The SHOCKING Sample Secrets in Kanye's College Dropout

This past week, Kanye West's debut album, "The College Dropout" turned 20. This was a groundbreaking album that catapulted him into another level, and despite where he's gone since, this album remains a classic.
My very first Digging The Greats video was breaking down "Through The Wire" from this album, and I also covered "All Falls Down", which Ken Lewis recreated the acoustic guitar sample for. But TODAY - I'm diving into 5 more songs to look at the production style, mixing samples with live instrumentation, and sometimes... surprisingly, they aren't samples at all!
This video features clips from my recent conversation with Ken Lewis where he tells me exactly what he did for this album (I guarantee you won't see them coming)
A HUGE thank you to Ken Lewis for our conversation in this video! You should absolutely check out his livestreams on KZbin where he breaks down songs and albums that he's worked on. / @mixingnight
kenlewis.com/
kenlewispro...
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[@MetalSonic420]

Kanye West having We Don't Care, All Falls Down, Spaceship, Jesus Walks, Never Let Me Down, School Spirit, Two Words, Through the Wire, Family Business, and Last Call all on his debut album is actually insane.

[@diggingthegreats]

It's bananas. I've already done two other videos about songs from this album, "All Falls Down" (which also features Ken) and my very first video on "Through The Wire" - it's such a strong debut it's absurd 🔥

[@MetalSonic420]

@@diggingthegreats I've seen those videos, and yes, TCD is a STRONG debut.

[@maneater3795]

@@diggingthegreats I find it funny how your channel had such a strong debut by talking about a strong debut.

[@nuptvalorant1494]

​@@diggingthegreats I'd say he peaked even with his debut

[@ScorpioIsland]

@@nuptvalorant1494dude, that’s a hard take. I’d say he definitely topped TCD at least three times

[@FormalFilmsProductions]

I can’t believe that voice sample on family business was not a sample! That’s so cool!!! Another dope video

[@diggingthegreats]

Right? Crazy

[@HUYI1]

I didn't even realise either, mind blown! Hope he got the credit for it, it's one of my favourite tracks too

[@andreaalbertotoniolo576]

Last Call is my absolute fav Kanye track. That track is linked to the HAPPIEST memories of my life. Love you forever G.

[@maneater3795]

The College Dropout is one of those rare examples of an artist truly putting each aspect of their heart and soul into each word, sentence, and quote. Each beat is crafted in a way that changed music forever. Even though he's gone off the deep end harder than ever before, it doesn't really make me hate this album or feel weird listening to it. It's one of the most inspirational albums and Through the Wire is one of the greatest songs of all time if not the GREATEST song of all time.

[@zeeknunez5616]

It’s up there for sure but art is subjective so I’m sure someone will disagree with you

[@maneater3795]

@@zeeknunez5616 Art isn’t subjective when it comes to my opinion

[@MadStalker80]

Last Call was actually produced by Evidence from Dilated Peoples - he found the Sample and made the ground work of that beat. A video on the Dilated Peoples - Expansion Team LP from you is overdue.

[@jjbing3]

Just because Evidence brought the sample doesn’t mean he made the beat. There’s a bunch of different ways that can be done. Gene Brown used to being records to him. Don’t mean he made the beat 🤷🏾‍♂️.

[@pangaeaemcee6082]

@@jjbing3no EV actually made the whole beat from top to bottom fam

[@MadStalker80]

@@jjbing3 Just watch the Crate Diggers episode with Evidence were he talks about the Kanye Beat. Also he has a Co-Producer credit on Last Call.

[@edwardlever4260]

I was about to say this

[@theonlycaamz]

common digging the greats w

[@JohnInTheVWBus]

Color me impressed.

[@wojteksocha2002]

Man it's not Common's album although he appeared on it

[@diggingthegreats]

😂 nah I've been rolling with Cam for over a year now. Same comment every video, first almost every time - now on KZbin AND Patreon. Gonna have to make up a DTG "Top Commenter" award or something

[@g-lo5768]

Very common

[@hhhpestock951]

6/8

[@danieledgell7465]

This is what I wish more people understood about Kanye when I say he’s a genius. The things that are not samples sound like samples, and the things that are samples, sound like original music. Trying to determine what song a sample comes from is one of the things that drew me into hip-hop. And constantly made that into a real task, almost like the equivalent of a word search.

