How to understand Kanye's first album "The College Dropout"?

Kanye West was born into a middle-class family in Atlanta on June 8, 1977. At the age of three, his parents divorced and Kanye moved to Chicago with his mother. At the age of five, Kanye began writing poetry. At the age of eight, he developed a strong interest in rap and painting. At the age of 13, he persuaded his mother to rent a recording studio for him and recorded his first rap single, "Green Eggs and Ham". In 1987, his mother moved to China to teach at Nanjing University, and he enrolled in a primary school in Nanjing.During high school, West attended Bolares High School in the suburb of Oak Lawn. After graduating from high school in 1997, West enrolled in some art classes at the American Institute of Art in Chicago, then transferred to Chicago State University, but soon dropped out to pursue a music career. While attending school, Kanye worked as a producer for local singers. After dropping out of school, he went on to produce several singles for artists such as Jay-Z, Ludda Criss, and Alicia Keys.2000-2003: Producer stage In 2000, Kanye West began working as a record producer for Roc-a-Fella Records.In October, the song "This Can't Be Life" featuring Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, and Scarface wa s produced.In 2001, he produced songs for Jay-Z's solo album The Blueprint.In 2002, he worked on Jay-Z's studio album The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse.In 2003, he produced Jay-Z's solo Album, The Black Album.However, he was not satisfied with himself as just a producer, he wanted to be a rapper. 1977年6月8日，坎耶·维斯特生于亚特兰大的一个中产阶级家庭。3岁时，父母离婚，坎耶跟随母亲来到芝加哥生活。5岁时，坎耶开始写诗。8岁时，对说唱和画画产生了浓烈兴趣。13岁时，说服母亲为其租录音棚，并录制了第一支说唱单曲《Green Eggs and Ham》。1987年，母亲到中国南京大学教书，他也跟着入读了南京的一所小学 。高中时期，维斯特在位于奥克朗郊区的波拉瑞斯高中就读。1997年高中毕业后，维斯特在芝加哥的美国艺术学院选读了一些艺术课程，之后又转入芝加哥州立大学就读，但很快就退了学，以发展音乐事业。就学期间，坎耶担任了当地歌手的制作人。辍学后，他先后为Jay-Z、卢达·克里斯、艾丽西亚·凯斯等歌手制作了多首单曲。2000年至2003年：制作人阶段2000年，坎耶·维斯特开始担任Roc-a-Fella唱片公司的唱片制作人 ；10月，制作了由Jay-Z、Beanie Sigel和Scarface合唱的歌曲《This Can't Be Life》。2001年，参与Jay-Z个人专辑《The Blueprint》的歌曲制作 。2002年，参与Jay-Z录音室专辑《The Blueprint 2：The Gift & The Curse》的制作。2003年，担任Jay-Z个人专辑《The Black Album》的制作人 。然而，他并不满足于自己只是一个制作人，他想成为一名说唱歌手。 Kanye West listened to Lauren Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill no less than a thousand times while writing his first album.The album had been ready for recording for a year and a half before its release, but was delayed due to Kanye West's car accident, and then again due to work on singles for various artists. As Kanye West lay in his hospital bed and found himself lucky to be alive, he felt it was "God kissing his forehead", thus the inspiration for "Through the Wire" was born. Although Roc-A-Fella Records' A&R department had a negative view of releasing the album, it helped Kanye West get his wish. The singles on the album revolve around themes such as women, sex, drugs, violence and fantasy, complemented by unique personal experiences such as a car accident that Kanye West was involved in. In terms of lyrics, Kanye West challenges religious taboos and brings his schizophrenia to life by playing different characters. Due to poor grades, Kanye West dropped out of art college as a student to embark on a career in music, and to commemorate this experience, the album cover features an animal image called "Dropout Bear."Roc-A-Fella Records rejected Kanye West's proposal to use "Dropout Bear" for the album cover, and instead requested a live photo of Kanye for the cover. The record company then made concessions under some of Kanye's conditions. In terms of music, Kanye West has hired Fiona Apple's regular producer Joe Blaine. Kanye would personally consult Joe Blaine when he had a production problem. The album features rappers Jay-Z, Corman, and Luda Criss, while R&B singer John Legend provides vocals for six songs, including "All Falls Down" and "The New Workout Plan." The album's fourth track, "All Falls Down", sampled female singer Lauren Hill's song "Mystery of Iniquity". The album also features "Slow Jamz", a collaboration with Twista and Jamie Foxx. 坎耶·维斯特为创作人生中第一张专辑，在创作时听劳伦·希尔专辑《The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill》不少于千次。这张专辑在发行前一年半的时间就已准备录制，但由于坎耶·维斯特遭遇了车祸，因而被迫推迟发行，随后又因为替一些歌手制作单曲而再次推迟 。当坎耶·维斯特躺在病床上，发现自己还幸运的活着时，他感觉这是“上帝亲吻了他的额头”，因此《Through the Wire》歌曲的灵感便由此诞生。尽管Roc-A-Fella唱片公司的A&R(artist and repertoire)艺人与作品部门对发行专辑持有消极观点，但还是帮助坎耶·维斯特完成了心愿 。这张专辑中的单曲在题材上围绕着女性、性、毒品、暴力以及幻想等话题展开，并补充了坎耶·维斯特曾经遭遇的车祸等独特的亲身经历 。在歌曲歌词方面，坎耶·维斯特挑战宗教禁忌，将自己的精神分裂通过饰演不同角色呈现出来 。由于成绩的不理想，学生时代的坎耶·维斯特从艺术学院辍学，走上了音乐之路，为了纪念这段经历，专辑封面为一只名为“辍学熊”（Dropout Bear）的动物形象。Roc-A-Fella唱片公司在坎耶·维斯特提出使用“辍学熊”作为专辑封面时否决了他的提案，并要求将坎耶的真人写真照片用做封面。随后在坎耶提出的一些条件下，唱片公司作出了让步。音乐方面，坎耶·维斯特启用了Fiona Apple的御用制作人乔·布莱恩。在碰到制作上面的问题时坎耶都会亲自请教乔·布莱恩。专辑的合作歌手包括说唱歌手Jay-Z、科曼、卢达·克里斯等，R&B男歌手约翰·传奇则为《All Falls Down》、《The New Workout Plan》等六首歌曲提供声音 。专辑的第四曲目《All Falls Down》取样了女歌手劳伦·希尔的歌曲《Mystery of Iniquity》。专辑还收录了与Twista和杰米·福克斯合作的歌曲《Slow Jamz》。 Among them, his debut album "The College Dropout" since its release in 2004, not only achieved impressive results on the music charts, but also triggered a wide discussion in culture and ideology. This album not only showcases Kanye's talent as a musician, but also focuses on his personal thoughts and social views. Getting a deep understanding of The artistic and cultural impact of "The College Dropout," however, is no easy task. In this album, Kanye explores race, education, faith, consumerism and other themes in a unique perspective and deeply creative way, and the interweaving and interaction between these topics makes the album's understanding and interpretation complicated. The purpose of this paper is to explore and answer the question of how to better understand the album by analyzing the music, lyrics, and the context of its release. This article will first sort out Kanye West's creative background and his musical path, then analyze The major themes and artistic characteristics of The College Dropout, and finally discuss the status and influence of the album in contemporary culture. Through the research of this paper, we hope to have a deeper understanding of Kanye West's artistic creation, and at the same time, we hope to reveal some characteristics and trends in contemporary pop music and cultural production. 他的首张专辑《The College Dropout》自2004年发布以来，不仅在音乐榜单上取得了骄人的成绩，更是在文化和思想上引发了广泛的讨论。这张专辑不仅展现了Kanye作为音乐人的才华，更是他个人思想和社会观点的集中表达。然而，要深入理解《The College Dropout》的艺术性和文化影响，并非易事。在这张专辑中，Kanye以独特的视角和深具创意的方式，探讨了种族、教育、信仰、消费主义等多个主题，这些话题之间的交织和互动，使得专辑的理解和解读变得复杂。本文的目的，就是试图通过分析《The College Dropout》中的音乐、歌词、以及其发布背景和时代语境，来探讨和解答如何更好地理解这张专辑的问题。通过本文的研究，我们期望能够对Kanye West的艺术创作有更深入的理解，同时，也希望能够揭示出当代流行音乐和文化生产中的某些特征和趋势。

