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All Falls Down

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B-side
  
"Get 'Em High"

Format
  
CD, 12" vinyl

Length
  
3:43

Released
  
February 24, 2004

Genre
  
Hip hop, soul

Recorded
  
2003 Sony Music Studios (New York City) Larrabee Sound North (Los Angeles, California)

"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 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 Billboard Hot 100 on May 11, 2004, his first Top 10 in the USA. The song was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 47th Grammy Awards.

Contents

Background

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. West then called upon Syleena Johnson to re-sing the relevant vocal portions of "Mystery of Iniquity" which ended up in the final track. 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 economic materialism.

Music video

The music video for "All Falls Down" was directed by Chris Milk and shot at Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California. 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 Syleena Johnson, Common, and Kel Mitchell, who act as a ticket counter, gate agent, and valet, respectively. In addition, rappers GLC and Consequence can also be seen as Kanye is running through the airport in slow motion.

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.

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Lauryn Hill
  • Producer: Kanye West
  • Record engineer: Tatsuya Sato, Rabeka Tunei
  • Mix engineer: Manny Marroquin
  • Guitar: Eric "E-Bass" Johnson
  • Acoustic guitar: Ken Lewis

    • References

    All Falls Down Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA