Kanye West Reflects On 'The College Dropout': "It Was A Long Road, A Constant Struggle"
10 February 2014, 21:20 | Updated: 10 February 2014, 21:33
Yeezy has taken to Twitter to reflect upon his debut album 'The College Dropout' 10 years after its release, claims; "I am still the same kid from Chicago, still dreaming out loud"
This week marks the tenth anniversary of the release of Kanye West's debut album 'The College Dropout.' It may be only a decade old, but already the album that is certified 2x platinum in both the UK and The States has gone down in history as a hip hop classic. The revolutionary disc has gone on to influence a string of successful albums for 'Ye in what has been a truly unstoppable career, and yet has remained his best-selling album to date.
Now, a decade on, Kanye has taken to Twitter to reflect upon the making of the album, and how far he's come:
Ten years ago today we finally released what had been my life's work up to that point: The College Dropout.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 10, 2014
I say "finally" because it was a long road, a constant struggle, and a true labor of love
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 10, 2014
to not only convince my peers and the public that I could be an artist, but to actually get that art out for the world to hear.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 10, 2014
I am extremely grateful to each and every person along that road who helped, lent an ear, lent their voice,
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 10, 2014
gave of their heart to that project, and to all the projects that followed, and are to come.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 10, 2014
I am honored and humbled by my fans, for the unwavering support and love over the past ten years.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 10, 2014
I wake up every day trying to give something back to you that you can rock to and be proud of.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 10, 2014
Ten years later I am still the same kid from Chicago, still dreaming out loud, still banging on the door.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 10, 2014
The doors may be heavier, but I promise you WE WILL BREAK THEM.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 10, 2014
Referring to the making of the album as "a long road, a constant struggle," many don't realise that Kanye was in the music game for years before his own material saw the light of day. He was a major player in producing Jay Z's 'The Blueprint' under Def Jam, for example.
But of course, Kanye wanted to be in the foreground of hip-hop. After playing 'Jesus Walks' to countless labels only to be continuously rejected, 'Ye continued to make the tracks that would eventually end up on the album.
Of course, eventually he got that deal - and the rest is history.