First, "All Falls Down" is Kanye West's commentary on materialism, wealth, and social inequality. The song tells the story of a heroine who is pressured by her parents to finish college, but is unable to do so because her major does not lead to a profitable career. She had to make money doing hair, but was still plagued by peer pressure and insecurity. The chorus emphasizes that things are not as safe as they seem, and eventually everything will collapse. The second verse is Kanye's own perspective, talking about the glorification of wealth and the desire for status symbols. He talked about the phenomenon of buying expensive items to fit in, and the emphasis on materialism in society. Finally, he points out that everyone has low self-esteem, but he is "the first to admit it." The song emphasizes the importance of looking inward, being aware of our own insecurities and the biases that exist in society, as well as the cycle of materialism and the desire for status. 首先《All Falls Down》是Kanye West对物质主义、财富和社会不平等的评论。这首歌讲述了一个女主人公，她的父母给她施加压力要她完成大学学业，然而由于她的专业无法带来盈利性的职业，她无法完成学业。她不得不靠做头发来赚钱，但仍然被同龄人的压力和不安全感困扰着。副歌强调了事物并不像看起来那样安全，最终一切都会倒塌。第二段歌词则是Kanye自己的视角，谈到了对财富的美化和对地位象征的渴望。他谈到了购买昂贵物品来融入的现象，以及社会中对物质主义的强调。最后，他指出每个人都自卑，但他是“第一个承认的”。这首歌强调了审视内心的重要性，意识到我们自身的不安全感和社会中存在的偏见，以及物质主义循环和对地位的渴望。

