Kanye West

Pop Musician

• Born: June 8, 1977
• Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia

Kanye West (also known as Ye) became one of the most famous and influential musical artists of the early twenty-first century with his groundbreaking take on hip-hop. He earned much critical acclaim in addition to best-selling commercial performance, and he successfully expanded into fashion and other ventures as well. However, he also became a polarizing figure, drawing attention for numerous controversial statements and actions.

Early Life

Kanye Omari West was born June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Ray West and Donda Williams West. He moved with his mother to Chicago at age three following his parents’ divorce. As a child, West was known for his outspokenness and often found himself in trouble for refusing to obey rules with which he did not agree. He wrote and recorded his first rap, "Green Eggs and Ham," while attending Vanderpoel Elementary. Later, he saved his allowance and bought his first keyboard at the age of fourteen. West formed a group with some high school friends in which he wrote rhymes, created beats, and made up dance routines.

After graduating from high school, West enrolled at Chicago State University, where his mother worked as an English professor. As his interest in music grew, his interest in academia declined. After a year of study, West decided to take time off to work on his music, much to the chagrin of his mother. When it became apparent that he would not be returning to college, West’s mother asked him to move out of the house. At the age of twenty, he moved to New Jersey to pursue music production full time.

West achieved some limited success at first, earning production credit for work on lesser-known artists’ albums. His first real break came when he was given the opportunity to contribute four tracks to multiplatinum hip-hop artist Jay-Z’s The Blueprint album in 2001. He became a successful producer for Jay-Z and other artists, contributing to several hit singles. However, West faced an uphill battle to be taken seriously as a solo artist.

Music Career

West sustained serious injuries in a car accident in October 2002, when he fell asleep at the wheel on his way home from a recording session. He underwent surgery to reconstruct his face. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to be regarded as a serious recording artist, West recorded the song "Through the Wire," rhyming the lyrics through jaws that had been wired shut. This song became the first single from West’s debut album, The College Dropout (2004), which was released to much critical acclaim. Praised for its self-aware and intelligent content, considered something of a rarity in mainstream hip-hop, The College Dropout achieved platinum status and garnered West several Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year. While he did not win that award, he did win awards for Best Rap Album of the Year and Best Rap Song. In 2005, West was featured on the cover of Time magazine.

College Dropout was followed by Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), 808s and Heartbreak (2008), and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)—all of which were well received by critics and fans. As West’s success grew, so did his larger-than-life persona. His notoriety spiked when he made unscripted comments criticizing President George W. Bush during a telethon to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. Both praised and condemned for his opinionated outbursts, West became as well known for his off-the-cuff remarks as for his acclaimed music. In 2009, he infamously interrupted singer Taylor Swift at the MTV Music Video Awards, taking the microphone during Swift's acceptance speech for the Best Female Music Video and claiming that Beyoncé, another singer, had made a superior video. The incident led to an ongoing feud that received intense media coverage and critical commentary.

West released his sixth album, Yeezus, in 2013. The album had a more complex and unorthodox sound than West's previous albums and lacked a radio-friendly single; though widely praised by critics, it received mixed reactions from fans. Though it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, it had the lowest opening-week sales of any of West's albums, and sales dropped off sharply in its second week. Yeezus was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards, but lost to Macklemore's The Heist. In 2016, West released his next album, titled Life of Pablo. The album was well-received and also notable for being the first of West's seven studio albums in which he settled into a sound and did not try to make a big statement or reinvention. It became his sixth-straight album to debut at number one.

Throughout his career, West used hip-hop as a platform to draw attention to issues he believed in. He spoke out against homophobia in hip-hop, a genre known for unbridled machismo. In addition to producing music for artists through his G.O.O.D. (Getting Out Our Dreams) Music label, West established the Kanye West Foundation, which was devoted to battling dropouts and poor literacy rates and encouraging music education among underprivileged youth. The foundation ceased operating in 2011, however. For his work with G.O.O.D. Music, West won the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Event award for labels in both 2017 and 2018.

West released his eighth studio album, ye, in 2018. It was met with mixed reviews, with some critics finding the material covered in the small number of songs to be too self-absorbed. West also announced in September 2018 that he had adopted the stage name "Ye."

Early in 2019, West began holding what he called Sunday Service each week, in which he and a choir performed inspirational music for invited guests. In October 2019 he released his ninth studio album, titled Jesus Is King. Considered a heavily gospel-inspired record, Jesus Is King became his ninth consecutive album to debut at the top spot on the Billboard 200 album chart, tying him with rapper Eminem for the record. At the same time, a short concert film of the same name began showing at IMAX theaters across the nation. Several critics acknowledged that while the album has high points, its overall effect is flawed. The album Jesus Is Born followed in December of that year.

In June 2020, West released the single "Wash Us in the Blood," featuring rapper Travis Scott. It was advertised as the lead single for West's upcoming album, Donda: With Child; however, the album was not released on its announced date. Instead, West made a statement that he would not be releasing any more music until his contract with Sony and Universal had ended. Despite that statement, West released the single "Nah Nah Nah" in October 2020. At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in March 2021, West's record Jesus Is King was named Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, giving him his twenty-second Grammy win.

West's next album, with its title shortened to Donda, was previewed in three "listening events" he held at stadiums in Atlanta and Chicago in July and August 2021. The album was officially released in late August, though West initially accused Universal of releasing it without his consent. Despite mixed reviews, the record debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was quickly certified gold. In September 2021, West revealed an "updated" version of the album on streaming platforms, and in October he made available a special online music player allowing people to create their own remixes of the album tracks and some additional material. Donda was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album at the 64th Grammy Awards held in April 2022. While it did not win, West did receive two awards at the ceremony: Best Melodic Rap Performance for his song "Hurricane" and Best Rap Song for his song "Jail." In 2022, West also released a sequel to Donda, titled Donda 2, but the album received poor reviews.

