The College Kicked-Out
Encyclopedia
The College Kicked-Out is the debut album from American
rapper/producer
Danny!
(see 2004 in music
). Originally slated for an October 12 release date, The College Kicked-Out finally saw the light of day on November 2 after being delayed by bootlegging
.
to the events leading up to Danny!'s expulsion from Claflin; rather, The College Kicked-Out is, at face value
, a formula
ic hip-hop record (Danny! slyly references such a formula at the beginning of "Second Time Around", proclaiming it his "obligatory [club] track") with much of its content being self-referential. The songs that do allude to the grade-changing controversy find Danny! openly apologizing to his loved ones for letting them down. The album showcased sole production from Danny!, establishing him as a notable producer from South Carolina
; The College Kicked-Out was also significant for not featuring any guest appearances, making Danny!'s debut record a completely solo effort.
Both the album's cover art
and title are a tongue-in-cheek reference to the 2003 grade-altering controversy at Claflin University
that resulted in Danny! being accused of not only orchestrating the entire operation, but of accumulating a substantial amount of money
from tampering with the institution's academic records; Danny! was subsequently expelled. The College Kicked-Out was just twelve days shy of being released an approximate year after Danny!'s expulsion from the university.
The album was the first record of many to come to be released under the 1911 Music/Badenov Records imprint
which, according to Danny!, is a record label in name only. The "1911" is a reference to the year Kappa Alpha Psi
, a fraternity he joined at Claflin, was founded and "Badenov" is obviously homage paid to Boris Badenov
, an antagonist
from Jay Ward
's Rocky & Bullwinkle series of which Danny! is an avid fan.
. In their defense, these critics have named both the blatantly derivative title as well as a similar aesthetic shared by the two artists (former college-student-turned-rapper/producer that samples soul records heavily) as examples of Danny!'s mimicking. Danny!, however, would later achieve major success as a producer and rapper in his own right, eventually escaping the unfair accusations with each subsequent release.
Ultimately The College Kicked-Out was seen as a breath of fresh air by listeners who were growing weary of the minimalistic hip-hop songs that were beginning to gain prominence around the time the record was released. Many also applauded Danny! for his production efforts and even compared him to West in a positive light (not all comparisons to Kanye West were derogatory, much like Nas
being compared to Rakim
during the recording of his debut album Illmatic
, or fellow producer/rapper Black Milk
's frequent comparisons to the late J Dilla
upon the release of his own debut Popular Demand
). Retrospectively, music critics have gone on to say that though The College Kicked-Out is neither a masterpiece
nor Danny!'s definitive album, it is a "pretty solid debut" overall.
The album not only helped establish Danny!'s freewheeling and emotional persona
(a sharp contrast from the cynical and extremely sarcastic characteristics he would reveal on subsequent albums), but also helped reiterate the ethic
of DIY used by many emerging underground hip-hop artists at the time, such as Little Brother, Lupe Fiasco
and Tanya Morgan
, who too would see moderate popularity on the Internet
translate into a recording contract with major or independent record labels.
and the original copies—complete with liner notes
that featured both sample
information and phony album credits (for example, sample clearance services are credited to a Hugh Jazfynes, a pun
on hip-hop artists having to pay "huge-ass fines" should they get sued for failure to clear samples) -- are very rare and are now considered collector's items. The College Kicked-Out has since been pirated
in the wake of Danny!'s recent success—namely, his signing to Definitive Jux
and later Interscope Records
-- making legitimate copies that much more difficult to authenticate.
Following the mostly-negative reaction to The College Kicked-Out at the time, Danny! recorded a bonus song, "Clap Back", and added the track to the second and final pressing of the album in December 2004. "Clap Back" is the only song on either edition of The College Kicked-Out to directly address the grade-changing incident at his former alma mater
and is considered the "bridge", in terms of artistic direction, between Danny!'s debut album and its follow-up, the darker and more scathing F.O.O.D.
Versions of The College Kicked-Out with "Clap Back" included are extremely rare.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper/producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Danny!
Danny!
Danny!, also known as D. Swain , is an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina, a former student of the Savannah College of Art & Design and, previously, a recording artist for Definitive Jux Records. L.A. Weekly has called Danny! "the best new artist that Def Jux...
(see 2004 in music
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
). Originally slated for an October 12 release date, The College Kicked-Out finally saw the light of day on November 2 after being delayed by bootlegging
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
.
Overview
Contrary to the title, the album never actually gives any insightInsight
Insight is the understanding of a specific cause and effect in a specific context. Insight can be used with several related meanings:*a piece of information...
to the events leading up to Danny!'s expulsion from Claflin; rather, The College Kicked-Out is, at face value
Face value
The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...
, a formula
Formula
In mathematics, a formula is an entity constructed using the symbols and formation rules of a given logical language....
ic hip-hop record (Danny! slyly references such a formula at the beginning of "Second Time Around", proclaiming it his "obligatory [club] track") with much of its content being self-referential. The songs that do allude to the grade-changing controversy find Danny! openly apologizing to his loved ones for letting them down. The album showcased sole production from Danny!, establishing him as a notable producer from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
; The College Kicked-Out was also significant for not featuring any guest appearances, making Danny!'s debut record a completely solo effort.
Both the album's cover art
Cover art
Cover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
and title are a tongue-in-cheek reference to the 2003 grade-altering controversy at Claflin University
Claflin University
Claflin University is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. Claflin University was founded in 1869 and is the oldest historically black college or university in the state of South Carolina.-History:...
that resulted in Danny! being accused of not only orchestrating the entire operation, but of accumulating a substantial amount of money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
from tampering with the institution's academic records; Danny! was subsequently expelled. The College Kicked-Out was just twelve days shy of being released an approximate year after Danny!'s expulsion from the university.
The album was the first record of many to come to be released under the 1911 Music/Badenov Records imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
which, according to Danny!, is a record label in name only. The "1911" is a reference to the year Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
, a fraternity he joined at Claflin, was founded and "Badenov" is obviously homage paid to Boris Badenov
Boris Badenov
Boris Badenov is a fictional character in the 1960s animated cartoons Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle for short. He is voiced by Paul Frees....
, an antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
from Jay Ward
Jay Ward
J Troplong "Jay" Ward was an American creator and producer of animated television cartoons. He produced animated series based on such characters as Crusader Rabbit, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right, Peabody and Sherman, Hoppity Hooper, George of the Jungle, Tom Slick, and Super Chicken...
's Rocky & Bullwinkle series of which Danny! is an avid fan.
Reception
The College Kicked-Out was initially met with mixed reviews. Listeners becoming familiar with Danny! for the first time believed he was trying to emulate a style and sound that had already been established by Kanye WestKanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
. In their defense, these critics have named both the blatantly derivative title as well as a similar aesthetic shared by the two artists (former college-student-turned-rapper/producer that samples soul records heavily) as examples of Danny!'s mimicking. Danny!, however, would later achieve major success as a producer and rapper in his own right, eventually escaping the unfair accusations with each subsequent release.
Ultimately The College Kicked-Out was seen as a breath of fresh air by listeners who were growing weary of the minimalistic hip-hop songs that were beginning to gain prominence around the time the record was released. Many also applauded Danny! for his production efforts and even compared him to West in a positive light (not all comparisons to Kanye West were derogatory, much like Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
being compared to Rakim
Rakim
William Michael Griffin Jr. , known by his stage names Rakim , Rakim Allah, R.A.K.I.M., and The Master, is an American rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled emcees of all time. Eric B...
during the recording of his debut album Illmatic
Illmatic
Illmatic is the debut album of American rapper Nas, released April 19, 1994, on Columbia Records. Following his signing to Columbia with the help of MC Serch, recording sessions for the album took place during 1992 to 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording...
