Kanye West

Kanye West

Kanye Omari West, known professionally as Ye, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised in Chicago after his parents' divorce, West demonstrated early artistic talent, beginning to write poetry at age five and rapping by third grade. He pursued formal education at the American Academy of Art and Chicago State University before dropping out at age 20 to pursue music, a decision that would ultimately reshape hip-hop and popular culture.

West's career began in the mid-1990s as a producer for Chicago-based artists before joining Roc-A-Fella Records as an in-house producer. He gained prominence for his work on Jay-Z's seminal 2001 album The Blueprint, establishing himself as an innovative producer. His 2004 debut album The College Dropout became a critical and commercial triumph, featuring the number-one single "Slow Jamz" and earning Grammy recognition. The album's success marked the beginning of an unprecedented run of influential releases.

Throughout his career, West has redefined hip-hop through constant stylistic evolution and genre-blending innovation. His subsequent albums—Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), and Yeezus (2013)—are recognized among the greatest hip-hop works ever created, all appearing on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest albums. He has won 24 Grammy Awards and achieved 11 consecutive number-one albums, cementing his status as one of the best-selling artists with 160 million records sold.

Beyond music, West has significantly impacted fashion through his Yeezy brand collaboration with Adidas, architecture through Yeezy Home, and media through his GOOD Music label. His work has earned him recognition as one of the 100 most influential people globally by Time magazine in 2005 and 2015. However, West's career has also been marked by controversy, including public incidents at awards shows and, since 2022, widespread condemnation for antisemitic statements, which resulted in lost sponsorships and partnerships.