Education, then, is a central theme in The College Dropout. Kanye West explores the value and limitations of education several times in the album. In "School Spirit," a song that upends traditional ideas about the status of education, the artist highlights his own journey to self-success. The central idea of the lyrics is that Kanye dropped out of college to pursue his passion for music. In addition, the chorus refers to various college fraternities and sororities, suggesting that these institutions are limited and cannot accommodate unusual talents like Kanye's. The "School Spirit" highlights Kanye's frustration with the academic system and his determination to prove himself despite not having a college degree. He also alluded to his status as a successful rapper and businessman, claiming that he doesn't need a diploma to be something big. Using his own story of dropping out of college as a backdrop, he questions the value of the traditional education system. This not only shows his criticism of education, but also expresses his pursuit of self-worth and success. 然后，教育是《The College Dropout》中的一个核心主题。Kanye West在专辑中多次探讨了教育的价值和局限性。在歌曲《School Spirit》中，这一首颠覆关于教育地位传统观念的歌曲，突出了艺术家自己走向自我成功的历程。歌词的中心思想是，坎耶从大学辍学，追求他对音乐的热情。此外，副歌提到了各种大学兄弟会和联谊会，暗示这些机构是有局限性的，不能容纳像Kanye这样的的异于常人的天赋。"School Spirit "强调了Kanye对学术体系的挫败感和他证明自己的决心，尽管他没有大学学位。他还提到了他作为一个成功的说唱歌手和商人的地位，声称他不需要文凭就能成大事。他以自己从大学退学的故事为背景，质疑了传统教育体系的价值。这不仅展示了他对教育的批判，也表达了他对自我价值和成功的追求。

Faith is also an important theme in the album. Kanye West is a devout Christian, and he discusses the power and meaning of faith several times on the album. In the song "Jesus Walks", he expresses his commitment to his Christian faith in a straightforward way: "God show me the way because the Devil is trying to break me down". The song not only showcases his faith, but also carries a message about faith in salvation and an exploration of deep personal introspection in the midst of a struggle to stay connected to God in a world full of temptation and adversity. It delves into the cultural and social context in which Kanye grew up, his experiences with discrimination, and his desire to defy the expectations of the entertainment industry. The significance of the song lies in its powerful message of hope, urging listeners to seek guidance from a higher power and find redemption in the face of challenges. 其次，信仰也是专辑中的一个重要主题。Kanye West是一位虔诚的基督教信仰者，他在专辑中多次探讨了信仰的力量和意义。在歌曲《Jesus Walks》中，他以直白的方式表达了对基督教信仰的坚持：“God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down”。这首歌不仅展示了他的信仰，也传递了一种信息，即对信仰救赎以及在充满诱惑和逆境的世界中保持与上帝联系，在斗争中对深刻个人内省的探索。它深入探讨了坎耶成长过程中的文化和社会背景，他遭受歧视的经历，以及他违背娱乐业期望的愿望。 这首歌的意义在于它强有力的希望信息，敦促听众从更高的力量那里寻求指导，在挑战面前找到救赎。

