Kanye West Written Bio

1996 - College Dropout

An English major at Chicago State University, where his mother, Donda, chairs the department, West quits school to pursue his music career full-time. "He said, 'Mom, I can do this, and I don't need to go to college, because I've had a professor in the house with me my whole life,'" Donda West tells Time. "I'm thinking, this boy is at it again. He always could twirl a word." (West's parents divorced when he was young.)

September 18, 2001 - Jay-Z's Architect

After turning out hit singles for Common, Ludacris and Cam'Ron, among others, West gets his big break when Jay-Z asks him to produce several tracks on his chart-topping album The Blueprint.

October 23, 2002 - Near Death Experience

On his way home from a marathon recording session in L.A., West crashes his Lexus after falling asleep at the wheel. While recovering in the hospital, West pens "Through the Wire," a song about the crash where he jokes about drinking "a Boost for breakfast, a Ensure for dizzert/Somebody ordered pancakes, I just sip the sizzurp." He'll record the song three weeks later with his jaw still wired shut. The finished track convinces Roc-A-Fella Records to let him move in front of the mic and push through approval for his first solo album. "Death," West tells Time, "is the best thing that can ever happen to a rapper. Almost dying isn't bad either."

February 10, 2004 - Slow Jamz, Fast Start

West's debut album The College Dropout is an immediate hit, selling 441,000 copies in its first week. Not that West needs sales figures to validate his work. "You can't judge The College Dropout. It's something completely different," he tells the AP. "It's definitely a classic, if I [could] step aside from myself and say that."

November 14, 2004 - Sore Loser

Nominated for three American Music Awards, West walks out of the show after losing the Best New Artist award to country newcomer Gretchen Wilson. "I feel I was definitely robbed...I was the best new artist this year," he complains backstage to the Associated Press. "I don't know if I'll be back at this award show next year." A month later he was a little more circumspect. "I came up to Gretchen [before the Grammy press conference] and apologized," he tells Entertainment Weekly. "And I want to apologize to my black role models, like Jay-Z and Oprah Winfrey, for being overemotional. I was doing a disservice to everything my forefathers have done to allow black people to get to this place."

February 13, 2005 - It's His Party

The most nominated artist at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards with 10 nods, West takes home three trophies – Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song for "Jesus Walks" and Best R&B Song for producing Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name." Rocking in an Yves Saint Laurent suit, West celebrates by throwing his own party along with Boost Mobile in L.A.'s Miracle Mile district. It gets so packed that the fire marshal closes the guest list at 1 a.m. West wins three more awards at the following year's ceremony, including Best Rap Album for Late Registration.

August 29, 2005 - Cover Artist

With the headline "Hip-Hop's Class Act," West becomes one of the rare entertainers to appear on the cover of Time. The lengthy article details the contradictions of The College Dropout and of West himself, who admits that when starting out in hip-hop, "It was a strike against me that I didn't wear baggy jeans and jerseys and that I never hustled, never sold drugs." In April, Time had tapped West as one of the year's 100 most influential people.

August 30, 2005 - Sophomore Success

West shoots to No. 1 with his second album, Late Registration, topping the Billboard album and singles charts thanks to "Gold Digger," his collaboration with Jamie Foxx. "It uses profanity, and it's shocking and controversial and f----- up and funny," West tells Playboy about the song. "It's so perfect and out of the park."

September 02, 2005 - Hurricane of Controversy

"George Bush doesn't care about black people." Those seven words become a national headline when West strays from his scripted monologue at the live televised Concert for Hurricane Relief. He criticizes the government's response in helping Katrina victims. With a shocked looking Mike Myers at his side, West's comments air live on NBC on the East Coast but are edited out of the West Coast version later that night. "People have lost their lives, lost their families," he says a week later on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "It's the least I could do to go up there and say something from my heart."

August 11, 2006 - Diamond Life

West proposes to Alexis Phifer on the island of Capri. West split with model Brooke Crittenden earlier this year and has dated Phifer off and on for years. In 2008, they call off their engagement. "It's always sad when things like this end, and we remain friends," Phifer tells PEOPLE. "I wish him the best in his future and all of his endeavors. He's one of the most talented people I've ever met."

November 02, 2006 - Ugly American

Even after being named Best Hip-Hop Artist at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Copenhagen, a fuming West storms on stage as the award for Best Video is being given to Parisian duo Justice vs. Simian. In a profanity-laced tirade, West says he should have won the prize for "Touch the Sky," because his video "cost a million dollars, Pamela Anderson was in it."