[@djdanger9812]

Lets not forget about recreating the "mix" of those recreated samples which is also impressive. Capturing that sound and vibe from the 70s is another skill set in itself.

[@unclerafa8658]

Rest in peace, old Kanye West. You were amazing

[@MrWillcapone]

Man, this album was something else when it dropped. Still holds up to this day, even if Late Regustration is my favorite one.

[@diggingthegreats]

Those first three albums are untouchable 🔥

[@MrWillcapone]

@diggingthegreats I miss Deray's Bernie Mac impression 😂 My favorite sample on CD has got to be "Two Words". The Mandrill joint. I was hoping you guys would touch on that. It's all good, though. Ken was a huge get 🤗

[@870mac]

I remember hearing this album for the first time at seven years old while riding with my older brother back in '04.. been hooked ever since. Al Green stoked my love for soul... 'Ye stoked my love for hip-hop.

[@Viph75]

I love your videos about Kanye man ! Last call is my favorite song of his so learning that Ken created most of it himself is crazy, i thought it was just a mix of samples piled really well on top of each other

[@diggingthegreats]

Me too 🤯

[@ScottThePisces]

I love how deep you dive with these classic albums, you're truly one of the greats.

[@dmug]

Already knew the background of Kanye’s “samples” on several tracks from other interviews and such, but I love how cohesive your presentations are folding in the interview. Congrats on upgrading to a Push 2.

[@shibbymccoy]

Spaceships is my favorite song of all time and this video just made it better..I'm glad I found your channel before I start making beats

[@learn2xpand862]

love this channel seriously

[@slashw888]

youre such a great creator bro !! i respect you so much thank you for everything my brother

[@crimson6323]

I really enjoy these videos. They keep me going. Keep it up!

[@EAZYBPM]

Bro keep making these great videos great creative work I appreciate every min !!! 💎

[@sharifeady6834]

This was dope!! You should do pimp a butterfly next!

[@gen0565]

College Dropout is a top 10 rap albums of all-time

[@monkimusic4813]

it is the best!!!

[@illeagle8041]

Ive never sub to a patreon after seeing just one video but Im seriously considering it just about 5 minutes in..... Yeah Im in. Great value at both prices. Producers teir. Idk if anyone else is doing this at the level you are but I feel like I would have come across it by now. Im hype!

[@suparickyprime]

Awesome video thanks!

[@GOD_NEON]

Hands down best channel on KZbin

[@patricknikoghosyan777]

This mans videos are the best

[@dollfins1842]

This is probably one of my top favorite top youtube channel

[@retroesso]

Really dope video!!!

[@MetalSonic420]

Kanye West changed the game forever with his legendary debut album.

[@ramsey4630]

GREAT VIDEO!

[@drewwademan1912]

Bro, this is an amazing KZbin idea. Thank you for making this.

[@bboymac84]

Right on Ken!

[@vemundknutsen2429]

Great video as always! Would love to see you dive into the "Go Brooklyn" sample off of Stetsasonics "Go stetsa". Been used countless times, and is arguably the most classic hip hop sample you could find after funky drummer.

[@egoovo]

he was on two of my favorite kanye songs ever lol, 20 years later we still discover new things from college dropout, what an album man

[@matthewt8214]

Great channel

[@RBJrr]

Yo I did a sample breakdown of the album on the anniversary!!! I’m so happy you did a vid on it too, I was scared there wasn’t gonna be a digging the greats vid!

[@LordScheel]

I need to get in on the patreon! Love the channel and i would to get the in depths videos ❤️

[@DashnCars]

Makes me hear the album in an entirely new way. Awesome interview with Ken, that's so incredible how they pulled off one of the greatest albums of all time with just "some producer who wanted to rap " 😄

[@seanrichards9569]

I will attest to this; I worked with John Legend as FOH for just over a year and one night we did a full band show at a post Grammys (or maybe it was Oscars? Can’t remember exactly) party and Kanye came up and did Gold Digger impromptu with him. John sang the vocal sample. And I mean he sang it PERFECTLY. I was never able to ask him this but I’ve always wondered since if it’s actually him on the record, not the old blues sample it’s a reference to. Your videos on this topic lead me to believe I’m not crazy.

