According to Entertainment Weekly, Kanye West had the #1 album of the decade. Check out this story from Hip Hop Wired:
While people are still wondering, where are you Yeezy? Kanye West is seeing his name brought back into the limelight, this time for more positive reasons. While Kanye’s been somewhat quiet on the music scene he’s seeing the countless hours of studio time and production for his debut project paying off.
Kanye has been deemed as the man with the #1 album of the last ten years. According to Entertainment Weekly, Kanye’sCollege Dropout is a classic, so much so that it’s worthy of the title of ‘top album of the decade.’
The list of ‘Top Albums of the Decade’ from the entertainment wire hit the net today and already has the internet abuzz with debate.
Following behind Yeezy on the list is his mentor/ friend/ Roc Nation President, Jay-Z.
Jigga came in at #2 on the list with the very first installment of his Blueprint trilogy, 2001′s The Blueprint. Other notables are Big Boi and Andre 3000 of the legendary team Kast, whose Stankonia album landed at #4.
Entertainment Weekly‘s List of ‘Top Ten Albums of The Decade’ is below:
1. The College Dropout, Kanye West (2004)
2. The Blueprint, Jay-Z (2001)
3. Kid A, Radiohead (2000)
4. Stankonia, OutKast (2000)
5. Love And Theft, Bob Dylan (2001)
6. Home, The Dixie Chicks (2002)
7. Funeral, The Arcade Fire (2004)
8. I Am… Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé (2008)
9. FutureSex/LoveSounds, Justin Timberlake, (2006)
10. You Are Free, Cat Power (2003)
Our question to you is, did College Dropout deserve the top spot? What is your pick? What other albums deserved mention on this list? Let us know…
Article by FreshXpress Staff
theFreshXpress.com is a collection of free thinkers and individuals that have come together to give voice to a nation of young African Americans. It is our mission to provide fresh thought, fresh perspectives, and fresh debate on issues relevant to the African American community.
FreshXpress has written 238 article(s) for us.
Senor_H_El_Jefe (24)
bitter black dude (15)
Abdul Wilson (12)
JG* RunsTheKitchen (12)
the uppity negro (12)
J Mark (11)
Idu Charles (10)
true2me (9)
E. Reed (7)
R0cktheMike (6)
Yvonne (6)
Ashleigh L. A. (5)
blackchild (5)
Garfield (5)
Diggame (4)
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
No, College Dropout” shouldn’t have been placed at the #1 spot. My top pick would be Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” (2008). Other honorable mentions for this list would be any album by MF Doom and Jill Scott; M.I.A.’s two albums “Arular” (2005) and “Kala” (2007); Amy Winehouse’s two albums “Frank” (2003) and “Back To Black” (2006); Herbie Hancock’s “River: The Joni Letters” (2007); The Killers’ “Hot Fuss” (2004); Feist’s two albums “Let It Die” (2004) and “The Reminder” (2007); Metallica’s “St. Anger”(2003); Maxwell “Now” (2001); Aaliyah “Ultimate Aaliyah” (2005) and Matisyahu’s “Live at Stubbs” (2005).
@SA, GREAT LIST!!!!! *claps*
I honestly have no problem with Kanye’s College Dropout as the #1 album of the decade. I’m surprised 50 Cent’s GRODT didn’t make the list, as i would’ve voted it #2.
-Ed.
Its funny that they named my two favorite albums of all-time, as one and two. Being younger, this decade was MY decade. Starting college in the first part of the decade, that was my coming of age period. And in my 2nd (or 3rd) year of college, College Dropout was released. I probably listened to it every day for a year, and still do. Kanye spoke a new generation. He spoke for the guy that wasn’t a dopeboy, wasn’t really into bling, but still struggled between between conscious, wanting to shine, and being into the ladies, lol. Oh, and loving to kick it. Some people come at exactly the right time with what they bring to the table, and Ye did that. College Dropout changed the game… its my personal album of the decade.
But depending on the day I might say The Blueprint, lol.
