It seems like just yesterday when I first heard College Dropout, while I was in Varsity. Before then I sort of dabbled in hip hop as a seedling. I only really started growing when I heard that album.
EW just named it album of the year and I agree 100%. This is how Kanye feels about it.
The first song I'd ever heard (off the album) was Through the wire and I was hooked.
No lie, I love Chaka Khan's 'Through the fire', so that sample may have had something to do with it :)