Kanye Omari West, also known as Ye, was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 8, 1977. After his parents divorced when he was three, he moved to Chicago with his mother, Donda West, an English professor. His father, Ray West, was a former Black Panther and one of the first Black photojournalists at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. West began writing poetry at age five and started rapping in the third grade. At 20, he dropped out of Chicago State University to pursue his music career.
Music Career
West began his career as a producer for local artists in Chicago in the mid-1990s. His big break came in the early 2000s after moving to the New York City area, where he became an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records. He was instrumental in the sound of Jay-Z's influential 2001 album, "The Blueprint". Despite his success as a producer, West's primary goal was to be a rapper. After a serious car accident in 2002 that left him with a shattered jaw, he recorded his debut single, "Through the Wire," with his jaw still wired shut.
Studio Albums
West's debut album, "The College Dropout," was released in 2004 to widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. It was followed by a string of successful albums that showcased his evolving musical style, from the orchestral arrangements of "Late Registration" (2005) to the electronic sounds of "808s & Heartbreak" (2008). His 2010 album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," is often regarded as his magnum opus. Subsequent releases include "Yeezus" (2013), "The Life of Pablo" (2016), "Ye" (2018), the gospel-inspired "Jesus Is King" (2019), and "Donda" (2021). He has also released collaborative albums, including "Watch the Throne" (2011) with Jay-Z and "Kids See Ghosts" (2018) with Kid Cudi.
Throughout his career, West has won numerous awards, including 24 Grammy Awards.
Fashion and Business Ventures
West's influence extends to the fashion industry. In 2009, he collaborated with Nike on the Air Yeezys sneaker line, the first for a non-athlete. He also launched a shoe line with Louis Vuitton that same year. His most significant fashion endeavor is the Yeezy brand, which he started in partnership with Adidas in 2013. The collaboration included sneakers and apparel and became highly successful, though Adidas terminated the partnership in 2022 due to West's controversial remarks. He also had a short-lived partnership with Gap for a "Yeezy Gap" line. In 2012, he established the creative content company DONDA, named after his late mother.
Personal Life and Controversies
In October 2021, Kanye West officially changed his name to Ye. He was married to television personality Kim Kardashian from 2014 to 2022, and they have four children together. His career has been marked by numerous public controversies, including his interruption of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and a series of antisemitic comments in late 2022 that resulted in the loss of major brand partnerships. West has also been open about his struggles with mental health. He launched a brief and unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2020.