"All Falls Down"
Single byKanye West featuringSyleena Johnson
from the albumThe College Dropout
B-side	"Get 'Em High"
Released	March 8, 2004 (2004-03-08)
Studio	Sony Music Studios, New York City, New York Larrabee Sound North, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Hip-hop[1] conscious hip-hop
Length	3:43
Label	Roc-A-Fella Def Jam
Songwriters	Kanye West Lauryn Hill
Producer	Kanye West
Kanye West singles chronology
"Slow Jamz" (2003) "All Falls Down" (2004) "Selfish" (2004)
Syleena Johnson singles chronology
"Tonight I'm Gonna Let Go" (2002) "All Falls Down" (2004) "Hypnotic" (2005)
Music video
"All Falls Down" onYouTube

"All Falls Down" is a song by American rapperKanye West. It was released as the third single from his debut studio album,The College Dropout (2004). The song was written and produced by West and features AmericanR&B andsoul singerSyleena Johnson. The song is ahip-hop andconscious hip-hop track, and contains aninterpolation of "Mystery of Iniquity" byLauryn Hill from her live albumMTV Unplugged No. 2.0; Hill is credited as a composer. The song was recorded inSony Music Studios inNew York City,New York and Larrabee Sound North inLos Angeles,California.

Released on the 8th of March, 2004, almost a month after the release ofThe College Dropout, the "All Falls Down" single (backed with fellow album track "Get 'Em High") entered theUK Singles Chart at number ten and peaked at number seven on theUSBillboard Hot 100 on the 11th of May, his first solo Top 10 hit in the US. The song would also chart in the top 10 on six other charts, the song's highest position being a peak at number 2 on theUS Hot Rap Tracks chart, just behind "Tipsy" by fellow American rapperJ-Kwon.

The song was nominated forBest Rap/Sung Collaboration at the47th Grammy Awards,Viewer's Choice at the2004 BET Awards and received nominations for a total of four awards at the2004 MTV Video Music Awards, the latter award show featuring a performance of the song, although it did not win in these categories, losing three of them to "Yeah!" byUsher. The original version of the song, featuring Lauryn Hill's vocals sampled from "Mystery of Iniquity" on the chorus, was featured in theNetflix documentaryJeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy.^[2] West would later collaborate with Johnson onCam'ron's "Down and Out" and West's own "Donda Chant".

The song contains aninterpolation of "Mystery of Iniquity" by American rapperLauryn Hill from her live albumMTV Unplugged No. 2.0. West originally attempted to acquire legal clearance to sample the recording but due to various complications, the permission was withheld.^[3] West then called uponSyleena Johnson to re-sing the relevant vocal portions of "Mystery of Iniquity" which ended up in the final track.^[4] The version of the song with the original sample can be heard on the unofficialFreshman Adjustment mixtape, released beforeTheCollegeDropout. However, the earliest version of the song can be found on West's 2001 mixtapeThe 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 toeconomic materialism.^[5]

In a 2013 interview withTheNewYorkTimes, West revealed American hip-hop duoDead 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."^[6]

"All Falls Down" sample

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"All Falls Down" is placed as the fourth song ofKanye West's debut studio album,The College Dropout. The album's lyrical content 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.^[7]

"All Falls Down" features West reflecting upon his own imperfections.^[8] The lyrics chronicle his insecurities surrounding his appearances, which he translates as an extension of problems shared with the broader population. Exploring the concept of insecurity and doubt, West tackles matters of excessivematerialism and the surface-level aesthetics of affluence. West confesses to his own participation in materialistic pursuits, and the seemingly contradictory mindset thereof.^[9][10]

West also ties this thematic idea to an even deeper meaning. The reason this lifestyle is adopted is in an attempt to recompense for what the Black American community might have taken from people in their past. However, West scrutinizes this apparent subjugation and excessive materialism, ending with a claim that he recognizes his and others collective submission to such a lifestyle.^[9][10] Hip hop journalist Davey D wrote about the lyrics in his 2015 book,The Cultural Impact of Kanye West: "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."^[11]

Themusic video for "All Falls Down" was directed byChris Milk and shot atOntario International Airport inOntario, California.^[12] It follows West as he accompanies his girlfriend, played byStacey Dash, to the airport to catch her flight.^[13] The video is shot in first-person perspective, displaying the journey from their car to the airport terminal through West's eyes.^[14] The music video also features cameos byGLC,Consequence,Common,Kel Mitchell, and Syleena Johnson, who features on the song, as the lady who checks Dash in at the airport reception.^[15][16]Complex named it the 18th best music video of the 2000s decade.^[17]

The music video onYouTube has received over 80 million views as of August 2024.^[18]

West performed portions of the song live onDef Poetry Jam in 2003 as a poem titled "Self Conscious".^[19] A performance of "All Falls Down" was included on West's 2006live albumLate Orchestration, which was recorded in 2005 atAbbey Road Studios inLondon.^[20] It was performed live by West in 2015 as the closer to his headlining set atGlastonbury.^[21]

The song was performed by West as part of a medley at the2004 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, andLater... with Jools Holland.

Spin named "All Falls Down" the third best song of 2004.^[22]

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)

A-Side

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

B-Side

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

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

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

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"

Information taken fromThe College Dropout liner notes.^[33]

• 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

• "All Falls Down" Lyrics atMTV (archived from 2009)

• 2004 songs
• 2004 singles
• Kanye West songs
• Syleena Johnson songs
• Music videos directed by Chris Milk
• Song recordings produced by Kanye West
• Songs written by Kanye West
• Songs written by Lauryn Hill
• Roc-A-Fella Records singles
• Def Jam Recordings singles
• Songs about consumerism

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