I’ll throw a sleeper out there that should have made this list, regardless of genre: The Love Below.
@SW, I actually think the fact that Outkast’s album was packaged as “Speakerboxx/The Love Below” hurt Andre 3000. Those two albums weren’t on anywhere near the same level, and Three Stacks’ album should be looked at solo.
@SW, Agreed. Those were two completely different sounds and TLB was MAJOR.
@SW, I’ve got to agree S.Dot; The Love Below was classic, it had it all, singing, rapping, hits , whatever and just when you thought it was a safe….A Life in the Day comes on and you have to think G.O.A.T. just might be 3000. Which also makes you think Stankonia could have been number 1, but it came out to early in the decade for people to remember.
@SW,
Young Walton you’re right young fellow this was ur decade. A time when you could actually buy an album with the parental advisory label and not get the side eye from ya momz.lol
Joking aside College dropout was a great album. in fact college dropout and Late registration Kanye are my favorites. He was still hungry. “When it all falls down –but the one with L Boogie on the hook not selena johnson, and never let me down I can listen to any day. Also “Get em high” with Common and Talib Kweli. I’ve never been a fan when cats sample classic joints, but Kanye did Chaka right when he sampled Thru the wire. great album
Love Below extremely slept on album. Love below was a 180 from southernplaydalistic, but was still a headbanger. Blue Print made me like Jay-Z again. Vol.2, and 3 were weak. “Heart of the City” “The Takeover” “The Ruler’s back” “Song Cry” Renegage” classic album.
I’m cool with Kanye being at the top. MF Doom needs alot more props though. I’m surprised the BE album got no love, Ye production with Common rhyming? Desire by Pharoah Monche was TIGHT. The Pretty Toney Album?
@Amadeo, How could I forget about Common’s “Be” album?!? That album and his “Finding Forever” album are noteworthy!
I have 5 of these albums on the list and I think Justin Timberlake shouldn’t be on this list. The remaining 5 I don’t know but I agree with the College Dropout being number 1. I still listen to it and enjoy it like it just came out; that’s how hard it goes. It was before Kanye went crazy and before ‘regular rap’ made a comeback. Kanye was ahead of his time.
Naw Shakeer I gotta disagree. I am a hip-hop junkie like most on this site but that JT album was crack! The production alone made it a classic. It showed the versatility of Timbo, and the soul that Justin Timberlake posesses. The album was a crossiver masterpiece, and the features were great such as T.I at his hottest(at least mainstream wise. Ive been a fan since I’m Serious) and the joint with 3 6 was a banger. I may have a bias cause that album was listened to a lot my senior year of undergrad and I could relate to a lot of the material, but it was one of the best I heard this decade. Matter fact imma listen to it tonite. Lol
@ChuckkRich, You gone make me listen to that JT again, but for some reason, I just thought he was tryin to do too much crossing over and missed, I will check again though.
i have to say College Dropout at #1 sounds pretty right!! Common’s Finding Forever should grace the list, Nickelback’s the Dark Horse too, I think Laurence Hill’s The Miseducation of came out in the late 90′s but that album was revolutionary in female Hip hop!
I just don’t see how “The College Dropout” is seen as #1. The best cut on that album is “Through The Wire”. “Late Registration” was WAY better than “The College Dropout”.
@SA, Holy Hamhocks! LOL Are you my musical kindred spirit!? I always say this and people disagree harshly with me, so I keep it to myself. LOL
I agree with JG and SA in the fact that Late Registration is better than College Dropout and I say that freely. LOL My best album of the decade has to be Jay-Z The Blueprint with very honorable mentions of Common’s Be album And Aaliyah’s cd before she passed…now that was crack music…
People might not feel me, What about Black on Both sides Mos Def’s first solo album? I don’t see BE on the list either. BE was a great album and a commercial success. Im not a big 50 fan but “Get Rich or Die Tryin is a classic album. Food and Liquor didn’t have teh commercial success but how many other albums can you go thru not skipping a song. If we are doing Jay-Z the Black Album may be his best work ever.The Roots -Game Theory, Quality-Kweli, Little Brother the Minstrel Show,Nas Godson, Lost Tapes, N.E.R.D in search of…..
