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Kanye West

Kanye West

ALL ARTIST INFO IS PULLED FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA.
IF YOU REPRESENT THIS ARTIST AND WOULD LIKE TO VERIFY YOUR PAGE OR UPDATE THE INFO, Click Here
birthday
8th
June, 1977
Birth Place
Georgia, U.S.
Birth Sign
gemini
Biography

Kanye Omari West, born June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the biggest names in hip-hop. Since his 2004 debut, The College Dropout, West has been a constant presence in the music business, and he’s had a heavy hand in the sound of popular music throughout the 21st century. In addition to his musical endeavors, he’s a well-known fashion designer and businessman whose work has debuted at New York Fashion Week. 

Kanye is also well known for his relationship with Kim Kardashian, with whom he has four children, although the couple got a divorce in early 2021. He’s also notorious for a scandal involving Taylor Swift, in which he interrupted her acceptance speech for Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), stating that Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” video deserved to win. Beyond his behavior in public, he’s been controversial for his tweets and social media posts and his relationship with Donald Trump. 

He’s been labeled one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME 10 years in a row, and he’s landed six studio albums on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time List. Beyond his own music, he’s worked on songs for Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, and more. 

Let’s explore the wild life and wildly influential music of Kanye West.

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instruments played
drum
keyboards
machine
sampler
Vocals
Associated Acts

Child Rebel Soldier Kids See Ghosts Sunday Service Choir Big Sean Common Consequence Jay-Z John Legend Mike Dean No I.D. Pusha T Rihanna Ty Dolla Sign

Children

4

Education

Chicago State University

Genres

Hip hop pop experimental

Occupation

Rapper singer songwriter record producer businessman fashion designer politician

Organization

DONDA

Origin

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Other Names

Yeezy Ye Saint Pablo The Louis Vuitton Don Yeezus

Political Party

Independent Birthday Party

Relatives

Tony Williams (cousin)

Spouses

Kim Kardashian (m. 2014; sep. 2021)

Website

kanyewest.com

Years Active

1996 present

Name

Kanye West

Nationality

United States of America

Wiki Link

Kanye’s Early Life 

Kanye first started writing poetry – a precursor to his later love for rap – when he was just five years old. He also loved to draw, and by the third grade, his life was consumed by the arts. As a teenager, he begged his mom to let him record in a ragtag home studio in Chicago. After connecting with No I.D, a Chicago-based producer and DJ, Kanye gained more insight into production and beat making. He got his first sampler at 15 years old, which he used to make beats and form his own unique sonic style. 

Kanye, The College Dropout 

Kanye went to the American Academy of Art on a scholarship in 1997, where he studied painting. He ended up transferring to Chicago State University and switching his major to English. However, as the name of his first album suggests, Kanye wasn’t in college for long. West’s mom was a professor at Chicago State, and she was very unhappy about his decision to drop out of school.  However, his mother eventually changed her opinion on his decision, saying, "It was drummed into my head that college is the ticket to a good life ... but some career goals don't require college. For Kanye to make an album called College Dropout it was more about having the guts to embrace who you are, rather than following the path society has carved out for you."

Kanye’s First Records 

After working as a producer throughout the late 90s, Kanye released his first album, The College Dropout, on February 10, 2004. Completely self-produced and released via Roc-A-Fella and major label Def Jam Records, the album made it to No. 2 on the US Album charts, instantly cementing Kanye in rap history. It took home the Best Rap Album award at the Grammys.  The record’s single “Jesus Walks” is still one of Kanye’s best-loved songs to this date, and the track, along with many others on the album, earned rave reviews from critics. It also won Best Rap Song at the Grammy Awards.

Late Registration 

A year after the release of The College Dropout, Kanye put out Late Registration, his second full-length LP. The album release features “Gold Digger,” a collaboration with singer and actor Jamie Foxx. This single became a massive hit, selling over 80,000 digital copies in just a week. The song has been certified 8x Platinum in the United States.

Graduation 

Kanye’s third album, Graduation, came two years later on September 11, 2007. Featuring guest verses from the likes of Mos Def, T-Pain, and even Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the album was a massive success. “Stronger,” one of the biggest hits from Graduation, features samples from the Daft Punk song “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” and it was certified 9x Platinum in the US.

From 808s to Yeezus 

On November 24, 2008, Kanye released 808s & Heartbreak, a self-produced album that prominently features the titular drum machine, the Roland TR-808, and plenty of auto-tune. The minimal instrumentation on the album earned praise from critics and made it clear that Kanye was still a master beatmaker.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 

After 808s came what is still considered by many to be Kanye’s magnum opus: 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. A sprawling masterpiece that features the likes of Bon Iver, Elton John, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, John Legend, and many more, the record became a smash hit. It contains hits like “Monster” and “Power.”  Countless outlets named it “the best album of 2010,” and it reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. However, it was not nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards, which many still view as a travesty. 

Watch the Throne 

In August of 2011, Kanye collaborated with notable rapper and producer Jay-Z on Watch the Throne, an innovative record that yielded multiple hit singles. Their tour began in October 2011 and continued through June 2021.

Yeezus 

Kanye’s next album was Yeezus, an intense, abrasive concept record that tells the story of his transition from egotistical narcissist to self-reflective and empowered. Featuring the single “Black Skinhead,” the album is especially memorable thanks to production assistance from Daft Punk.

From Pablo to Donda

After the release of Yeezus, Kanye waited three years to drop The Life of Pablo, another concept album that earned praise from critics. After Pablo came Ye, a record responding to the controversy surrounding Kanye’s high-profile TMZ interview. Following Kids See Ghosts, Kanye’s 2019 collaboration with Kid Cudi, Kanye pivoted significantly, introducing more gospel elements into his music. He claims to be a born-again Christian, releasing two faith-themed albums in a row: Jesus is King and, most recently, Donda.

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