On February 10, 2004 Kanye dropped his debut album “College Dropout”, this classic album marked the end of Kanye’s struggle to be taken seriously and the beginning of a highly acclaimed music career. When College Dropout came out we didn’t know much about Kanye West, from a couple mix-tapes he dropped and his production credits we really didn’t know his story. On College Dropout he did what few rappers are willing to do, he showed his vulnerability, fears and passions over 21 soulful tracks that gave us all a better prospective on who this young man was. College Dropout was Kanye when was a normal dude who felt like he got a second chance at life after the car accident that almost took his life and you felt that passion and drive through the music. Kanye spoke from a different perspective that we really don’t hear a lot of in this this arena of hip hop, he was a kid from a middle class educated family that didn’t go through the struggles most rappers went through or pretended to go through in the rap game. In hip hop, especially what we hear now, everybody is a drug dealer, murderer or a pimp but in reality that is the minority of people who listen to rap, Kanye made it ok to not be the common repetitive rap stereotype that we here on every song, he made hip hop a bit more accessible to a much larger crowd. Kanye with this album opened the door for other artist with similar stories and backgrounds to speak their experience and be successful in doing so. Kanye tweeted the following yesterday to commemorate the album:
“Ten years ago today we finally released what had been my life’s work up to that point: The College Dropout,” he began. I say “finally” because it was a long road, a constant struggle, and a true labor of love to not only convince my peers and the public that I could be an artist, but to actually get that art out for the world to hear. I am extremely grateful to each and every person along that road who helped, lent an ear, lent their voice, gave of their heart to that project, and to all the projects that followed, and are to come.”
“I am honored and humbled by my fans, for the unwavering support and love over the past ten years,” he continued. “I wake up every day trying to give something back to you that you can rock to and be proud of. Ten years later I am still the same kid from Chicago, still dreaming out loud, still banging on the door. The doors may be heavier, but I promise you WE WILL BREAK THEM.”