Similarly, "I'll Fly Away" is actually a traditional Gospel song that expresses the desire to transcend physical limitations and experience ultimate freedom. The lyrics suggest that there is a land of joy and glory beyond this life, and that believers can escape the struggles and sufferings of this mortal world. In the context of Kanye West's music, the song can be seen as a reflection of his personal beliefs and struggles. Throughout his career, Kanye West has explored themes such as spirituality, death, and redemption. "I'll Fly Away" can be interpreted as an expression of Kanye West's hope for a future beyond this life, perhaps seeking solace in religion to deal with the challenges between fame and fortune. On the other hand, the song can also be seen as a message to his fans, encouraging them to find their own path to enlightenment and inner peace. Overall, the song's message is one of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. 同样《I’ll Fly Away》实际上是一首传统的福音歌曲，这首歌表达了超越肉体限制、体验终极自由的愿望。歌词暗示着在这个生命之外有一个充满快乐和荣耀的土地，信徒可以逃离这个凡尘世界的挣扎和苦难。在Kanye West音乐的背景下，这首歌可以被视为他个人信仰和挣扎的反映。在他的职业生涯中，Kanye West一直在探讨灵性、死亡和救赎等主题。《I’ll Fly Away》可以被解释为Kanye West对超越这个生命的未来的希望的表达，或许在宗教中寻求安慰以应对名利之间的挑战。另一方面，这首歌也可以被视为他对粉丝们的一种讯息，鼓励他们寻找自己通往启蒙和内心平静之路。总的来说，这首歌传递的信息是在逆境中保持希望和韧性。

Kanye West's song "Never Let Me Down "(ft.Jay-Z/ J.Ivy) tells the story of artists' journeys to success and how they rely on themselves and each other to stay who they are. The chorus stresses the importance of loyalty and trust as they declare that nothing and no one will ever let them down. The song's verses refer to the rappers' experiences in the music industry, as well as their personal backgrounds. Jay-Z's passage talks about his longevity in the industry, citing how he's been relevant in the rise and fall of so many other rappers since the beginning of his career, and how he's gone from simply having his listeners' ears to having their hearts. He brags about his accomplishments and emphasizes how he has earned his place, even amid criticism and competition. Kanye's words delved into social issues and discrimination, referencing his family's involvement in the black civil rights movement and his own experience with racial inequality. He noted that while material success may be achievable, social equality is still far from universal. He also spoke of personal struggles such as the death of his girlfriend's father, a relationship with his faith, and a car accident that left him visually impaired. J. Ivy's lyrics talk about the power of music as a tool for change and inspiration. He notes that he is not alone, but part of something larger, and that his purpose is to use his art to encourage positive change. He stressed the importance of having inspiration and motivation, and ended with hope for unity and a better world. Overall, "Never Let Me Down "is a song about resilience, determination and standing up for yourself no matter what challenges come along. The song encourages listeners to believe in themselves, while also acknowledging the role others can play in supporting and encouraging them. Kanye West（ft.Jay-Z/J.Ivy）的歌曲 "Never Let Me Down "讲述了艺术家们的成功之旅，以及他们如何依靠自己和对方来保持自己的本色。副歌强调了忠诚和信任的重要性，因为他们宣布没有任何东西和任何人会让他们失望。这首歌的诗句提到了说唱者在音乐行业的经历，以及他们的个人背景。Jay-Z的段落谈到了他在这个行业的长寿，引用了他如何在许多其他说唱者的兴衰中，从他的职业生涯开始就保持相关，以及他如何从简单地拥有听众的耳朵到拥有他们的心。他夸耀自己的成就，并强调他是如何赢得自己的地位的，即使是在批评和竞争中。Kanye的词句深入到社会问题和歧视，提到了他的家人参与黑人民权运动和他自己的种族不平等经历。他指出，虽然物质上的成功可能是可以实现的，但社会平等仍然远远没有达到普遍的程度。他还提到了个人的挣扎，如他女朋友的父亲的死亡，与他的信仰的关系，以及给他留下视觉障碍的车祸。J. Ivy的歌词谈到了音乐作为改变和激励工具的力量。他指出，他不是一个人，而是一个更大的东西的一部分，他的目的是用他的艺术来鼓励积极的变化。他强调了拥有灵感和动力的重要性，并以对团结和更好的世界的希望结束。总的来说，"Never Let Me Down "是一首关于复原力、决心和无论出现什么挑战都要坚持自我的歌曲。这首歌鼓励听众相信自己，同时也承认其他人在支持和鼓励他们方面可以发挥的作用。