August, 2007 - 50 Cent Challenges Kanye

Rapper 50 Cent, who is releasing his Curtis album on the same day (Sept. 11) as West's Graduation album, challenges West. 50 Cent, 31, tells hip-hop Web site SOHH.com, "Let's raise the stakes. If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11...I won't put out anymore solo albums." Weeks later, West, 29, tells XXL magazine, "My biggest inspiration and biggest competition is Justin Timberlake...We push each other." Although the two rappers make peace, West widely outsells 50 Cent in first week sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan: 957,000 copies to 691,000 copies.

November 10, 2007 - Kanye West's Mother Dies

West's mother, Donda West, dies of heart disease after undergoing plastic surgery. Donda, 58, a retired professor and former chairwoman of the Chicago State University English department, was a tireless supporter of her son as he both earned success and stirred up controversy. "He came out of the womb looking like he had that attitude," Donda, who released her memoir Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar, told InStyle earlier this year.

February 10, 2008 - Kanye Pays Tribute to Mother

West delivers an emotional tribute to his late mother at the 2008 Grammy Awards, performing "Hey Mama," a song from his second album. He also goes home with his third Best Rap Album Grammy for Graduation. During his acceptance speech, West says, "I know you wouldn't want me to stop and you want me to be the No. 1 artist in the world, and Mama, all I'm going to do is keep making you proud. We run this!"

November 24, 2008 - Turning Sorrow into Success

West's fourth album, 808s & Heartbreak, tops the Billboard charts with 450,000 copies sold. The experimental disc in which West sings rather than raps using audio processors, receives mixed reviews. "What makes 808s & Heartbreak worthy of adulation and applause is that it's made by an artist who carries with him no other agenda but to make him and those who listen to him feel something," raves Vibe. The album is largely inspired by the death of West's mother and his break-up with fiancée Alexis Phifer.

February, 2009 - New Year, New Love

During New York Fashion Week, West steps out with new squeeze, model Amber Rose. The couple makes a fashionable pair, wearing attention-grabbing ensembles around the world. "He'll pick out something and he'll be like 'Babe, just ... no.,'" she tells Elle. "I'm more electric pink and bright yellow. And Kanye's more like nude and bone."

September 13, 2009 - Stealing the Show

During Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for best female video at the MTV VMAs, West jumps onstage and announces that "Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time." After celebs like Kelly Clarkson and even President Obama criticize his antics, West apologizes in a phone call to Swift.

November 22, 2010 - Creating a 'Fantasy'

West's latest album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy tops the Billboard 200 album charts in its first week and is heralded as a work of genius by critics. Rolling Stone says it's "his most maniacally inspired music yet…Nobody halfway sane could have made this album," while Spin praises it as "a blessing."

August 08, 2011 - Kanye's Coveted 'Throne'

West joins forces with Jay-Z for their collaborative album Watch the Throne, which debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's 200 albums chart on the strength of their hit single "Otis." "They're hip-hop monarchs, and Watch the Throne, doesn't shrink from its own hype," Rolling Stone says of the record, which helps West lead the 2011 Grammys race with seven nominations. He takes home four awards, including best rap album for 2010's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and best rap performance for "Otis" with Jay-Z.

April, 2012 - Back to Reality

In his new song "Theraflu," West sings about his feelings for Kim Kardashian, with whom he is reportedly dating. "I admit I fell in love with Kim ... 'Round the same time she fell in love with him," the rapper says, referring to Kardashian's soon-to-be ex Kris Humphries. "Kanye and I have been friends for years...You never know what the future holds," Kardashian coyly says of their relationship on the Today show.

December 30, 2012 - Baby On the Way

The rapper surprises concert goers at his Atlantic City show when he reveals Kardashian is pregnant. "It's true!! Kanye and I are expecting a baby," she confirms in a blog post. "We feel so blessed and lucky and wish that in addition to both of our families, his mom and my dad could be here to celebrate this special time with us."

June 02, 2013 It's a Girl!

Kardashian confirms she and West are expecting a daughter on the eighth season premiere of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. "I'm so excited we're having a girl … I know that's really what Kanye has always wanted," she says on the show, which airs the same day as her baby shower. "Kim and Kanye were so cute – he rubbed her belly," Kardashian's aunt Karen Houghton told PEOPLE. "They're just really blessed. It's such a happy day."

