Though I don't listen to near as much rap music as I do other genres, I find this release to be very focused, different, and very refreshing! "The College Dropout" is very different from other rap albums and for me ranks up there with the likes of OutKast's double album "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below". Kanye's style of rap is different, and something about it makes it unique. As well as that, the production of this album is flawless! This album resembles (for me at least) albums of the past that showcased "hits" as opposed to 2 or 3 solid songs. Here's my rundown of the hits on this album: "We Don't Care", "All Falls Down" (it is ashamed Syleena Johnson is as underrated as she is), "Spaceship", "Jesus Walks", "School Spirit", "The New Workout Plan", and this is just to name a few. Furthermore, the interludes are not dumb and work well with this album. Kanye, I hope your next album is just as good, if not better (hopefully even better) than this masterpiece! 5 stars!

I bought this cd thinking i would only like two songs (All falls down and slow jamz), but when i first listened to some of the other songs, they blew me away. He has awesome rhymes and creativity you wont find in 50 or eminem (not that i have anything against them). It isnt about violence and drugs, but has lyrics that have some thought in them. The way they did slow jamz is way better than the way they did it on the radio. I know if you buy this cd, you will find yourself listening to more than one song over and over again. For those parents who cant have all the dirty language, the cd edits it out perfectly and everything i have listened to so far has been clean. P.S.- Rock on, Kanye.

Now,lately rap music had been in a very dark realm in my opinion...Kanye West's new joint is the most refreshing music to date...its been a while since any rapper has discussed at length the social issues, ironies and the redemption of living the hard knock life. The story telling is so vivid that you can relate to the situations that he raps about. You may be jammin and dancing to the rhythm, but its the content and dissection of the social message that is the star of this cd....this is a must have! Keep tellin it like it is kanye..the message is not falling on deaf ears...rhythm nation is listening!

An Australian citizen, I have been a fan of hip-hop only since `01, and specifically of the artists Kweli, Common, the Roots, Nas, Dead Prez and Jay-Z. However, apart from these aforementioned artists, I have seen and heard a lot since then, most of it being unedifying drivel that does little toward the progress of the genre. It's great to listen to someone who feels he doesn't have to rhyme about cars, money, drugs, mackin' hoes and killing people.

Why I love the CD so much:

Kanye, a hip-hop producer and one of the most notable today, changed the game when he decided to add some raps to his beats as well (- if they can do it, why can't I?). And Kanye does an unbelievably good job at it too, "rapping better than most rappers", in a style that is uniquely his own. Story-telling from the start, Ye rhymes about his past, his encounters with the opposite sex, and his rise to fame and fortune. However, unlike most rappers, Kanye does not do much bragging, letting his work do most of the talking. The album is upbeat due to Kanye's light-hearted approach to his many - though deep - subjects, and is an absolute pleasure to listen to due to the humour contained in much of the lyrics. More than that, his beats that have been met with so much commercial success when employed by other artists, are matched by the quality of his rhyme which truly make the album a delight to listen to and a genuine 5-mic classic!

Hit KanyeWest.com to hear samples of his work.

When I first saw the name Kanye West it was when I realized that he was the one that produced Beanie Sigel's "The Truth", which was a song from Beanie Sigel's solo CD. I would see Kanye West's name once again on Jay Z's "Dynasty: Roc La Familia" CD. Kanye produced a nice collaboration with Jay Z, Scarface and Beanie Sigel called "This Can't Be Life". He used an old Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes song and all three rappers had nice verses on the song. Other well known Kanye produced beats are also "Get By" by Talib Kweli, "Takeover" by Jay Z and "Guess Who's Back" which is another collaboration with Jay Z, Scarface and Beanie Sigel. The first time I heard Kanye West rap was on "Champions" featuring Young Chris, Beanie Sigel, Cam'ron & Twista from the Paid In Full soundtrack. I wasn't sure if Kanye would release a CD but by the sounds of his debut CD, we definitely have a classic on our hands.

His first single, "Through The Wire" sampled the old Chaka Khan slow jam, "Through The Fire". Kanye detailed the near fatal car accident that he was in and he basically did the whole rap, "through the wire". "Slow Jamz" is an interesting collaboration between Kanye, Twista and Jamie Foxx. Twista clearly steals the show but Kanye produces the track and he also has a nice verse on the song as well. His current single, "All Falls Down" samples a song from Lauryn Hill's MTV Unplugged CD. Lauryn wouldn't clear her vocals on the song so Kanye had Syleena Johnson sing the chorus. Kanye has a clever way of rapping. He likes to use metaphors, sometimes humorous, and you can tell that he is intelligent by the words that he says in some of his verses.

"Jesus Walks" is my favorite song on the CD. Kanye talks about God in a way that no other rapper has before and Kanye plays off of the fact that if he wasn't the person that he was that no one would even pay attention to what he is saying. He is sending a message saying that there is nothing wrong with pubicly diplaying your love for Jesus Christ. While the song may not be played in a club or on local radio stations, his message is loud and clear. Jay Z accompanies Kanye West on "Never Let Me Down". Jay has two "fire" verses inbetween Kanye and J Ivy. This song also serves a motivational song as the chorus goes: "When it comes to being true, atleast true to me, one thing I found, one thing I found is that you'll "Never Let Me Down". "Get 'Em High" features Talib Kweli and Common and definitely contains the best lyrics on the CD. We have an Erykah Badu less Common sounding like he did on "I Used To Love Her" and Talib at his best as well after Kanye raps to verses at the beginning of the track. Other stand out tracks include "Spaceship" where Kanye takes you back to almost an oppressive way of how people came up in the world, "We Don't Care" where Kanye has his own version of a kid's national anthem, "Two Words" featuring Mos Def and Freeway where it's nice just to hear Mos Def rapping and not see him in a movie or a play and the hilarious "New Workout Plan" where Kanye claims to have the remedy for all of the ladies' problems.

I also can't exclude "Family Business" and "Last Call". Kanye plays off of habits in alot of families today like the aunt you don't eat food from and many other things. On "Last Call" Kanye finishes "The College Dropout" right as he raps for about 5 minutes and he gives you a summary of how he came up in the producing and rapping game.

Overall, you can't afford to miss what may be the best rap CD of 2004. Kanye West has clearly outdone himself on this CD.

Bobby's Top 5 Tracks

1) Jesus Walks
2) Spaceship Featuring GLC & Consequence/Two Words Featuring Mos Def, Freeway and The Harlem Boys Choir
3) Breathe In, Breathe Out Featuring Ludacris/Get Em High Featuring Talib Kweli & Common
4) Never Let Me Down Featuring Jay-Z & J. Ivy/We Don't Care
5) All Falls Down Featuring Syleena Johnson/Through The Wire

This album is DEFINITELY worth every cent you pay for this album. It's a good buy.

hopefully this review helps you out a bit when you're deciding whether or not to buy this.