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The College Dropout is the debut studio album by American hip hop ___MASK24___ Kanye West , released February 10 , 2004 , by Roc - A - Fella Records . It was recorded over a period of four years , beginning in 1999 . Prior to the album ' s release , West had received praise for his production work for artists such as Jay - Z and Talib Kweli , but faced difficulty being accepted as a recording ___MASK24___ in his own right by figures in the music industry . Nonetheless intent on pursuing a solo career , it was several years before West finally received a record deal from Roc - A - Fella Records . Roc - A - Fella Records was an American record label founded by American recording ___MASK24___ Jay - Z , Damon Dash and Kareem " Biggs " Burke . It operated as an imprint of Def Jam , a division of IDJMG , a subsidiary of Universal Music Group . Keezo Kane ( born Keith Moore ) is an American hip - hop ___MASK13___ . In 2004 , he signed to Kanye West ' s G . O . O . D . Music label . GOOD ( Getting Out Our Dreams ) Music , Inc . is an American record label founded in 2004 , by recording ___MASK24___ and ___MASK59___ Kanye West . The label houses several well established artists , such as Big Sean , Pusha T , Tyga , Desiigner , and Teyana Taylor among others . Their roster of in - house producers include Travis Scott , Southside , Mike Dean , Hudson Mohawke , Q - Tip , Jeff Bhasker and S1 . The label has released 10 albums certified gold or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ). A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular . Though it sometimes means any widely played or big - selling song , the term " hit " usually refers to a single that has appeared in an ___MASK6___ music chart through repeated ___MASK39___ airplay or significant commercial sales . Chicago ( or ), officially the City of Chicago , is the third - most populous city in the United States , and the fifth - most populous city in North America . With over 2 . 7 million residents , it is the most populous city in the state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States , and the county seat of ___MASK86___ County . The Chicago metropolitan area , often referred to as Chicagoland , has nearly 10 million people and is the third - largest in the U . S . Kanye Omari West ( born June 8 , 1977 ) is an American ___MASK69___ , songwriter , ___MASK59___ , fashion designer , and entrepreneur . Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago , West first became known as a producer for Roc - A - Fella Records in the early 2000s , producing hit singles for artists such as Jay Z and Alicia Keys . Intent on pursuing a solo career as a ___MASK69___ , West released his debut album " The College Dropout " in 2004 to widespread critical and commercial success , and founded the record label GOOD Music . He went on to pursue a variety of different styles on subsequent albums " Late Registration " ( 2005 ), " Graduation " ( 2007 ), and " 808s & Heartbreak " ( 2008 ). In 2010 , he released his fifth album " My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy " to rave reviews from critics , and the following year he collaborated with Jay Z on the joint LP " Watch the Throne " ( 2011 ). West released his abrasive sixth album , " Yeezus ", to further critical praise in 2013 . His seventh album , " The Life of Pablo ", was released in 2016 . Late Registration is the second studio album by American hip hop ___MASK13___ and rapper Kanye West , released on August 30 , 2005 , by Roc - A - Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings . It was recorded over the course of a year in sessions held across studios in New York City and Hollywood , with West collaborating with American ___MASK59___ and composer Jon Brion . The album features guest contributions from Adam Levine , Lupe Fiasco , Jamie Foxx , Common , Jay - Z , Brandy , and Nas , among others . Its production was notably more lush and elaborate than West ' s 2004 debut album " The College Dropout ", as he utilized intricate sampling methods and string orchestration with Brion . West ' s lyrics explore both personal and political themes , including poverty , drug trafficking , racism , healthcare , and the blood diamond trade . Shawn Corey Carter ( born December 4 , 1969 ), known professionally as Jay Z , is an American ___MASK69___ , businessman , and investor . Formerly known as Jay - Z , he is one of the best - selling musicians of all time , having sold more than 100 million records , while receiving 21 Grammy Awards for his music . MTV ranked him the " Greatest MC of all time " in 2006 . " Rolling Stone " ranked three of his albums " Reasonable Doubt " ( 1996 ), " The Blueprint " ( 2001 ), and " The Black Album " ( 2003 ) among the 500 greatest albums of all time . In 2014 , " Forbes " estimated his net worth at nearly $ 520 million , making him one of the richest hip hop artists in the U . S . Alicia Augello ___MASK86___ ( born January 25 , 1981 ), known by her stage name Alicia Keys , is an American singer , songwriter , ___MASK79___ and actress . Keys released her debut album with J Records , having had previous record deals first with Columbia and then Arista Records . Keys ' debut album , " Songs in A Minor " was released in 2001 , producing her first " Billboard " Hot 100 number - one single " Fallin '", and selling over 12 million copies worldwide . The album earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002 . Her sophomore album , " The Diary of Alicia Keys ", was released in 2003 , spawning successful singles " You Don ' t Know My Name ", " If I Ain ' t Got You " and " Diary ", and selling eight million copies worldwide . The duet song " My Boo " with Usher , scored her a second number - one single in 2004 . The album garnered her an additional four Grammy Awards in 2005 . Later that year , she released her first live album , " Unplugged ", becoming the first woman to have an " MTV Unplugged " album debut at number one .