June 15, 2013 - Special Delivery

Kardashian gives birth a few weeks before her expected July due date to the couple's first child – daughter North. "She's doing great and she's beautiful! So very exciting," Kardashian's mom Kris Jenner tells HLN.

August 23, 2013 - Hey, Baby!

During an appearance on the season finale of Kris Jenner's talk show, West debuts a photo of daughter North, now more than 2-months-old. "To stop all the noise, I thought it'd be really cool, on her grandmother's season finale, to bring a picture of North," he says, adding that he and Kardashian "have not attempted to get paid" for the image. The rapper goes on to declare his love for the reality starlet, saying, "She's my joy and she brought my new joy into the world."

2013–2015: Yeezus and Adidas collaboration

Sessions for West's sixth solo effort begin to take shape in early 2013 in his own personal loft's living room at a Paris hotel. Determined to "undermine the commercial", he once again brought together close collaborators and attempted to incorporate Chicago drill, dancehall, acid house, and industrial music. Primarily inspired by architecture,[104] West's perfectionist tendencies led him to contact producer Rick Rubin fifteen days shy of its due date to strip down the record's sound in favor of a more minimalist approach. Initial promotion of his sixth album included worldwide video projections of the album's music and live television performances. Yeezus, West's sixth album, was released June 18, 2013, to rave reviews from critics. It became his sixth consecutive number one debut, but also marked his lowest solo opening week sales. Def Jam issued "Black Skinhead" to radio in July 2013 as the album's lead single.

In September 2013, Kanye West announced he would be headlining his first solo tour in five years, to support Yeezus, with fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar accompanying him as a supporting act. The tour was met with rave reviews from critics. Rolling Stone described it as "crazily entertaining, hugely ambitious, emotionally affecting (really!) and, most importantly, totally bonkers." Writing for Forbes, Zack O'Malley Greenburg praised West for "taking risks that few pop stars, if any, are willing to take in today's hyper-exposed world of pop," describing the show as "overwrought and uncomfortable at times, but [it] excels at challenging norms and provoking thought in a way that just isn't common for mainstream musical acts of late."

In June 2013, West and television personality Kim Kardashian announced the birth of their first child, North, and their engagement in October to widespread media attention. In November, West stated that he was beginning work on his next studio album, hoping to release it by mid-2014, with production by Rick Rubin and Q-Tip. In December 2013, Adidas announced the beginning of their official apparel collaboration with West, to be premiered the following year. In May 2014, West and Kardashian were married in a private ceremony in Florence, Italy, with a variety of artists and celebrities in attendance. West released a single, "Only One", featuring Paul McCartney, in December.

"FourFiveSeconds", a single jointly produced with Rihanna and McCartney, was released in January 2015. West also appeared on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special, where he premiered a new song entitled "Wolves", featuring Sia Furler and fellow Chicago rapper, Vic Mensa. In February 2015, West premiered his clothing collaboration with Adidas, entitled Yeezy Season 1, to generally positive reviews. This would include West's Yeezy Boost sneakers. In March 2015, West released the single "All Day" featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom and Paul McCartney. West performed the song at the 2015 BRIT Awards with a number of US rappers and UK grime MC's including: Skepta, Wiley, Novelist, Fekky, Krept & Konan, Stormzy, Allan Kingdom, Theophilus London and Vic Mensa. He would premiere the second iteration of his clothing line, Yeezy Season 2, in September 2015 at New York Fashion Week.

Having initially announced a new album entitled Yeezus II slated for a 2014 release, in March 2015 West announced that the album would instead be tentatively called So Help Me God. On May 11, West was awarded an honorary doctorate by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for his contributions to music, fashion, and popular culture, officially making him an honorary DFA. The next month, West headlined at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, despite a petition signed by almost 135,000 people against his appearance. Toward the end of a set which included performing part of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", West proclaimed himself "the greatest living rock star on the planet." Media outlets, including social media sites such as Twitter, were divided on his performance. NME stated, "The decision to book West for the slot has proved controversial since its announcement, and the show itself appeared to polarize both Glastonbury goers and those who tuned in to watch on their TVs."The publication added that "he's letting his music speak for and prove itself." The Guardian said that "his set has a potent ferocity—but there are gaps and stutters, and he cuts a strangely lone figure in front of the vast crowd." In September 2015, West performed 808s & Heartbreak in its entirety two nights in a row to rave reviews at Hollywood Bowl. The performance featured a 60-person orchestra, a live band, guests from the album and over 70 dancers.[135] In December 2015, West released a song titled "Facts."

