College Dropout
by Kanye West
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 1443 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,285 out of 1443
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 1443
  3. Negative: 135 out of 1443

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  1. ss
    May 9, 2004
    10
    One of the best rap albums ever to be released.
  2. brandonh
    Apr 30, 2004
    10
    album is much deeper than just any average album
  3. bigmanbearmountain
    Apr 24, 2004
    10
    ThiS CD is hot The best CD this year. I love it. Its addictive listening to Kanye's CD.
  4. DexterD
    Apr 13, 2004
    10
    album is sick from beginning to end
  5. [Anonymous]
    Apr 7, 2004
    10
    AMAZING
  6. ThaGMannn
    Apr 4, 2004
    10
    i was sold when i first heard "all falls down" on the radio. "through the wire" was iight but "all falls down" was lyrically beautiful. From then i knew that the whole album had to be like it....and basically it was... Let's start from the beginning.....the intros were hilarious. well.. now that i think about it....i better start w/ the cons of the album cuz the pros will take me all i was sold when i first heard "all falls down" on the radio. "through the wire" was iight but "all falls down" was lyrically beautiful. From then i knew that the whole album had to be like it....and basically it was... Let's start from the beginning.....the intros were hilarious. well.. now that i think about it....i better start w/ the cons of the album cuz the pros will take me all day.... 1)get em high -- kanye's part in this song is pretty good, and so is the first have of talib's....but after that the song goes down...WAY down. Common really SUCKED in this song--the lyrics don't really make any sense and it makes him song really bad....same with talib but not as bad. 2)some ppl seemed not to like the new workout plan....i figure that if u have a good sense of humor then u'll love this song cuz i do. true this song does seem kinda outta place...but then again where else would it have gone? 3)one thing that got on my nerves in "school spirit" and "through the wire" was that they were edited! now there's just somethin w/ me and edited songs they just get on my f**kin nerves!!! (u know what i'm sayin!?) 4) through the wire -- funny the first single of this album was one of the worse songs of the album. first it was kinda edited, and second it sounded like they did nothing to the song...just played the same video version. the quality even sounded like it was recored from a television rather than a recording studio...that was just a little thing that kinda pissed me off (as u can see i pay too much attention to little things) 5) it just kinda felt like there were too many interludes and skits....although there kinda wasn't...it just feels like it (7/21 songs were skits/interludes if that gives u a better idea) 6) personally...if i had only heard jesus walks from kanye....i wouldn't have signed him either :-) funny when i'm reading over these cons they dont' even sound all that bad...and really they arent'...i just pay way too much attention to detail. with the exception of those cons this album was fantastic. kanye is lyrically brilliant and he puts a lot of thought and feeling into what he says. One thing that i must mention out of the general (i'm sorry that this review is somewhat general than others i've done....i mean i just can't explain really how good some of these aspects r) is the last two songs and the outro. This was the best part of the cd and i'd have to say the one of the (if not THE) best endings of a cd that i've ever heard. Family business is the best song on the cd that is just heart touching and awesome (yes i said awesome) song. after that "last call" is a nice outro song where he flos to a hot beat and the choirs in both songs r great and 8+min outro is very nice to listen to...and i've found myself listenin to it a lot more than just once. in short (lol kinda funny after writing all this), the college dropout is nearest to perfect that u'll hear for this whole year. the fact that i gave this a 10 doesn't mean that this album was perfect...but this album has sentimental value that exceeds its lyrics, beats, and production.… Expand
  7. Jeff
    Mar 28, 2004
    2
    The fact that Kanye does not rap about money and cars and bling bling does not mean he is a "pioneer" as some choose to call him. This album is a big dissapointment, since it was expected to be one of the best hip hop albums this year. It's boring, uninspired, and unoriginal with songs about drug dealing and beating up your manager...it's all been said before.
