The College Dropout 2XLP

Album Details

"Through The Wire," the stunning first single from Kanye West's highly-anticipated Roc-A-Fella Records debut College Dropout, marks the emergence of hip-hop's most important new voice. Known as the sonic visionary behind such hits as Ludacris' #1 smash "Stand Up", Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name", Jay-Z's "Encore", "Lucifer", "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)", "Girls Girls Girls", "The Takeover", and "03 Bonnie & Clyde", Scarface's "Guess Who's Back", and Talib Kweli's "Get By", amongst many others, Chicago-bred West is undoubtedly one of most talented and accomplished young producers to have emerged in recent years. With The College Dropout, West not only produces, writes and performs his own music and lyrics, but presents himself as a complete artist with a purpose and musical vision all his own. The critics have taken notice; Kanye has already been picked by Entertainment Weekly as the year's "IT Producer", nominated by The Source for "Producer Of the Year" and awarded "Hip-Hop Quotable Of The Year" for "Through The Wire," graced the cover of The Fader, featured in Rolling Stone's "New Faces," labeled "Next Big Thing" by Blender, Vibe and Spin, and previewed in The New York Times as one of the artists to watch in the new year. With an MTV "Buzzworthy" video directed by West himself, the confessional "Through The Wire" has caught fire at radio nationwide, and is poised to become one of the year's most unlikely break-outs. Couple that with Kanye's step-out on the blazing Twista single and video "Slow Jams," which also shows up on College Dropout, and you have the makings of a smash debut. Featuring guest appearances from friends and past-collaborators like Jay-Z, Mos Def, Freeway, Dirt McGirt and Ludacris, College Dropout is already one of the most acclaimed albums of the year.