| "All Falls Down" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson | ||||
| from the album The College Dropout | ||||
| B-side | "Get 'Em High" | |||
| Released | February 24, 2004 | |||
| Format | CD, 12" vinyl | |||
| Recorded | Sony Music Studios (New York City) Larrabee Sound North (Los Angeles, California) |
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| Genre | Hip hop, soul | |||
| Length | 3:43 | |||
| Label | Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam | |||
| Writer(s) | Kanye West, Lauryn Hill | |||
| Producer | Kanye West | |||
| Certification | Gold (RIAA) | |||
| Kanye West singles chronology | ||||
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"All Falls Down" is a song by American hip hop artist Kanye West. It was released as the second single from his debut album, The College Dropout. The song was produced by West and features singer Syleena Johnson. It was released in February 2004 and entered the UK Singles Chart at number ten and peaked at number seven on the US Hot 100 on May 11, 2004, the first Top 10 in USA. The song was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 47th Grammy Awards.[1]
Contents |
The song features an interpolation of Lauryn Hill's "Mystery of Iniquity." Kanye originally attempted to acquire legal clearance to sample the recording but due to various complications, the permission was withheld.[2] West then called upon Johnson to re-sing the relevant vocal portions of "Mystery of Iniquity" which ended up in the final track.[3] The version of the song with the original sample can be heard on West's Freshman Adjustment mixtape. Lyrically, "All Falls Down" examines the self-consciousness and insecurity within society, particularly the black community, and how these characteristics pertain to materialism.[4]
The music video for "All Falls Down" was directed by Chris Milk and shot at LA/Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California.[5] It follows Kanye as he accompanies his girlfriend, played by Stacey Dash, to the airport to catch her flight. The music video is shot in first-person perspective, displaying the journey from their car to the airport terminal through West's eyes. The video also features cameos by Common, Kel Mitchell, and Syleena Johnson who act as a gate agent, passenger, and ticket counter, respectively. In addition, rappers GLC and Consequence can also be seen as Dash is running through the airport in slow motion.
A-Side
B-Side
A-Side
B-Side
Information taken from The College Dropout liner notes.[6]
| Chart (2004)[7][8] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[9] | 7 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[10] | 18 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 9 |
| Europe Official Top 100[11] | 71 |
| German Singles Chart | 72 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 23 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 19 |
| Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[12] | 85 |
| UK Singles Chart | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop Songs | 22 |
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