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All Falls Down

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This article is about the Kanye West song. For other uses, see All Falls Down (disambiguation).

"All Falls Down"
Single by Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson
from the album The College Dropout
B-side"Get 'Em High"
ReleasedFebruary 24, 2004 (2004-02-24)
Recorded2001–2003
Studio
GenreHip hop
Length3:43
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kanye West
Kanye West singles chronology
"Slow Jamz"
(2003) 		"All Falls Down"
(2004) 		"Overnight Celebrity"
(2004)
Syleena Johnson singles chronology
"Tonight I'm Gonna Let Go"
(2002) 		"All Falls Down"
(2004) 		"Hypnotic"
(2005)
Music video
"All Falls Down" on YouTube

"All Falls Down" is a song by American hip hop artist Kanye West. It was released as the third single from his debut album, The College Dropout. The song was written and produced by West and features singer Syleena Johnson. The hip hop song contains an interpolation of "Mystery of Iniquity" by Lauryn Hill from her live album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, therefore Hill is credited as a composer.

It was released in February 2004 and entered the UK Singles Chart at number ten and peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 on May 11, 2004, his first solo Top 10 hit in the USA. The song was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 47th Grammy Awards, Viewer's Choice at the 2004 BET Awards and received nominations for a total of four awards at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards. The original version of the single featuring Lauryn Hill's vocals sampled from "Mystery of Iniquity" on the chorus of the song, was featured in the Netflix documentary Jeen-Yuhs.[1]

Background

The song contains an interpolation of "Mystery of Iniquity" by Lauryn Hill from her live album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. West originally attempted to acquire legal clearance to sample the recording but due to various complications, the permission was withheld.[2] West then called upon Syleena 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. However, the earliest version of the song can be found on West's 2001 mixtape The Prerequisite, on which it was called "Dream Come True". Lyrically, "All Falls Down" examines the self-consciousness and insecurity within society, particularly the black community, and how these characteristics pertain to economic materialism.[4]

In a 2013 interview with The New York Times, West revealed Dead Prez's impact on the song;

"It wasn’t until I hung out with Dead Prez and understood how to make, you know, raps with a message sound cool that I was able to just write “All Falls Down” in 15 minutes.”[5]

Live performances

West performed the song live on Def Poetry Jam in 2004 as a poem titled "Self Conscious".[6] A performance of "All Falls Down" was included on West's 2006 live album Late Orchestration, which was recorded in 2005 at Abbey Road Studios in London.[7] It was performed live by West in 2015 as the closer to his headlining set at Glastonbury.[8]

The song was performed by West as part of a medley at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, as well on numerous television shows, including; Late Show with David Letterman, Total Request Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Later... with Jools Holland.

Music video

The music video for "All Falls Down" was directed by Chris Milk and shot at Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California.[9] It follows West as he accompanies his girlfriend, played by Stacey Dash, to the airport to catch her flight.[10] The video is shot in first-person perspective, displaying the journey from their car to the airport terminal through West's eyes.[11] The music video also features cameos by GLC, Consequence, Common, Kel Mitchell, and Syleena Johnson, who features on the song, as the lady who checks Dash in at the airport reception.[12][13] Complex named it the 18th best music video of the 2000s decade.[14]

Lyrical analysis

"All Falls Down" sample
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"All Falls Down" is placed as the fourth song of Kanye West's debut studio album, The College Dropout. The album is notable for containing complex societal issues, which West strives to advertently cover in ways relating to the Black American community. These thematic concepts, prevalent through the entirety of the album, are omnipresent within this specific song.[15]

West in "All Falls Down" decides to vulnerably share his own imperfections.[16] This shines through his divulge into chronic issues with personal insecurities, which he recognizes as a problem that relates to the greater population within society than just himself. Within the concept of insecurities, West makes the decision to specifically home in on the continuous, dividing matter of excessive materialism, or a desire for it, in an attempt to pertain to an affluent appearance. While focusing on this topic, he admits that although being subject to this affair, he knowingly understands the mindset contradictory to such a lifestyle pertaining to short-term, consumerist happiness. Yet, he still finds himself to be a participant in this way of life.[17][18]