Musiq I just wanna sing, any of the who is Jill Scott joints,Erykah Badu -Baduizm, Usher Confessions, John Legend Get Lifted, or the 2nd joint, Alicia Keys-Songs in A minor, ect,ect
The missed a ton of great albums on that list
@DeShaun, Erykah Badu really hasn’t dropped a sizzling album this past decade. “Mama’s Gun” (2000) was good and if you combine certain tracks from her two latest efforts you get a solid album.
I feel you on Little Brother’s “The Minstrel Show”. Their “The Listening” album was also a banger. 9th Wonder is a beast!
@SA,
You’re right I forgot Baduizm was back in the 90′s. The Minstrel Show was a classic. Phonte is probably one of the most underrated rappers in the game, 9th wonder is a beast on the beats as well.
U didn’t feel Food and Liquor was a classic?
@DeShaun, I really enjoyed “Food and Liquor” & “The Cool” albums for their lyrical content…..not sure if I would call them classics, but good albums nonetheless.
@SA, Food and Liquor was better than The Cool from a musical standpoint. Lyrically, they were both on point. Classic albums? I’d make the point for Food and Liquor.
Maybe it wasn’t the best, but Mariah Carey’s Emancipation of Mimi is a glaring omission from this list. Who puts out more hits than Mariah AND sells more albums? (Rihanna sells hits, Beyonce sells albums, Mariah does both) Emancipation was the ultimate comeback album. People our age generally sleep on her, but who has lasted longer and retains true talent? I know I sound like a Stan haha, but Emancipation was her TENTH album. I don’t know what the criteria was, but it doesn’t mattter. She should’ve made the list.
@Alissa, Mariah should have stayed with Tommy Mottola, he would have made sure she was on this list, lol. Nick Cannon doesn’t have the same clout.
I’m agreeing with SA and JG in them saying that Late Registration is better than College Dropout! And I’ll stand on my word with that one!
My album of the decade is Jay-Z The Blueprint with very honorable mentions of Common’s Be album and Aaliyah’s last album – both classics.
I can see Kanye album holding down the #1 spot. I am surprised that 50 Cent “Get Rich” didn’t make the Top 5, never mind the Top 10. I can’t really comment fully b/c I am sure all the albums I list will be completely hip-hop/black people themed music. I am not as well versed in all genres of music to complain about the list.
Side note: Did Eminem music drop in the late 90′s? I thought he was 2000 and would be surprised that he didn’t make the list.
My list of Top albums would include:
Late Registration (I agree is better than Dropout but Dropout ushered in the new change)
Blueprint #1
Get Rich
Food and Liquor
Common – BE
The Love Below (was so surprised that I liked this album better than Speakerboxxx. That was how good the album was, made me appreciate his style.)
Stillmatic
Even thought it dropped in late 1999 The Chronic 2001 may have been the best album I’ve heard in my 24 years of living!
Phrenology was damn good too.
@Amadeo,
Phrenology was a real good album. great album
I agree only that College Drop Out was the #1 … Entertainment Weekly missed out on some PHENOMENAL music … the fact that they have Justin Timberlake on the list and didn’t mention Mariah Carey, Jill Scott & Alicia Keys,goes to show that the people who made this list like some wack ass music!
And … I’m not a huge Eminem fan (I’d probably say I’m not an Eminem fan) but didn’t The Marshal Mathers LP come out in like 2000 … and didn’t that spawn all kinds of craziness??? I’m just saying …
It’s like they put some people on the list (Bob Dylan, The Dixie Chicks & Radiohead, to name 3) to make a point of being diverse or some mess … it’s outrageous.
College Dropout is definitely one of my favorite albums. It’s my favorite Kanye album. I can dig that #1 spot.
I have been seeing this around and I wonder how they chose the top ten…was it by content or sales or what? The choice that I would make definitely depends on their angle.