Kanye West In 2003 Pre-'College Dropout' Interview: "People At Def Jam Are Really Liking It"

This was before The College Dropout began blowing minds, and really before many people outside of hard-core hip-hop fans knew his name. West had already scored some hits as a producer for Jay-Z, but he had zero credibility when it came to rhymes.

Still, that didn't stop him from exuding confidence.

"It's called College Dropout, and it's supposed to come out this summer," he said of his debut. "It's been moved up because people at Def Jam are really liking it. I don't want no hip-hoppers to miss out on it. Not doin' s--- that is supposed to be for the culture is what I do for the culture. Anything you try and say, I'm gonna flip and get sarcastic. If I was on Rawkus, I would say I'm a gangsta rapper. If I was on Roc-A-Fella, I would say I'm a backpacker. But I'm all of them. I'm not even one person."

West, who admitted in the same interview that he didn't buy drum beats because he needed to spend money on clothes, also said he had an epiphany after a nearly fatal car crash (you know, the one that spawned "Through the Wire").

"Yeah, if I had died that would have been real hectic," he said. "One conclusion I came to from everything while I was sittin' there [in the hospital] seeing rappers and how they look on TV is that I am gonna be the best-dressed rapper."

Consider that goal accomplished, Mr. Don of the Louis Vuitton.

Just for kicks, we decided to dig up an old 'Ye video interview from the same time period. Check it out below:

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Kanye West