[@JAPANESE_MAPLE]

man iam a fan of ur channel and a mege fan of kanye thanks for thanking this video

[@marksters100899]

please do breakdowns like this for Purple Haze!!

[@poggers3218]

I hope these College Dropout videos never stop coming

[@mammusiwwe]

I love your love to music, greetings from germany

[@christianterrill3503]

Wake up babe, new diggin the greats!!!

[@markperkins2656]

Mind blown 🤯 - Next your gonna tell me he sang through the wire?

[@diggingthegreats]

😂😂 that’s all Chaka (as far as we know)

[@markperkins2656]

@@diggingthegreats from what I recall it is because I’m sure I heard somewhere she hated what he did with the track. She cleared it before listening apparently.

[@pierobattelli]

In my opinion, the best debut album in hip hop history and one of the greatest albums of all time. Kanye doesn’t have one unanimously agreed upon best album but The College Dropout is just a special piece of art. Truly a masterclass in sampling and production.

[@diggingthegreats]

It's so good, it's crazy - especially since he's the producer AND rapper

[@pierobattelli]

@@diggingthegreats people can hate Kanye the person but Kanye the artist is second to none when it comes to his craft and even 20 years into his career he’s still got it. When he wants to, everything he touches turns to gold. The College Dropout was just the start of a magical journey.

[@nuptvalorant1494]

​@@pierobattellihe hasn't made anything great in the past 5 years tho

[@BacchusAurelius-yj4mb]

​@@user-iv9xg5nv1t a masterpiece is stretching it, it was much better the JIK tho.

[@BacchusAurelius-yj4mb]

​​@@user-iv9xg5nv1t calling it a Masterpiece is stretching it, it was a lot better than Jesus Is King, tho.

[@MikeRehfuss]

‘Last Call’ is my favorite Kanye song. Very cool to hear Ken talk about it.

[@prodbykobra1]

kanye one of my inspirations man his sampling in the tcd era was just insane

[@exelbeats]

Amazing Album. Kanye was so ahead of his time. I have a question I hope you can answer. What reason did they have for replaying the sample instead of using the actual sample? Is it a loophole to avoid having to pay a high sample clearance?

[@dlavictoire]

How does a recreated sample get the go and clears? I mean, is it some legal « loophole » that allows to re-record copyrighted material? Or it still needs to get cleared but for a lot less than the original recording? Just wondering… 😅

[@coldbumby]

amazing video. why do they recreate samples? it's not to clear copyright since it's an exact recreation, right? is it just to make the sounds clean as possible and individually changeable?

[@ryan_3113]

The goat has returned

[@morreddie717]

Man I miss the old kanye

[@PaulSeal]

Thanks for the video as always dude. i miss the old kanye for sure. The new 'record' ain't it, sad times

[@wg85]

fascinating, never would have guessed those were not samples! was this because it was less costly than securing an original sample?

[@Mr_Al_131]

Fire 🔥 Chanel

[@alexohkay]

Man, back when he wasn't insufferable

[@HandscharGeorgeCostanza]

thank you so much for continuing to make great ye content without feeding into the legacy media tarring and feathering

[@thomasskovmoody]

My All time fav album

[@zealousjay1993]

College Dropout is probably in my top 10 albums list ... if not that 20 ... but its impactful for me 💯💯💯💯

[@zealousjay1993]

Spaceship ...❤️❤️❤️

[@Joe-hx7ob]

I was confused at first because I remember Gino Vanelli writing and performing I just wanna stop. But I found out that Jimmy Castor did a cover version a year later.

[@midis_touch]

Best album debut on MY BIIRTHDAY it’s so nuts

[@shinphatman]

I'll be back. Had to go reminisce over Sophomore year in college...this song...ugh😢😭🤗😅

[@dayzpapi]

Ty

[@OfSunFlowers]

I’m from Texas. We grew up listening to screw music. When I was in the 8th grade (2000-2001) my classmate told me he had an idea. He was gonna take what DJ screw was doing and flip it. He made me a mixtape with sped up chipmunk samples. He called it Nail. Every time I hear an old Ye sample I think of my classmate Marcus Lovely - and the golden idea he had - at 13-14 years old.

[@jussiniemi9560]

one of the greatest albums ever.

[@peoplelikefrank]

Good that people get to know that it’s not only Kanye but bunch of talented artists who made these songs.

