to a huge audience without sacrificing a shred of integrity.

PopMatters

That level of "realness", the way that the songs ring true whether he's bragging or self-criticizing, joking or praying, is what makes The College Dropout more than worthy of all of the attention that it's getting.

Tiny Mix Tapes

College Dropout contains some of the most intelligent and clever lyrics hip-hop has produced in a while, be it mainstream or underground.

Amazon.com

West magically sledgehammers home his opinions on taboo topics over beats that are equally daring.

Pitchfork

A flawed, overlong, hypocritical, egotistical, and altogether terrific album.

Uncut

West's rhymes are wry, witty, warm and unswervingly self-aware. [May 2004, p.106]

Village Voice

West's witty, self-produced solo debut, College Dropout, frolics in this space between should and can, between playful hyper-awareness and young, willful naïvete.

Blender

He has his own personality: not a gangsta or a player but a diligent pragmatist. [Apr 2004, p.124]

Mojo

This is manna for hip hop fans starved of basic but ballistic beats-and-breaks fare in an increasingly litigious age. [May 2004, p.102]

Vibe

Delivers both ass-shakers and contemplative cuts.

Q Magazine

His production is masterful enough to demonstrate just why he is hip hop's hottest new property. [May 2004, p.111]

Launch.com

West is at his best the higher the lyrical stakes get, and the more they contradict hip-hop orthodoxy.

Los Angeles Times

West does tend to overextend his songs.... But it's a forgiveable sin for a man whose music and message is so powerful. [12 Feb 2004, p.E16]

Rolling Stone

His ace in the hole is his signature cozy sound -- dusty soul samples, gospel hymns, drums that pop as if hit for the very first time.

New York Magazine

A sprawling and undisciplined mess... but it’s fully attuned to what made West so compelling in the first place, namely chunks of samples that feel raw and convey an underdog sensibility.

ShakingThrough.net

College Dropout is a competent if overlong debut, which serves up solid but by no means groundbreaking production work a little too dependent on familiar hooks from '70s R&B staples.

The average user rating for this album is 9.3 (out of 10) based on 159 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Barbarannette M. gave it a9:
I like this very hot.

Harold J. gave it a10:
one of the hottest albums of all time lyrics are undeniable and the beats are amazing long live G.O.O.D. music

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
it is the best , kanye is the best, and what keep it real-he is real, he is not looking for back me up please please! no -he speak his soul& his heart in his lyrics. he is amazing. love you kanye!!!!!!!!

David J. gave it a10:
A Hip Hop Classic.

ManManManManMan ManManManManMan gave it a10:
WOW. Now if I could give halves it would just be like a 9.5, because of the skits taking up such valuable track time. But aside from that, this is the most refreshing Hip Hop album in a long time, and Kanye West is one of the few mainstream artists people should welcome with open arms.

Dan A gave it a10:
Amazing. When I first heard Kanye I thought it was just another solid rapper coming up. But the production on this album is far above great and the lyrics are more than solid. Kanye is the best well-rounded rapper, or maybe even music artist in general, of today.

ghqjhhejgh jhlj gave it a9:
the shti for real....

College Dropout by Kanye West

College Dropout
by Kanye West