What is the title of Kanye West's 2004 debut studio album?

Kanye West's 2004 debut studio album was titled The College Dropout. Released on February 10, 2004, it introduced West as a major recording artist after he had already built a reputation as a producer.

Before his solo breakthrough, West produced tracks for artists including Jay-Z, especially on Jay-Z's 2001 album The Blueprint. West's ambition to rap was initially questioned by parts of the music industry, which often viewed him primarily as a beatmaker. The College Dropout challenged that perception with a style that combined soul samples, social commentary, humor, and personal storytelling.

The album was shaped in part by West's 2002 car accident, which shattered his jaw. He recorded “Through the Wire” while his jaw was wired shut, and the song became one of the album's defining singles. Other prominent tracks included “Jesus Walks,” “All Falls Down,” and “Slow Jamz.”

The title refers to West's decision to leave college and pursue music, not to an album called Graduation or Late Registration. Those were later albums in his planned school-themed series, while 808s & Heartbreak arrived in 2008.