The College Dropout: An Undisputed Classic—Part II

By: Mike Wallz

As promised, we’re back with Part II of our Weekend Special for The College Dropout, as Mike Wallz journeys through Tracks 10-21. Check out Part I here.

Track 10: “Workout Plan” (Skit) + Track 11: “The New Workout Plan”

As energy and amusement continue to rise, Kanye breaks up the story with yet another hilarious skit, this time narrated by a clique of homegirls who just got their hands on a bootleg copy of “Kanye’s Get Right for The Summer Workout Tape.”

“If you follow these instructions exactly, you might be able to pull a rapper, an NBA player—man at least a dude with a car…”

Taking a page out Eminem’s “My Band,” Kanye makes a mockery of himself in the music video, posing as a Black Richard Simmons to craft a ridiculously jocular chart topper while simultaneously showcasing adept musicality, creative song structure, and phenomenal music production. Although Kanye is clearly not taking himself too seriously, this quirky violin-led, Chi-town juke inspired, talk-box infused, smash hit is nothing short of a meticulously crafted work of art.

Track 12: “Slow Jamz” ft. Jamie Foxx

Now that we’ve raised our heart rates, Jamie Foxx pleads to Kanye to slow it down, as he introduces the album’s fourth single. “Slow Jamz,” the second back-to-back, chart-topping smash dedicated to the ladies. This record is so good, it could be its own standalone album, channeling classic music legends like “Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, a little Anita Baker,” and a host of others, definitely sets this party off right.

A beautiful duet between Jamie Foxx and background vocalist Tracie Spencer serves as the heart of the song, complemented by the paradoxical Tasmanian devil-like wordsmithing of Twista, makes the record equally smooth and sweet as it is dynamic and exciting. When you put it that way, this song sounds like the sonic orgasm I’m sure it was designed to be.

Track 13: “Breathe In, Breathe Out” ft. Ludacris

“Slow Jamz” swiftly transitions to another horn-led head banger, featuring ATL rap star, Ludacris. Kanye boasts his not so alter-ego as the conscious backpack rapper with an equal lust for fast money, fast cars, and fast women.

“I always said that if I rapped I’d say something significant, but now I’m rappin ‘bout money, hoes, and rims again…”

I mean, who is immune to worldly success and desire? The genius of Kanye has always been his honesty and ability to share every spectrum of his humanity. In the second verse, Kanye hooks us back into the theme of the album while simultaneously dropping the most memorable bar of the project. I bet you can finish this sentence:

“Now even though I went to college and dropped out of school quick, I always had a PhD….”

Don’t worry, I’ll wait…! Twelve-year-old Mikey and every pubescent kid in 2004 relished any, and I mean any, opportunity to finish that sentence. It’s these crudely hilarious vulgarities that made Kanye and this project even more unforgettable.

Tracks 14-17: “School Spirit” + Skits

The next four tracks on the record directly encapsulate the theme of The College Dropout. Three of the four tracks in the section are satirical monologues that illuminate the absurdity of the American education system, cookie-cutter corporate career paths, and the blind generational beliefs that ultimately result in mediocrity.

The theme song of this section, “School Spirit,” serves as an ode to Black Greek life. The soundscape places us in the middle of a Black student union party where Alpha, Omegas, Kappas, and Deltas (and errybody else) take turns strolling through the yard. In the context of the story, Kanye is returning back to campus as a fully realized rap star, both celebrating the Black college experience while at the same time holding somewhat of an ironic contempt for the very place he’d escaped to actualize his potential.

The rebellious nature of Kanye’s academic satire is one of the album’s distinct purposes—an unabashed public scrutiny of the American education system while trailblazing a path that proves that success can be achieved in your own way, outside of the traditional institutionalized roadmaps.

The Final Act

The section that follows and leads us to the end of the album is nothing short of a hip-hop masterclass. This section feels like a bonus track EP, where Kanye cements himself as a great technical rapper, awe-inspiring storyteller, and he most vulnerable hip-hop artist of all time, at least in my opinion. Here, in the last few tracks of the album, Kanye expounds on his personal and professional life stories.

Track 18: “Two Words” ft. Mos Def, Freeway & The Boys Choir of Harlem

Led by an aggressive flurry of bars from Mos Def (Yasin Bey) in “Two Words,” Kanye’s labelmate Freeway, and The Boys Choir of Harlem, float through an incredibly soulful and hard-hitting boom-bap masterpiece. Mos—who I’d say epitomizes prolific conscious rappers—and Freeway— the paradigm for gritty east coast Roc Boy Rap—represent two polar spectrums of hip-hop on the same track. It is ironically fitting that Kanye places himself between the two, symbolizing that he is the unique combination of both introspective and hard-hitting styles of hip-hop, creating a refreshing new archetype that the game desperately needed.

Track 19: “Through The Wire”

Only here in this last act do we get the highly anticipated debut single, “Through the Wire.” This song can be better described as a sonic time machine, transporting us back to where we were when we heard this song for the first time. For me, I was with my day one homies in the backseat of my Dads minivan coming back home from an evening basketball practice. Sweaty, stinky, and 7-11 slurpees in hand, “Through the wire” started blasting through the WPGC airwaves for the first time. I distinctly remember stink faces, synchronistic head bobs, and my Dad, who wasn’t necessarily a hip hop fan, being won over by the end of the song. Exclaiming in unanimous agreement, “THAT JOINT CRANKS!” 

Thank you Chaka Khan for clearing the sample from your timeless classic, “Through The Fire,” AND giving us a classic we can call our own.

I could say sooo much more but I gotta wrap this up, so forgive me, these next few song synopses will be brief—!

Track 20: “Family Business”

“Family Business” is an intimately joyful family reunion anthem that sounds like sunshine on Sunday morning. An aromatic trail of breakfast food wakes you out of bed, leading you down to the kitchen, where you’re greeted by a house full of your kinfolk.

Kanye dedicates the first verse of this song to “the family that can’t be with us,” telling the story of cousin Stevie, locked up for a crime he may or may not have committed. While reminiscing on the simpler times, Ye follows up with a second verse dedicated to “the family that’s standing with us,” celebrating his success while relishing the quality time that matters even more. 

Track 21: “Last Call” ft. Jay-Z

“I’d like to propose a toast…”

Here at the album's finale, we find our hero victorious. Through the darkness, through the temptations, and even through the wire The College Dropout became THE Kanye West, a true self-fulfilling prophecy.

After a brief Jay-Z feature pump-fake, Kanye delivers his victory verse,  summarizing his wins, standing in his power, and making it clear that he’s just getting started. The album concludes with a nine-minute campfire-esque tell-all. Kanye gives his first person account of how he got signed to Roc-A-Fella records then scaled to the top of hip-hop’s Mount Everest.

In Conclusion…

Twenty years later, The College Dropout is widely regarded as one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. Re-listening to this album as an adult just hits different—not one record or second of time on this album was wasted.

In retrospect, I can see how I fell in love with the project 20 years ago and how much of an impact it's had on me. For the years that followed Kanye would drop two more classics in the saga of The College Dropout—Late Registration (2005) & Graduation (2007). If you were a freshman when College Dropout was released, you would have been a graduating senior at the time of Graduation. As one of the best hip-hop trilogies of all time, I doubt that this was a coincidence.

Kanye brilliantly designed the world around The College Dropout intentionally to engage young audiences that would grow with him in the decades to come. Aesthetically distinguishing himself as the flamboyant high fashion backpack rapper, Kanye’s bold entry into the hip-hop zeitgeist tactically used youthful elements like the college mascot on the cover of the album, women and children’s background vocals, humorous, satirical skits, and the hopeful dream-chasing sonic landscape.

The College Dropout feels like it was an album dedicated to youth yet carried the gravitas of maturing as your youthful innocence fades away. Simultaneously, these themes would enable brilliantly thoughtful lyrical motifs & social commentary about race, faith, insecurities, and social justice to be digestible to the masses.

This nostalgic journey with Kanye has inspired me, both as a hip-hop artist and a hip-hop fan. It's evident that we hunger for more hip hop masterpieces like The College Dropout to breathe life back into the genre. The mantle of responsibility rests on us – both creators and fans – to actively supply and demand the musical excellence that The College Dropout gave us 20 years ago. Thank you Kanye for setting the bar.

Missed out on Part I? Read it here. You can catch Mike Wallz on IG at @mikewallz & check out his latest singles, “Lifestyle” & “Kin” ft. Cardigan.