  8. NseE
    Mar 28, 2004
    10
    This is simply an amazing cd. Kanye has a wild sense of humour, as well as a deep, spiritual side, which comes off on tunes like ?Jesus Walks? and the mind blowing ?Never let me down?, which features Jay Z. ?Spaceship is a tender lilting number of escaping from the cares of life, we?ve all been there. ?Slow jamz? and Through the wire? feature Kanye?s signature style of helium influenced This is simply an amazing cd. Kanye has a wild sense of humour, as well as a deep, spiritual side, which comes off on tunes like ?Jesus Walks? and the mind blowing ?Never let me down?, which features Jay Z. ?Spaceship is a tender lilting number of escaping from the cares of life, we?ve all been there. ?Slow jamz? and Through the wire? feature Kanye?s signature style of helium influenced sped up vocals, set to a great groove, and great 80s samples. Other standouts from this dazzling debut are ?Two words?, ?The new workout plan? with it?s disco outro (and hilarious tips on how to get in shape for your man, complete with testimonies of satisfied females) and the 12 minute plus tale of Kanye?s journey to a record deal, set to a gentle groove, interspersed with sax, delicate keyboard tinklings, and a killer hook. Awesome! … Expand
  9. patriciaj
    Mar 27, 2004
    10
    i love this album .
  10. twan/Gunn
    Mar 24, 2004
    10
    College dropout is by far the greatest hip-hop album this year..he lyrics are sick they the truth.Hes bringin a new style to the hip hop society,im tired of hearin the same shit all the time like 50 does! Wow you got shot nine times congrats... kids go buy this album its worth 20$ of ur drug money as for hov you should have neva left the game cause now kanye takin ur place keep it up roc College dropout is by far the greatest hip-hop album this year..he lyrics are sick they the truth.Hes bringin a new style to the hip hop society,im tired of hearin the same shit all the time like 50 does! Wow you got shot nine times congrats... kids go buy this album its worth 20$ of ur drug money as for hov you should have neva left the game cause now kanye takin ur place keep it up roc a fella you the best label out there Gunn K.T.Q.… Expand
  11. StuT
    Mar 23, 2004
    10
    The best album of the year. possibly the best freshman album ever. Can't wait to hear his next one.
  12. JordanH
    Mar 22, 2004
    10
    Its HOT
  13. Jimmy
    Mar 18, 2004
    7
    A refreshing change, but vocals are off point sometimes and production couldve been better. Definitely something for the future but he could easily go really mainstream, blurg :(
  14. JP
    Mar 11, 2004
    10
    my faith in music has been wavering lately. it is now restored.
  15. DylanV.E.
    Mar 9, 2004
    10
    This is a great album, I'm white and usually stick to 60's Rock, but every song on this Album kicks ass. Atleast borrow it from someone, You must hear this Album.
  16. MauricioV
    Mar 7, 2004
    10
    this Cd is freaking tight, i dont get tired of listen to it, and is one of them albums u can liten all the way through, u dont have to skip songs or anything cuz all them songs are hot, album is THE hotest in 2004
  17. lil'aLbert
    Mar 5, 2004
    10
    This is a GREAT ALBUM, got the ADVANCED VERSION from the net and I still bought the RETAIL VERSION to SUPPORT this great artist as to labad's comment dont like it? then dont buy it... hater. 10 stars from me! this ALBUM is a HIT!
  18. Fabi
    Mar 5, 2004
    10
    Shit is real...its fire man...His songs r stuck in my head all day...N his lyrics r nice...Im luvin Kanye
  19. sharinaw
    Mar 4, 2004
    10
    ONE OF THE BESTS!
  20. TonyC
    Mar 4, 2004
    10
    The second greatest rap album ever, surely the best debut, but the Blueprint is by far a better album. This now makes Kanye not just the greatest producer ever but he is the current best rapper, now Jay-Z has quit the game.
  21. cassandraj
    Mar 2, 2004
    10
    This cd was tight. i relly lik jay-zs part in da cd. if you dont like dis you sum hataz
  22. karlv
    Feb 24, 2004
    10
    future classic
  23. GigiJ
    Feb 21, 2004
    9
    Great Album...Kanye West should be consider one of the best thing in hip hop now.
  24. mikeq
    Feb 21, 2004
    10
    PERFECT!!!
  25. StaceyG
    Feb 20, 2004
    10
    Not many CDs are u able to listen to all the way through....not many albums touch on what is trendy and what is contoversial .....there are very few hip-hop albums that can reach everyone... this one does. Kanye is a true lyricist and beatmaster and as said on the last track "ya'll niggas are stupid for not signing" Chi's finest.
  26. ChyvaunF
    Feb 18, 2004
    10
    This is an amazing CD. Kanye is a genius.
