The debut that broke the gangsta-rap mould with soul samples, humour and middle-class anxiety. Warm and witty, it announced a major new voice in production and persona. Still his most likeable record. Released in 2004, it's an early landmark for Kanye West.
On vinyl: Vinyl can be scarcer than the CD from this era, so it's worth looking for a recent repressing.
Vinyl and CD links go to Amazon search results; listening links open Amazon Music. New to Amazon Music? Start a free trial → As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups.
- Jesus Walks on Best 2000s Hip-Hop Songs
We don't reproduce full tracklists — only the songs from this record we've featured in our best-of lists.
More from Kanye West — where to go next
If you have The College Dropout, these are the Kanye West records worth reaching for next.
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1
808s & Heartbreak2008 · Hip-HopStart here
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2
The College Dropout2004 · you're viewing this oneClassic
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3
Late Registration2005 · Hip-HopClassic
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4
Graduation2007 · Hip-HopClassic
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5
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy2010 · Hip-HopClassic