Finally, the album also contains many autobiographical elements and personal political positions. In the song "Through the Wire," Kanye West talks about a near-fatal car accident that occurred in October 2002. The sampled chorus expresses his determination and willingness to take risks, to "go out on fire" to be with the person he loves. In the lyrics, he shares what it's like to be in a hospital bed, feelings of uncertainty and fear about the future, and the moment he realizes that despite the accident, his life is still complete. The song shows that despite all the difficulties he has faced, he chooses to be tough and indomitable, and delivers the song with a stitched jaw and a broken accent. 最后，专辑中也包含了许多自传性元素和个人政治立场。在歌曲《Through the Wire》中，Kanye West讲述了在2002年10月发生的一场近乎致命的车祸。副歌采样部分表达了他的决心和愿意冒险，愿意“冒着火焰”去和他爱的人在一起。在歌词中，他分享了在医院床上的感受，对未来的不确定和恐惧的感受，以及他意识到尽管发生了事故，他的生活仍然完整的时刻。这首歌体现了尽管面临种种困难，他选择坚韧和不屈不挠，用下巴缝针的状态、蹩脚的口音去演绎这首歌。

Overall, The College Dropout is an album full of themes and concepts, and through Kanye West's unique lyrics and musical style, he manages to express his views on topics such as education, faith, self-reflection, and race. The album not only showcased his personal growth and reflection, but also became a classic in the history of hip-hop music. 总的来说，《The College Dropout》是一张充满主题和概念的专辑，通过Kanye West独特的歌词和音乐风格，他成功地表达了自己对教育、信仰、自我反省和种族等主题的看法。这张专辑不仅展示了他个人的成长和思考，也成为了嘻哈音乐史上的一个经典之作。

The album's place in popular culture is reflected in its revolutionary contribution to the field of music. Kanye West's album explores a variety of topics, including education, religion, race and self-doubt, that were relatively rarely addressed in hip-hop at the time. His lyrics are sincere and profound, breaking the stereotype of traditional hip-hop gangsta rap and injecting new ideas into hip hop music. At the same time, his innovation in production also provided a new source of inspiration for later musicians. This spirit of innovation and exploration of deep topics has made "The College Dropout" a classic in hip-hop history. The reception and evaluation of the album by the public and critics also validates its cultural impact. The album received generally positive reviews, with many critics praising Kanye West's talent in lyrics and production. In addition, the public has also strongly resonated with the album, and its commercial success is an intuitive reflection of its popularity in popular culture. The album sold more than 3 million copies in the United States and won several music awards, including Grammy recognition. In terms of The music industry, the success of "The College Dropout" had a profound impact on hip-hop. It encouraged later hip-hop musicians to explore a wider range of themes and innovate in music production. It can be said that this album opened the door to the development of diverse hip-hop music."The College Dropout" not only has epoch-making significance in music, but also has a broad cultural impact. Its success opened up a new path for hip hop music, and also provided new ideas and possibilities for the development of the contemporary music industry. 这张专辑在流行文化中的地位体现在它对音乐领域的革命性贡献。Kanye West在专辑中探讨了各种主题，包括教育、宗教、种族和自我怀疑等，这些话题在当时是嘻哈音乐中相对较少涉及的。他的歌词真诚而深刻，打破了传统嘻哈音乐匪帮说唱这一刻板印象，为嘻哈音乐注入了新的思想内容。同时，他在制作上的创新也为后来的音乐人提供了新的灵感来源。这种创新精神和对深层话题的探讨，让《The College Dropout》成为了嘻哈音乐史上的一部经典之作。公众和评论家对这张专辑的接受和评价也验证了它的文化影响力。专辑获得了普遍的好评，许多评论家称赞Kanye West在歌词和制作方面的才华。此外，公众也对这张专辑产生了强烈的共鸣，它在商业上的成功更是直观地反映了其在大众文化中的受欢迎程度。专辑的美国销量超过300万张，并获得了多个音乐奖项，包括格莱美奖的肯定。在音乐产业方面，《The College Dropout》的成功对嘻哈音乐产生了深远的影响。它鼓励了后来的嘻哈音乐人去探索更广泛的主题，并在音乐制作上进行创新。可以说，这张专辑为嘻哈音乐的多元化发展打开了一扇大门。综上所述，《The College Dropout》不仅在音乐上具有划时代的意义，更在文化上产生了广泛的影响。它的成功为嘻哈音乐开辟了新的道路，也为当代音乐产业的发展提供了新的思路和可能性。