  27. labadc
    Feb 18, 2004
    3
    Lyrically, dude is wack. I think that hip hop fans are soooo starved for somthing that is against the norm (bling bling, money, cars clothes) that when someone comes along with something slightly different they jump on it. Unfortunately sampling an entire song, speeding it up, and placing mediocre lyrics on top doesn't not a classic make. While I'm glad West doesn't talk Lyrically, dude is wack. I think that hip hop fans are soooo starved for somthing that is against the norm (bling bling, money, cars clothes) that when someone comes along with something slightly different they jump on it. Unfortunately sampling an entire song, speeding it up, and placing mediocre lyrics on top doesn't not a classic make. While I'm glad West doesn't talk about the typical things that most rappers do, he is still inevitablely wack.… Expand
  28. IslamM
    Feb 18, 2004
    10
    cd is straight fire
  29. RobbieR
    Feb 17, 2004
    10
    This CD is banging, best of the year so far. Kanye West created a classic CD and his songs are very varied. This coming from a producer/rapper. 50 cent aint got nothin on this.
  30. chancet
    Feb 17, 2004
    10
    his style surpasses every rapper in the game right now. his lyrics are real and they'll impact any listener.
  31. melissab
    Feb 16, 2004
    10
    this cd is off the chain, i dont even have to skip tracks because they are all phat! He brings back what lyricist are really about!
  32. JasonC
    Feb 16, 2004
    10
    I cant help it, I have to give it a 10! This cd is awesome. It delivers great life into all the beats and Kanye doesn't bring the same gangsta flow as everyone else.
  33. DennisL
    Feb 16, 2004
    10
    ...Im just trying not to dropout...but he is speaking the truth
  34. davidu
    Feb 15, 2004
    9
    This album is totally different than what hip-hop is right now.Kanye West is talking about things he wants to talk about and not neccasarily what people think theyre going to hear. He shows he can not only produce but drop ill lyrics also.
  35. jeremyb
    Feb 15, 2004
    10
    best hip hop cd of the year.
  36. MarcusW
    Feb 15, 2004
    9
    This CD is fantastic, it just has one glitch. He left out some of his better songs from the mixtape off this CD. Like the Good, Bad the Ugly and Drop Dead Gorgeous
  37. HarrisonT
    Feb 14, 2004
    10
    best album so far of 2004. this album is PERFECT. the lyrics r great. go get his album now. if you dont like kanye west college dropout. then u are not fan of hip hop or dont know what the definition of hip hop is. go get it now and support him
  38. MARKH
    Feb 14, 2004
    10
    NICE
  39. jaimea
    Feb 14, 2004
    1
    rehashed, uninivated,....boring!
  40. brianl
    Feb 13, 2004
    10
    best hip/hop cd since "all eyez on me" period.
  41. Justin
    Feb 13, 2004
    10
    This is a great album- from the beginning to end Kanye mixes great beats with even better rhymes. Although very much mainstream it has a different feel to the music and thats what makes it great.
  42. Tony
    Feb 13, 2004
    8
    Definitely one of the better hip-hop albums to come out in a while. The beats are fantastic, the flows are smooth, and the message isn't about thug life.
  43. oscars
    Feb 12, 2004
    9
    this Cd is the freshest look on hip hop since eminem came into the game. kanye delivers the beats and the rhymes to be recognized as one of the top names in hip hop today
  44. KayneWestJr
    Feb 12, 2004
    10
    AMAZING I love this album the best album of 2004 already-fact!! Without a shadow of a doubt, its a classick. The new kid is on the block and he's shining dude he's shining!!!!---Cop dis disc-no regrets. KW
  45. SethB
    Feb 11, 2004
    10
    I LOVE THIS!!!!! I am SO tired of all this THUG CRAP in hip hop today. Kayne West bravely downplays that without losing street credibility. Finally, a major release who remembers what KRS would call, "Real Hip-Hop"!!
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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best Album of 2004
5
#5 Most Discussed Album of 2004
1
#1 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Slant Magazine
    Feb 17, 2011
    70
    Like every hip-hop album (even the great ones), Kanye West's The College Dropout is marred by too many guest artists, too many interludes, and just too many songs period. (I challenge every hip-hop artist working today to record just one album with 12 tracks or less-no skits, no guests, no filler.)
    Read full review
  2. Spin
    Feb 17, 2011
    70
    Most producers who approach the mic do so at their peril, but on Dropout, West turns out to be a full-service hip-hop artiste.
    Read full review
  3. Vibe
    80
    Delivers both ass-shakers and contemplative cuts.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »