The College Dropout - Kanye West

Packs edgy emotional wallop; best for older teens.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Heard the music? Review it
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Music details
  • Artist(s): Kanye West
  • Genre: Rap
  • Label: Rock-A-Fella
  • Parental Advisory: Yes
  • Edited Version: Yes
  • Release Date: 2/10/2004

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this exceptional CD contains every explicit word there is, but you can buy the edited version. Also, Kanye West's lyrics are dismissive about higher education.

Families can talk about racism, sexism, class politics, and staying in school.

Message

Social Behavior:

The "n" word is all over the place, though not on the edited version. But the social message is complex and worthwhile.

Consumerism:

Some brand names mentioned.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Drug references.

Violence

Violent imagery with an anti-violence message.

Sex

There's explicit sexuality.

Language

Very strong language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Kathi Kamen Goldmark

There's a lot of explicit music around that's meant to amuse, titillate, and/or offend. But THE COLLEGE DROPOUT, the debut offering from veteran rap producer Kanye West, is a different story. Here's an artist using strong imagery to make an intelligent and emotional statement about his world, with unflinching honesty, cynicism, and humor. This CD is unusual in that the "censored" version is better than the explicit original. The careful editing doesn't dilute the narrative flow of the lyrics; if anything, the messages are more powerful without the distraction of "those" words.

Is it any good?

4
Exquisite cameo performances by Jay-Z, Common, Mos Def, Twista, and especially the Harlem Boys Choir add to the mix. Buy the edited version, listen with your teens, and talk about everything under the sun. Kanye West delivers songs and skits that are musically interesting and also take on racism, the American educational system, and other contemporary political and social issues. The writing and performances are about as subtle as a sledgehammer, but the intensity works.
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 10 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/17/08 by movieman1997 Kid contributor, age 11

amazing!

a must listen to kanye west did a great job on this except it has a lot of language and some sexuality but it's good!
5


Posted on 01/03/08 by Johan Kid contributor, age 15

This is an EXCELLENT album for 14 and up...

I say fourteen because i was fourteen when I got it and found the content okay for me. I mean, I understood it all. It wasn't gratuitous most of the time. Just get the edited. Other than that, it's an EXCELLENT CD. True art. A fresh, jazzy, new, only-once-in-a-while really hip-hoppy style. It's rap and real MUSIC, not just a beat. And it's about interesting things. Some of the songs give goosebumps. The singing is excellent and the ryhmes are clever. It has something to say. I got this album SO long ago, and I'm still very able to listen to it ALL THE TIME and enjoy it very thoroughly. I love this CD! Buy it! A Hip-hop classic! Just get the edited version and everything will be okay. Kanye West is one of the greatest rappers out there. Forget 50-cent, he needs to retire. Buy Graduation and Late Registration too.
5


Posted on 09/24/06 by thetruthstrikes Kid contributor, age 17
4


Posted on 05/05/06 by BIG PAPA Kid contributor, age 14

i laughed

i thought it was outstanding cause it has some words that you would never think that somebody who had drop out of collage talk like tha.
5


Posted on 11/20/05 by gOd_bLeSS_cAtAsTrOpH3_x Kid contributor, age 11
5


Posted on 11/09/05 by footballtime56 Kid contributor, age 12

Great CD

This is a great CD for any young kid struggling to get in touch with God or to learn to do the right thing. It explains things in the language of today so that it is understandable.
5


Posted on 09/01/05 by bups Kid contributor, age 14

One of the best albums from the rocafella label *and it's just his debut!

Kanye west brings up a lot of interesting things such as the social system and the ghetto. The only flaw i saw with this album was the large amount of skits which sometimes became annoying. But there is so much good on this album you almost forget about that. Jesus Walks, We Don't Care, and All Falls Down are great songs where we see the world from Kanye's point of view. Other songs Such as Slow Jamz and Through the wire also are very interesting. Overall one of the best albums of 2004.
4


Posted on 08/17/04 by raulkidd52003 Kid contributor, age 13
4


Posted on 07/29/04 by commentgirl58 Kid contributor, age 12
4


Posted on 07/22/04 by KenCampbell Adult contributor

See all 10 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/22/04 by KenCampbell Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 9 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/17/08 by movieman1997 Kid contributor, age 11

amazing!

a must listen to kanye west did a great job on this except it has a lot of language and some sexuality but it's good!
5


Posted on 01/03/08 by Johan Kid contributor, age 15

This is an EXCELLENT album for 14 and up...

I say fourteen because i was fourteen when I got it and found the content okay for me. I mean, I understood it all. It wasn't gratuitous most of the time. Just get the edited. Other than that, it's an EXCELLENT CD. True art. A fresh, jazzy, new, only-once-in-a-while really hip-hoppy style. It's rap and real MUSIC, not just a beat. And it's about interesting things. Some of the songs give goosebumps. The singing is excellent and the ryhmes are clever. It has something to say. I got this album SO long ago, and I'm still very able to listen to it ALL THE TIME and enjoy it very thoroughly. I love this CD! Buy it! A Hip-hop classic! Just get the edited version and everything will be okay. Kanye West is one of the greatest rappers out there. Forget 50-cent, he needs to retire. Buy Graduation and Late Registration too.
5


Posted on 09/24/06 by thetruthstrikes Kid contributor, age 17
4


Posted on 05/05/06 by BIG PAPA Kid contributor, age 14

i laughed

i thought it was outstanding cause it has some words that you would never think that somebody who had drop out of collage talk like tha.
5


Posted on 11/20/05 by gOd_bLeSS_cAtAsTrOpH3_x Kid contributor, age 11
5


Posted on 11/09/05 by footballtime56 Kid contributor, age 12

Great CD

This is a great CD for any young kid struggling to get in touch with God or to learn to do the right thing. It explains things in the language of today so that it is understandable.
5


Posted on 09/01/05 by bups Kid contributor, age 14

One of the best albums from the rocafella label *and it's just his debut!

Kanye west brings up a lot of interesting things such as the social system and the ghetto. The only flaw i saw with this album was the large amount of skits which sometimes became annoying. But there is so much good on this album you almost forget about that. Jesus Walks, We Don't Care, and All Falls Down are great songs where we see the world from Kanye's point of view. Other songs Such as Slow Jamz and Through the wire also are very interesting. Overall one of the best albums of 2004.
4


Posted on 08/17/04 by raulkidd52003 Kid contributor, age 13
4


Posted on 07/29/04 by commentgirl58 Kid contributor, age 12
See all 9 kids reviews >

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