The All-TIME 100 Albums: The College Dropout by Kanye West

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The All-TIME 100 Albums

3 of 101

By Josh Tyrangiel Published: November 13, 2006

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ALBUM: The College Dropout

YEAR RELEASED: 2004 LABEL: Roc-a-Fella ARTIST: Kanye West

TIME 100 ALBUMS PODCASTS

PODCAST: Welcome to the All-TIME 100 Albums - the musical compilations of the last half-century that need no introduction. That said, listen in below as music critics Josh Tyrangiel and Alan Light introduce the list and talk about the top albums of the 1950s and '60s.

PODCAST: We know. Twenty-nine of the 100 greatest albums of all time come in the 1970s, and Pink Floyd isn't there. Play this podcast to learn why we picked the titles we did, and if you have something to say, tell us about it using the talkback link below.

PODCAST: Maybe it's a Sign O' The Times that you're listening to critics' audio recordings about great music, but this podcast about how we chose the best albums of the 1980s really is a Thriller. Give it a listen below.

PODCAST: Here's music even the younger set will know by heart. Listen to selected clips from the 1990s through present day as music critic Josh Tyrangiel discusses his picks.

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Even with extended skits and lots of filler, West's debut stands as the smartest, funniest and most important rap album of the new century. The pink Polo-wearing son of an ex-Black Panther and a college English professor, West wasn't the first to bring a buppie sensibility to hip hop, but he infused "Jesus Walks," "All falls Down" and "Never Let Me Down" (which featured a tremendous guest verse from his mentor and record company president, Jay-Z) with wit, intelligence and most of all, complexity.