Presented By Spotify
Kanye West changed the landscape of Hip-Hop when he dropped his debut album The College Dropout ten years ago this month. It was probably no surprise to Kanye that the album produced five hit singles, landed at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 100 Album’s list, and sold double platinum—it has now sold over four million copies worldwide.
Kanye was able to strike a chord with his listening audience and not just because of the types of production on the album. It was also his ability to relate to listeners and articulate the common struggles people go through on a day-to-day basis, as they attempt to pursue their dreams.
Kanye discussed his magical ingredient for The College Dropout during a rare, 2004 interview with Mass Appeal published on Complex.com.
“I’ve been rapping since third grade and I had to figure out at an early age about audience and who you’re rapping to and saying the right thing to your audience,” Kanye said. “Right now I could spit any of my raps to a ni**a on the corner, somebody in a barbershop, but I could go into a corporate office and say the same rap and they will understand what I’m talking about. It’s so universal.“
The ten years that passed humbled Kanye, who stated that The College Dropout was a “true labor of love.” It’s reflected in everything about the album, from the production, to the mix, the guest appearances (a debut album with Jay Z, Twista, Common, Freeway, etc.) and the album cover.
“I am honored and humbled by my fans, for the unwavering support and love over the past ten years. I wake up every day trying to give something back to you that you can rock to and be proud of,” Kanye tweeted.
In honor of its anniversary, we pulled a few of Kanye’s best witty, amusing, or well-written punch lines on The College Dropout.
1. We Don’t Care
The drug game bulimic, it’s hard to get weight
A ni**a’s money is h*m*, it’s hard to get straight
But we gonna keep baking til the day we get cake
2. Spaceship
If my manager insults me again
I will be assaulting him
After I f**k the manager up
Then I’m gonna shorten the register up
3. Jesus Walks
Well if this take away from my spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
Then I hope this take away from my sins
4. Never Let Me Down
Now ni**as can’t make it to ballots to choose leadership
But we can make it to Jacob’s and to the dealership
Swear I hear new music and I just don’t be feeling it
Racism’s still alive, they just be concealing it
5. Get ‘Em High
My flow is in the pocket like wallets, I got the bounce like hydraulics, I can’t call it, I got the swerve like alcoholics
6. Breathe In, Breathe Out
Always said if I rapped I’d say something significant
But now I’m rapping bout money, hoes, and rims again
And it’s still about the Benjamins
Big faced hundreds and whatever other synonyms
Strippers named Cinnamon
More chips than Pentium
7. School Spirit
I got a Jones like Norah for your soror bring more of them girls I’ve seen in The Aurora
8. Two Words
Most imitated, Grammy nominated
Hotel accommodated, cheerleader prom-dated
Barbershop playa-hated, mom-and-pop bootlegged-ed
Felt like it rained ’til the roof caved in
9. Through The Wire
Unbreakable, what you thought, they’d call me Mr. Glass
Look back on my life like the Ghost of Christmas Past
10. Family Business
You know that one auntie, you don’t mean to be rude
But every holiday nobody eating her food
And you don’t wanna stay there cause them your worst cousins
Got roaches at their crib like them your first cousins
Act like you ain’t took a bath with your cousins
Fit three in the bed while it’s six of y’all
I’m talking ’bout three by the head and three by the leg
But you aint have to tell my girl I used to pee in the bed
