Bio
In the span of a few years, from 2001 to 2004, Kanye West went from hip-hop beatmaker to worldwide hitmaker, as his stellar production work for Jay-Z earned him a major-label recording contract as a solo artist. Soon his beats were accompanied by his own witty raps on a number of critically and commercially successful releases. West’s flamboyant personality also made a mark. He showcased a dapper fashion sense that set him apart from most of his rap peers, and his confidence often came across as boastful or even egotistic, albeit amusingly. This flamboyance, of course, made for good press, something West enjoyed plenty of during his sudden rise to celebrity status. He was a media darling, appearing and performing at practically every major awards show (and winning at them, too), delivering theatrical videos to MTV that were events in themselves, and mouthing off about whatever happened to cross his mind. For instance, he frequently spoke out against the rampant homophobia evident in much rap music, posed for the cover of Rolling Stone as Jesus Christ, and even said during a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser on live television, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” West courted controversy, no question about it, but his steady presence in the celebrity limelight sometimes eclipsed his considerable musical talent. His production ability seemed boundless during his initial surge of activity, as he not only racked up impressive hits for himself like “Jesus Walks” and “Gold Digger,” but also graced such fellow rap stars as Jay-Z and Ludacris with productions that led to smash hits. In addition to these many accomplishments, it’s worth noting how West shattered certain stereotypes about rappers. Whether it was his appearance or his rhetoric, or even just his music, this young man became a superstar on his own terms, and his singularity no doubt is part of his appeal to a great many people, especially those who don’t generally consider themselves rap listeners.
For Kanye’s full bio, click here.
The Hype
Career Timeline
1996 - Drops out of Chicago State University to pursue musical career
2001 – Lands production on Jay-Z’s The Blueprint
2002 - Severely injured in car crash
2004 – releases his debut album, College Dropout
2005 – releases his sophomore album, Late Registration
2007 - Accepts album sales challenge from 50 Cent and wins
2008 - Arrested for vandalism at Los Angeles International Airport for allegedly damaging a paparazzo camera
2008 – releases his third album, the auto-tuned-focused 808’s and Heartbreak
Photo Galleries
More On Kanye West
Discography
• College Dropout
• Late Registration
• 808s and Heartbreak
Videography
Kanye West YouTube Channel
Lovers & Friends
IN: Jay-Z, Rihanna, Coldplay, Young Jeezy, Alicia Keys, Common, John Legend, Fonzworth Bentley
OUT: Paparazzi, George W. Bush
Giant Content
“Love Lockdown” Video Debuts
Supergroups That Wouldn’t Suck
“Heartless” Video Debuts
Kanye Wants To Be King
“Punch-Drunk Love” Leaks
Kanye Debuts His LV Kicks
Kanye Bugs Out at Concert
Celebrities in Plaid
Black Friday Album Sales
Kanye West Parties with A Tribe Called Next
Kanye West + Amber Rose = Love Child?
These Superheroes “Run This Town”
Last Night: Kanye “Shocks” the Audience
Career Highlights
• His debut album, College Dropout, sold over 400,000 copies in its first week
• record label with the acronym G.O.O.D which stands for “Getting Out Our Dreams”
• Sophomore album, Late Registration, moved over 860,000 units in its opening week, landing it at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a career first for the rapper.
• Most Nominated artist at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards with 10 nods and walks away with three.
• Criticized George Bush’s handling Hurricane Katrina stating “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” During the live televised Concert for Hurricane Relief.
Rumors
Kanye West at Flaunt Magazine event
Kanye West wants to move to London?
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