, or fellow producer/rapper Black Milk
Black Milk
Curtis Cross, better known as Black Milk, is a hip hop producer and MC from Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:In 2004, he formed B.R. Gunna, with Young RJ, and Fat Ray, and together they released Dirty District: Vol. 2, a follow up to a compilation released in 2001 by Slum Village, which he had...
's frequent comparisons to the late J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
upon the release of his own debut Popular Demand
Popular Demand
Popular Demand is the second solo album by Black Milk, a rapper and hip hop producer from Detroit, Michigan. It was released on March 13, 2007, which may be a reference to Detroit's area code, 313...
). Retrospectively, music critics have gone on to say that though The College Kicked-Out is neither a masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
nor Danny!'s definitive album, it is a "pretty solid debut" overall.
The album not only helped establish Danny!'s freewheeling and emotional persona
Persona
A persona, in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον...
(a sharp contrast from the cynical and extremely sarcastic characteristics he would reveal on subsequent albums), but also helped reiterate the ethic
DIY ethic
The DIY ethic refers to the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are more experienced or able complete them for one's behalf. It promotes the idea that an ordinary person can learn to do more than he or she thought was possible...
of DIY used by many emerging underground hip-hop artists at the time, such as Little Brother, Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
and Tanya Morgan
Tanya Morgan
Tanya Morgan is an American hip hop group from which consists of MCs Donwill and Ilyas, and MC/producer Von Pea. Both Donwill and Ilyas are from Cincinnati, Ohio, while Von Pea is from Brooklyn, New York. Their debut album, Moonlighting, was acclaimed upon its release in 2006 .-History:Tanya Morgan...
, who too would see moderate popularity on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
translate into a recording contract with major or independent record labels.
Availability
Due to the lack of a sufficient budget, only a few hundred copies of The College Kicked-Out were initially pressed up. The record was available only on compact discCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and the original copies—complete with liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
that featured both sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
information and phony album credits (for example, sample clearance services are credited to a Hugh Jazfynes, a pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
on hip-hop artists having to pay "huge-ass fines" should they get sued for failure to clear samples) -- are very rare and are now considered collector's items. The College Kicked-Out has since been pirated
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
in the wake of Danny!'s recent success—namely, his signing to Definitive Jux
Definitive Jux
Definitive Jux is an independent record label based in New York City, United States. It was co-founded in 1999 by Jaime Meline and Amaechi Uzoigwe. The label was initially known simply as Def Jux, but in 2001, popular hip hop label Def Jam Recordings sued Def Jux over the name similarity...
and later Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
-- making legitimate copies that much more difficult to authenticate.
Following the mostly-negative reaction to The College Kicked-Out at the time, Danny! recorded a bonus song, "Clap Back", and added the track to the second and final pressing of the album in December 2004. "Clap Back" is the only song on either edition of The College Kicked-Out to directly address the grade-changing incident at his former alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
and is considered the "bridge", in terms of artistic direction, between Danny!'s debut album and its follow-up, the darker and more scathing F.O.O.D.
F.O.O.D.
F.O.O.D., released under Danny!'s 1911 Music/Badenov Records imprint in 2005 , is the second full-length studio album from the American rapper/producer...
Versions of The College Kicked-Out with "Clap Back" included are extremely rare.
Track listing
Credits
- Danny!Danny!Danny!, also known as D. Swain , is an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina, a former student of the Savannah College of Art & Design and, previously, a recording artist for Definitive Jux Records. L.A. Weekly has called Danny! "the best new artist that Def Jux...
- Executive Producer, Producer, Composer, Featured Vocals - Steve Slavich - Engineer
External links
- "The College Kicked-Out" audio snippets courtesy of AOL Music
- "The College Kicked-Out" lyrics courtesy of the Original Hip-Hop Lyrics Archive (OHHLA.com)