West also ties this thematic idea to an even deeper, underlying meaning. The reason this lifestyle is adopted is in an attempt to recompense for everything the Black American community has taken from them in the past. But, in the process of making up for the prior oppression they had received, West scrutinizes their new subjugation, this excessive materialism, as a result. West ends with a claim that he recognizes his submission to such a lifestyle, but also knows that it is not just him that falls subject to such behavior.[17][18]

Hip hop journalist Davey D describes the song lyrically as "[describing] a number of Black pathologies including self-hate, drug abuse, and the worship of white wealth. [West] philosophically concludes that White men are the financial benefactors of all Black pathologies."[19]

Accolades

Spin named "All Falls Down" the third best song of 2004.[20]

Awards
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2004 BET Awards Viewer's Choice Nominated [21]
MOBO Awards Best Single Nominated [22]
Best Video Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best New Artist in a Video Nominated [23]
Breakthrough Video Nominated
Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated
Best Male Video Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards Best International Video - Artist Nominated [24]
Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Hip-Hop/Rap Track Nominated [25]
Vibe Awards Reelest Video Nominated [26]
2005 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Award Winning Rap Songs Won [27]
Award Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Won [28]
Grammy Awards Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Nominated [29]
Groovevolt Music and Fashion Awards Best Hip-Hop Song Performance - Solo Nominated [30]

Track listings

12" vinyl #1

A-Side

  1. "All Falls Down" (Clean)
  2. "All Falls Down" (Dirty)
  3. "All Falls Down" (A cappella)

B-Side

  1. "Get 'Em High" (Clean)
  2. "Get 'Em High" (Extended Dirty)
  3. "Get 'Em High" (A cappella)

12" vinyl #2

A-Side

  1. "All Falls Down" (Explicit)
  2. "All Falls Down" (Edited)

B-Side

  1. "Heavy Hitters" (Dirty)
  2. "Heavy Hitters" (A cappella)

CD single #1

  1. "All Falls Down" (Album Version Explicit)
  2. "Heavy Hitters" (Dirty)

CD single #2

  1. "All Falls Down"
  2. "Get 'Em High"
  3. "Heavy Hitters"
  4. "Through the Wire"

CD single #3

  1. "All Falls Down - Explicit"
  2. "All Falls Down" - Edited"
  3. "Heavy Hitters (Feat. GLC)"
  4. "Get 'Em High (Feat. Talib Kweli & Common)"
  5. "All Falls Down - Video"

Personnel

Information taken from The College Dropout liner notes.[31]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[32] 7
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[33] 18
Canada (Canadian Singles Chart)[34] 9
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[35] 71
Germany (GfK)[36] 72
Ireland (IRMA)[37] 23
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 85
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[39] 19
Russia (Tophit)[40] 243
UK Singles (OCC)[41] 10
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[42] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[43] 7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[44] 4
US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard)[45] 2
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[46] 22

Year-end charts

Chart (2004) Position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[47] 158
US Billboard Hot 100[48] 47
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[49] 23

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[51] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States March 8, 2004 (2004-03-08) Rhythmic contemporary · urban contemporary radio Roc-A-Fella, IDJMG [52]
April 26, 2004 (2004-04-26) Contemporary hit radio [53]