2016–2017: The Life of Pablo and tour cancellation

West announced in January 2016 that SWISH would be released on February 11, and later that month, released new songs "Real Friends" and a snippet of "No More Parties in LA" with Kendrick Lamar. This also revived the GOOD Fridays initiative in which he releases new singles every Friday. On January 26, 2016, West revealed he had renamed the album from SWISH to Waves, and also announced the premier of his Yeezy Season 3 clothing line at Madison Square Garden. In the weeks leading up to the album's release, West became embroiled in several Twitter controversies and released several changing iterations of the tracklist for the new album. Several days ahead of its release, West again changed the title, this time to The Life of Pablo. On February 11, West premiered the album at Madison Square Garden as part of the presentation of his Yeezy Season 3 clothing line. Following the preview, West announced that he would be modifying the tracklist once more before its release to the public, and further delayed its release to finalize the recording of the track "Waves" at the behest of co-writer Chance the Rapper. He released the album exclusively on Tidal on February 14, 2016, following a performance on SNL. Following its official streaming release, West continued to tinker with mixes of several tracks, describing the work as "a living breathing changing creative expression" and proclaiming the end of the album as a dominant release form. Although a statement by West around The Life of Pablo's initial release indicated that the album would be a permanent exclusive to Tidal, the album was released through several other competing services starting in April.

In February 2016, West stated on Twitter that he was planning to release another album in the summer of 2016, tentatively called Turbo Grafx 16 in reference to the 1990s video game console of the same name. In June 2016, West released the collaborative lead single "Champions" off the GOOD Music album Cruel Winter, which has yet to be released. Later that month, West released a controversial video for "Famous", which depicted wax figures of several celebrities (including West, Kardashian, Taylor Swift, businessman and then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, comedian Bill Cosby, and former president George W. Bush) sleeping nude in a shared bed. In August 2016, West embarked on the Saint Pablo Tour in support of The Life of Pablo. The performances featured a mobile stage suspended from the ceiling. West postponed several dates in October following the Paris robbery of several of his wife's effects. On November 21, 2016, West cancelled the remaining 21 dates on the Saint Pablo Tour, following a week of no-shows, curtailed concerts and rants about politics. He was later admitted for psychiatric observation at UCLA Medical Center. He stayed hospitalized over the Thanksgiving weekend because of a temporary psychosis stemming from sleep deprivation and extreme dehydration. Following this episode West took an 11-month break from Twitter, and the public in general.

2017–2019: Ye and the Wyoming Sessions

It was reported in May 2017 that West was recording new music in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a wide range of collaborators. In April 2018, West announced plans to write a philosophy book entitled Break the Simulation, later clarifying that he was sharing the book "in real time" on Twitter and began posting content that was likened to "life coaching." Later that month, he also announced two new albums, a solo album and self-titled collaboration with Kid Cudi under the name Kids See Ghosts, both of which would be released in June. Additionally, he revealed he would produce upcoming albums by GOOD Music label-mates Pusha T and Teyana Taylor, as well as Nas. Shortly thereafter, West released the non-album singles "Lift Yourself", a "strange, gibberish track" featuring nonsensical lyrics, and "Ye vs. the People", in which he and T.I. discussed West's controversial support of Donald Trump.

Yandhi was first completed in West's hometown of Chicago, but was later postponed. West went to do more recording in Uganda, but later delayed the album a second time with no planned release date.

Pusha T's Daytona, "the first project out of Wyoming", was released in May to critical acclaim, although the album's artwork—a photograph of deceased singer Whitney Houston's bathroom that West paid $85,000 to license—attracted some controversy. The following week, West released his eighth studio album, Ye. West has suggested that he scrapped the original recordings of the album and re-recorded it within a month. The week after, West released a collaborative album with Kid Cudi, titled Kids See Ghosts, named after their group of the same name. West also completed production work on Nas' Nasir and Teyana Taylor's K.T.S.E., which were released in June 2018.

