In which Kanye deals with his insecurities about not having finished college. The central message attacking education is fundamentally stupid. All that being said - this is one of the wittiest hip hop albums you ever heard and the range of topics and beasts keep the album bopping along. Despite the negativity of the theme, it’s surprisingly light and Kanye really does redefine what rappers can talk about on a mainstream record. All of this maybe made easier by some superb soul samples and Kanye’s skills behind the boards are simply outstanding. Guest rappers bring their A Game - not just in it for the pay cheque - and West straddles the mainstream (Jay-Z, Ludacriss) with the underground (Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli) without feeling like different projects crowbarred together. Despite the length there’s barely a weak track amongst them. Jesus Walks sounds phenomenal, Through the Wire has a whip smart flow, whilst jaw literally wired shut from a car crash, All Falls Down is a great almost-sample (try and find the actually Lauryn Hill sample version) and there’s a lightness to Slow Jamz and Workout Plan unusual on a rap album. This album sounds nothing like West’s later masterpieces but seeds are there for an artist flexing his creative muscles and taking whatever direction his genius takes him.