Special to the Argus “College Dropout,” Kanye WestRockafella Records Sometimes you come along something which is really unexpected. As is the case with Rockefella’s newest artist Kanye West. His freshman CD “College Dropout” hit the stores last month. It’s nice. At best West is one of the good emerging artist. While some will like his flow, others will have some objections. What’s shocking about this album is that it is actually hot.It’s the kind of album which blends satire with verses which are both honest and true. However, if you stop for a moment to really listen, you’ll realize one thing. Although he makes it well known that he is a college dropout, West is making money some of us could only wish for. His arguments in several tracks are not towards higher education is abundanct, but on the flip side he raps about people caught up in the material world. For most, our introduction to West’s style of rhyming came with the release Twista’s “Slow Jamz” and was followed up by the anthem “Through the Wire”. But behind the scenes he is also one of the hottest emerging producers having workded ofn tracks with Alicia Keys, and Jay-Z to name a few. Other impressive tracks on the album include “Jesus Walks” and then second track “Graduation Day.”So what is the message of this album, I’ll take a wild guess and say that people should really enjoy their lives. Do we do what we do for our benefit or for others?While I don’t agree with everything he says on this album there a few jewels that he drops. West points to one thing we allow ready know, college may not be for everyone. For some the message of dropping out of college may be detrimental, but in a society built on the bottom line, it seems that those who don’t hide behind the degrees still find success. One of the best tracks on this album has to be his current release, “All Falls Down,” featuring Syleena Johnson. “It seems we are living in the American dream/ people highest up got the lowest self esteem/ the greediest people do the ugliest things/ for the road to richest and diamond rings…. And for that paper know, look how low we a’stoop/Even if you in a Benz, you still a nigga in a coupe.””Kamikaze,” Twista, Atlantic Records
Pop Quiz: Who was named the Guinness Book of World Records fastest rapper more than a decade ago? But if it wasn’t for the infectious Slow Jams, many of us who are not hard core rap enthusiast might never have given Twista a second thought. Initially when I heard this CD I was like okay so he can rap fast, but what am I feeling. In short this album left me bobbing my head as I wondered what he was saying on several of the tracks. “Kamikaze” the new album was released last month and features the hit “Slow Jams” which features Jamie Foxx and Kanye West. For those who haven’t picked up on this yet, Twista raps at an enormously fast rate which left me bewildered as I tried to connect the dots of his lyrics. I was expecting this album to have possibly only one track on it that would stick out in my mind. But due to a handful of collaborations with other artist, I found quiet a few tracks to my liking. This album is hot, it blends a little bit of slower jams for the artist as well as has a host of club hits, and a few songs which make you smile. What sells the albums are the beats, Twista has found the right mix of artist to work with which amplify his tracks. “So Sexy” featuring R. Kelly, “Feels so Good”, featuring Jazze Pha, “Badunkadunk” and “Higher” featuring Laudacris are a few of the tracks which had me shaking my head. It is worth nothing that Twista seems to do his best work when he is playing of f of the energy of another rapper or singer. Which is how he has made a living over the years. If you want tracks that are destine to be club banger, this album has them. However there are tender moments on the album which are a far departure from the norm. Tracks that make you stop and listen. They include the lament “Hope” which features Cee-lo as well as the following track the track “Sunshine” which features Anthony Hamilton which also features samples from Bill Withers “Lovely Day”. Before this album I probably would have not picked up this album, but you know what, I judged the album as being possibly another rap album only this one had a twist.