On August 30, 2018, West released the non-album single "XTCY" which was originally slated to be included on Ye. On September 7, 2018, West released a collaboration with American rapper Lil Pump titled "I Love It." On September 9, 2018, West announced via Twitter that Watch the Throne 2 would be coming soon. Later that month, West also announced his ninth studio album Yandhi to be released by the end of the month and a collaborative album with fellow Chicagoan rapper Chance the Rapper titled Good Ass Job. West also announced in September that he would be changing his stage name to "Ye." Yandhi was originally set for release on September 29, 2018, but was postponed to November 23, 2018. West later postponed the album again in November 2018 with no new release date set.

Later in 2018, West began collaborating with other new acts besides Lil Pump. West appeared as a guest feature on the tracks "Kanga" and "Mama" with Nicki Minaj on American rapper 6ix9ine's debut album Dummy Boy. West is also the sole feature on XXXTentacion's first posthumous album Skins. 6ix9ine and XXXTentacion were both slated to be included on Yandhi. In January 2019, West pulled out of headlining the years Coachella festival, after negotiations broke down due to discord regarding stage design.

On July 18, 2019, it was reported that songs from West's unreleased album Yandhi were leaked online. By October of the same year, the whole leaked unfinished album was available for a short time on streaming services like Spotify and Tidal but was shortly taken down. On August 29, 2019, Kim Kardashian announced that West's next album would be titled Jesus Is King, effectively scrapping Yandhi.

2019–present: Jesus Is King and Donda

On January 6, 2019, West started his weekly "Sunday Service" orchestration which includes soul variations of both West's and others' songs attended by multiple celebrities including the Kardashians, Charlie Wilson, and Kid Cudi. West previewed a new song, "Water" at his "Sunday Service" orchestration performance at weekend 2 of Coachella.

On October 25, 2019, he released Jesus Is King, a Christian hip hop album. On the US charts, the album became the first to ever top the Billboard 200, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Top Rap Albums, Top Christian Albums and Top Gospel Albums at the same time. He also collaborated with Vanessa Beecroft on two operas, Nebuchadnezzar and Mary. On December 25, 2019, West and Sunday Service released Jesus Is Born, containing 19 songs including several re-workings of older West songs.

On June 30, 2020, West released the single, titled "Wash Us in the Blood", featuring fellow American rapper and singer Travis Scott, along with the music video, which serves as the lead single from his tenth studio album Donda, and draws similarities to the sound of his 2013 album Yeezus. However, in September 2020, West stated that he would not be releasing any further music until he is "done with [his] contract with Sony and Universal" in a Twitter rant about record company contracts, payments towards artists and musicians, and the topic of ownership of their masters. On October 16, he released the single "Nah Nah Nah." On October 29, a remix was previewed over Twitter, featuring American rappers DaBaby and 2 Chainz. The remix was released November 13. On December 25, 2020, exactly one year after the release of Jesus is Born, West's Sunday Service released a new EP entitled Emmanuel. The mini-album, executively produced by West, consists of 5 songs entirely in Latin based in the style of Gregorian chant. On that same date, Playboi Carti's Whole Lotta Red was released, with West serving as executive producer of the album[191] and appearing on the track "Go2DaMoon."

On March 7, 2021, Cyhi the Prynce stated in an interview with VladTV that West had once again begun working on his upcoming album amid his divorce with Kim Kardashian. On July 17, Consequence posted a video of West in the studio with Tyler, the Creator on Instagram. The caption of the post suggested a late 2021 album release.

On July 19, 2021, American rapper Pusha T announced on Instagram that West would be holding a listening event for the album on July 22 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The following day Beats Electronics premiered a commercial during game six of the 2021 NBA Finals featuring athlete Sha'Carri Richardson, edited and scored by West using the track "No Child Left Behind". French producer Gesaffelstein later stated that he produced the song, which featured Cory Henry playing the organ. Immediately following the commercial's debut, Def Jam Recordings confirmed the album's July 23 release date and revealed that the listening event in Atlanta would be globally live-streamed on Apple Music. The album ultimately remained unreleased on that date.[citation needed]

Following the July 22 listening party at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, West had taken up temporary residence in one of the stadium's locker rooms, converting it in to a recording studio to finish the recording and mixing with Mike Dean. Videos and photos posted to social media also showed featured artists Playboi Carti and 2 Chainz recording vocals in the locker room a day before the listening party. A second listening party event at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium took place on August 5, 2021, with West stating that the album would be released on the same day. However, this did not materialize. On August 18, 2021, he announced a third listening party scheduled for August 26, 2021 at the Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago. After multiple delays, Donda finally released on August 29, 2021.

(Sources: people.com, Wikipedia)