Netflix ‘Jeen-Yuhs’: Did Jay Z's label almost scrap Kanye’s ‘The College Dropout’?
Helmed by Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, Act 2 of Kanye West’s Netflix documentary 'Jeen-Yuhs' called the ‘Purpose’ finally hit the streaming platform on Tuesday, February 22. It also marked its clash with Ye’s ‘Donda 2’ release date. While Act I saw Kanye working on his vision to get signed with Jay Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records, Act 2 of the docu-film sheds light on what purpose the rapper had in life after he got severely injured in a car crash in 2002.
Act 2 sees the award-winning rapper living his dream after he gets signed with Jay Z’s record label but it appears it was only the beginning of new troubles. The rap icon gets into a major car crash that makes him think about his debut album ‘The College Dropout’ as Jay Z’s record label fails to give any hint on the album release. Kanye West not only goes through the physical pain but also emotional turmoil as he gears up to release his dream project.
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Did Roc-A-Fella almost scrap Kanye West’s debut ‘The College Dropout’?
Coodie Simmons in the documentary reveals how Roc-A-Fella did put Kanye West’s debut project in the pipeline only to delay it later which, of course, no one was aware of. Kanye, who got signed to Jay’s record label in 2002, had started working on ‘The College Dropout’ but his October 2002 car crash led to the album delay before its official release in 2004.
Kanye was motivated more than ever and he got to recording his album. In the beginning of Act 2, we see the Chicago native jamming with Jay Z in the studio while rapping a verse for the hip-hop legend. Kanye, in the documentary reveals later how he thought about his album in the hospital for good seven days dropping a hint that the accident might have given a new purpose to him in life. Kanye, who joined hands with Jamie Foxx, Ludacris, Common, Talib Kweli, and Mos Def among others for this debut, eventually felt how his record label was not showing any interest in releasing his album.
At one point, we see Kanye meeting with Roc-A-Fella’s co-founders Dame Dash and Kareem Burke in a hotel room in December 2002. Ye with his clan drops a few hot verses for the duo but they seem less interested as Dame heads out of the room giving an excuse. Coodie then narrates how they realized ‘The College Dropout’ was no longer a priority for Roc-A-Fella. Coodie adds that the momentum on the album slowed down after Kanye West’s car crash.
The documentary also gives a slight hint on how the record label closed the budget for the album. Kanye, in the docu-film, later reveals how he had to shell out $33K out of his own pocket to film the music video of his debut single ‘Through the Wire’ that he had recorded with jaw wired shut after the accident. ‘The College Dropout’ did finally release in 2004 becoming one of the best albums of the year back then. The album earned Kanye West several accolades, including nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album at the 2005 Grammy Awards, ultimately winning for the latter.