College Dropout (2004)

This album was started back in 1999, but was done very much in a off-and-on fashion due to not having support from other producers due to their lack of confidence in his ability to rap. In addition to being his debut, it’s known for popularizing the use soul and funk samples in hip-hop.

All Falls Down

Lyrics

We’ll start with this, it’s one of Kanye’s first singles and covers the concept of being self conscious, but also touches on commercialism and racism. Below I’ve provided both the spoken word version from Def Jam Poetry as well as the official music video. My favorite lyrics from this one are:

We shine because they hate us, floss cause they degrade us

We trying to buy back our 40 acres

And for that paper, look how low we a stoop

Even if you in a Benz, you still a nigga in a coupe

Def Poetry Jam “Self Conscious”

All Falls Down

Jesus Walks

Lyrics

Next is a song that exemplifies Kanye’s early non-conformity. Jesus Walks is one of the few faith-based songs that has gained major commercial success. It was bold for him to put this on his debut album and was a major reason why it was hard for him to get signed. This is best shown by this set of lyrics from the song:

So here go my single, dog, radio needs this

They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus

That means guns, sex, lies, videotape

But if I talk about God my record won’t get played, huh?

Jesus Walks

Through the Wire

Lyrics

And to wrap up the first album we’ll move to a song that started it all. Kanye had been in a near-fatal car accident when he fell asleep at the wheel a late night coming home from the studio. Just two weeks after the surgery, he made this song with his mouth still wired shut because he wanted to be like other artists he admired who’d expressed what they were going through in their music. It shows the desire to not let things hold you back. This became the foundation for the debut album and was the first single.