[@tecpaocelotl]

Nice

[@zealousjay1993]

12:04 ...whoa .... gotta do something

[@TheRulerRoderickSutton]

He mentioned this in the Jeen-Yuhs documentary. Genius.

[@segajcharrua]

I believe the Mr. Rockerfeller was produced by Evidence that was intended to be part of the Jay-z's Black Album but was rejected and Kanye used on his album.

[@tonycolemanjr.5730]

Family business is my all time favorite Kanye song

[@marcusx3605]

I bought his mixing engineering course a long time ago ken Lewis.. 2012

[@maxjwerner]

Mayonnaise colored Benz I push miracle whips 🥹

[@BigJessMusic]

The chipmunk thing isn’t intentional. It’s to make the sample fit to the tempo of the beat being made. Most of the songs were too slow for the tempo so they had to be pitched up which meant the tempo of the song went up along with the whole pitch.

[@bobjoe1593]

It definitely was intentional. If somebody is already at the point and level of going through having people painstakingly recreate the parts he wants for his track over numerous takes, he could just have them play it faster

[@user-vn4gs5zc9t]

YIPPEEEE!!!

[@k.c.simonsen2]

That's interesting that you can't play samples on KZbin because of monetization, but somehow it's okay to do on Patreon - the place where you're directly charging people to watch the video lol It's crazy that KZbin wouldn't help someone like you clear these samples because I went to Berklee College of Music and this stuff is better than the music history classes I got from professor's like Ozzy Osbourne's manager and the guy who worked with Quincy Jones lol. I'm not even a hip-hop head and I can't stop watching these videos.

[@1andonlydasilent1]

I do this with my beats I use a sample chop it up! Add my own drums and other instruments including bass!

[@Ap-vb4bc]

I notice that Kanye used that clap sound a lot in his old songs

[@jorisfrancken]

1:50 missed opportunity to say "It's Just Begun" as reference to the Jimmy Castor Bunch 💔

[@nickcalaveras]

Kanye started his career with such a great team, everyone around him was on point and that explains why he was able to come up with such a masterpiece, the he fucked it all up when he went crazy and started beefing with all them dudes that were there for him from the get go. It’s beyond sad and also a testament of the undeniable fact that the people that was there for you in the beginning is the ones you should keep around for good. I miss the old Kanye

[@mxtthewtxylor]

Please inform me on where I can hear this outro piano rift I need it downloaded for listening purposes it's too good

[@edviza1935]

Spaceship is one of the best Kanye songs ever imo

[@omnitrash7393]

You should make a beat tape dude

[@kandiharper]

Instant Like 🎉 DGxYe=❤

[@kandiharper]

These stories need to be told

[@kudamangwe7970]

Hows this video only got 40k views

[@TheWalrus_45]

Do you still need to clear a recreated sample?

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

So, in this day and age of YT copyright strikes, what is the legality of recreations if the samples weren't cleared?

[@DylenOfficial]

My song “FAR AWAY” will blowup someday trust 🤞

[@JerseyChileno]

Was literally watching the other video and a comment said “college dropout is about to turn 20” and here I am.

[@user-os3fz1yt6f]

Somebody explain to me the point or recreating a sample vs just using the original sample? Is it just to get around clearing/paying for the original sample?

[@sakaar_uk]

someone hook this guy up with a set of technics asap!

[@jonathanbillingslea1262]

From a legal and industry perspective, whats the difference between usuing a sample vs recreating it. Why doesnt everyone just have recreations of what they want to sample to get around the legal hurdles?

[@ZeeZeeFaa]

If they are copying a sample do they still need to pay a clearance?

[@godlytouchmedia]

If there's particular words you'd have to deal with publishing but if it's just you emulating the recording and chopping it up differently then no because you chopping your recording not the song itself

[@adriennebrailsford6291]

🤯 the folks who worked on this album deserves same accolades for this project.

[@umbrellaman8987]

goat

[@srennoi6745]

woah

[@deangianotti906]

what dj mix station song do you use?

[@nilkilnilkil]

So who originally wrote I just wanna stop ??? Gino vanelli or Jimmy castor ???

[@ezra6563]

Commons digging the greats w amiright?

[@davidnesper5678]

So do you not have to pay the artist when you recreate their song? Is it just less expensive?