References

  1. ^ "Kanye West Plays Lauryn Hill's 'All Falls Down' In Netflix 'Jeen-Yuhs' Documentary". Urban Islandz. February 17, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Reid, Shaheem (February 9, 2005). "Road To The Grammys: The Making Of Kanye West's College Dropout". MTV. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  3. ^ Hall, Rashaun (January 21, 2005). "Kanye West Collaborating With Lauryn Hill On New LP". MTV. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  4. ^ Heaton, Dave (March 5, 2004). "Kanye West The College Dropout – PopMatters Music Review". PopMatters. PopMatters Media, Inc.
  5. ^ J. Pablo (June 16, 2013). "Dead Prez React to Kanye's New York Times Comments About Them". Village Voice. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Anderson, Kyle (September 11, 2011). "Kanye West shows early charisma, stand-up skills on 'Def Poetry Jam' in 2004: Watch it here!". EW.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  7. ^ "Kanye West at Abbey Road for Radio 1". BBC. MMIX. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  8. ^ Halliday, Josh (June 28, 2015). "I disrupted Kanye West's Glastonbury set for Taylor Swift, says Lee Nelson | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  9. ^ Reid, Shaheem (August 25, 2005). "Kanye Puts It All On The Line — For A Video: VMAs Behind The Camera". MTV. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  10. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (January 21, 2016). "Tyrann Mathieu references Kanye video to explain Stacey Dash comments". theScore.com. theScore Inc. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  11. ^ Zadeh, Joe (July 7, 2014). "Just One Song: 'All Falls Down' | Features". Clash Magazine. Clash Music. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  12. ^ Schiller, Rebecca (June 6, 2018). "Kanye West's Music Video Evolution: Every Ye Video From 2003 to Today". theScore.com. Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  13. ^ "How Kel Mitchell Snagged A Cameo In Kanye West's 'All Falls Down' Video". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "The Best Music Videos of the 2000s". Complex. October 25, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  15. ^ Hall, Rashaun (March 20, 2004). Paoletta, Michael (ed.). "All Falls Down". Billboard. p. 54.
  16. ^ Touré (April 29, 2004). "Kanye West: Head of the Class". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Duncan, Andrew (2018). "Ego Pluribus Unum". Irish Journal of American Studies (7): 34–46. ISSN 2009-2377. JSTOR 26489191.
  18. ^ a b Ciccariello-Maher, George (2009). "A Critique of Du Boisian Reason: Kanye West and the Fruitfulness of Double-Consciousness". Journal of Black Studies. 39 (3): 371–401. doi:10.1177/0021934706297569. ISSN 0021-9347. S2CID 144013766.
  19. ^ D, Davey (September 17, 2015). "Foreword". In Bailey, Julius (ed.). The Cultural Impact of Kanye West. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. xi–xvi. ISBN 978-1-137-59125-8.
  20. ^ "Spin Lists - End Of Year". Rock List Music. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  21. ^ "2004 BET Award Nominees". Canarsie Courier. May 20, 2004. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  22. ^ "Kanye West dominates Mobo list". BBC. August 24, 2004. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  23. ^ "MTV VMAs 2004 Nominees". MTV. July 27, 2004. Archived from the original on August 19, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  24. ^ "2004 Much Music Video Award Nominees". May 28, 2004. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  25. ^ "2004 Teen Choice Awards Winners". Billboard. August 9, 2004. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  26. ^ "Vibe Awards 2004". HipHop Galaxy. November 16, 2004. Archived from the original on November 3, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  27. ^ "2005 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards: Rap Songs". ASCAP. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  28. ^ "2005 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". ASCAP. June 16, 2005. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  29. ^ "Grammys - Artist - Kanye West". Grammy. Archived from the original on December 8, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  30. ^ "05 GV Music & Fashion Awards Winners: Hip Hop". Groovevolt. March 1, 2005. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  31. ^ The College Dropout (Media notes). Kanye West. Roc-A-Fella Records. 2004. 986 173-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ^ "KanYe West feat. Syleena Johnson – All Falls Down" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  33. ^ "KanYe West feat. Syleena Johnson – All Falls Down" (in French). Ultratip.
  34. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Singles Chart)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  35. ^ "Europe Official Top 100 - 3 July 2004". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  36. ^ "KanYe West feat. Syleena Johnson – Through the Wire" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  37. ^ "Discography Kanye West". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  38. ^ "KanYe West feat. Syleena Johnson – All Falls Down" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  39. ^ "KanYe West feat. Syleena Johnson – All Falls Down". Top 40 Singles.
  40. ^ "Kanye West – All Falls Down" (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  41. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  42. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  43. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  44. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  45. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Rap Tracks)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  46. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  47. ^ "UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved January 30, 2019. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  48. ^ "Billboard Year End 2004". bobborst. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  49. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  50. ^ "British single certifications – Kanye West – All Falls Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  51. ^ "American single certifications – Kanye West – All Falls Down". Recording Industry Association of America.
  52. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1545. March 5, 2004. p. 27. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  53. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1552. April 23, 2004. p. 24. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
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