In 2023, West and fellow rapper Ty Dolla Sign started a collaborative project under the name ¥$. They released the album Vultures 1 in early 2024. Although it met with mixed critical reception, it was another Billboard 200 number-one debut.

Other Activities

West also pursued interests in design and fashion, beginning as early as 2006 with collaborations with Nike on sneakers. He first released his own fashion collection in 2011, but his early efforts were largely disdained by critics. The Yeezy label first launched in 2015, and subsequent seasonal collections earned more respect from established fashion designers.

West became increasingly controversial when he began to insert himself into political discussions following the tense 2016 election of businessman Donald Trump as US president. West signaled support for Trump, and had a meeting with the president-elect in December 2016 at Trump Tower. In October 2018, West had a much-publicized meeting with Trump and former professional football player Jim Brown at the White House to reportedly discuss the issue of persistent crime and violence in his hometown of Chicago. By the end of the month, however, he had announced via social media that he was planning to distance himself from the world of politics.

In July 2020, West tweeted that he was running for president. His first campaign rally was held in Charleston, South Carolina, on July 19, 2020. His independent campaign, which was unsuccessful, advocated for a consistent life ethic.

In 2022, West returned to the center of controversy after making a series of antisemitic remarks on both social media and in interviews. He subsequently faced temporary bans from Instagram and Twitter and lost several major sponsors and partners, including Adidas (which produced West's clothing under the Yeezy label), Gap, and Balenciaga. Later that year, West indicated that he intended to take part in the 2024 presidential campaign. However, he continued to face mounting criticism, especially after he made comments in support of Adolf Hitler on the talk show InfoWars hosted by far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in December 2022.

Personal Life

In November 2007, West’s mother died suddenly of complications from cosmetic surgery. West was profoundly affected by her loss. In 2010, the state of California passed the Donda West Law, which required that patients receive medical clearance before undergoing elective cosmetic surgery.

West began dating reality television star Kim Kardashian in 2012; the couple's first child, North, was born in 2013, and West and Kardashian married in 2014. In December 2015, Kardashian gave birth to the couple's second child, a boy named Saint. As a result of his relationship with Kardashian, West began appearing on the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians in 2012. In November 2017, the couple made headlines by selling their mansion in Bel Air, Los Angeles, for $17.8 million and moving to a $20 million complex in Hidden Hills, California. West and Kardashian welcomed their third child, Chicago, by surrogate in January 2018, and their fourth, Psalm, (also by surrogate) in May 2019. Also in 2019 West moved his base of operations from California to a massive ranch in Wyoming.

As one of the highest-profile celebrities of his time, West's controversial behavior led to much speculation over his intentions and mental health. He became known for comparing himself to the biggest cultural figures of all time, from Jesus to Shakespeare to Walt Disney to Steve Jobs, which along with his presidential ambitions led to frequent criticism that he was egotistical or even delusional. He was forced to cancel part of the fall 2016 Life of Pablo album tour after being hospitalized in a disturbed, paranoid mental state. The episode was said to have been caused by sleep deprivation and dehydration, and possibly worsened by a highly publicized robbery of Kardashian earlier in the year. Around the release of his album ye, he stated in an interview that he had been diagnosed with a "mental condition" at age thirty-nine. He later said he had bipolar disorder and also discussed struggles with opioid addiction and suicidal thoughts.

West and Kardashian made headlines in early 2021 when rumors of their divorce were widely circulated. Kardashian formally filed for divorce in mid-February. Later that year West put his Wyoming ranch, along with several commercial properties he owned in Cody, Wyoming, up for sale. In October 2021, it was reported that West had officially changed his legal name to Ye, which he had already been using as his stage name. Due to prolonged discussions concerning custody of their children and other terms, West and Kardashian did not finalize their divorce until late 2022.

Significance

West came to be recognized as one of the most important musical artists of the early twenty-first century. His introspective lyrics, fashion sense, and middle-class background set him apart from other popular hip-hop artists whose work was largely influenced by inner-city "gangsta" culture. His work also broached subjects largely untouched in mainstream hip-hop, such as religion, homophobia, and family relationships. Although he became notorious for his often controversial comments and grandiose self-promotion, West built his reputation through musical talent and philanthropy. His highly innovative music has been widely praised by critics and fellow artists both within the hip-hop community and without, and has proved hugely influential across many genres.

Bibliography

Bailey, Julius, editor. The Cultural Impact of Kanye West. Palgrave, 2014.

"Billboard's 2018 R&B/Hip-Hop 100 Power Players Revealed." Billboard, 27 Sept. 2018, www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8477024/hip-hop-power-list-2018. Accessed 6 June 2019.

Caramanica, Jon. "Behind Kanye's Mask." New York Times, 11 June 2013, www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/arts/music/kanye-west-talks-about-his-career-and-album-yeezus.html. Accessed 23 Sept. 2015.

Caramanica, Jon. "Into the Wild With Kanye West." The New York Times, 25 June 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/arts/music/kanye-west-ye-interview.html. Accessed 15 Feb. 2021.

Caulfield, Keith. "Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Arrives as His Record-Tying Ninth Consecutive No. 1 Debut on Billboard 200 Chart." Billboard, 3 Nov. 2019, www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8542364/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-billboard-200-debut-no-1. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.

Greene, Jayson. "The Coldest Story Ever Told: The Influence of Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak." Pitchfork, 22 Sept. 2015, pitchfork.com/features/overtones/9725-the-coldest-story-ever-told-the-influence-of-kanye-wests-808s-heartbreak/. Accessed 23 Sept. 2015.

Henderson, Cydney. "It's Official: Kanye West Legally Changes Name to Ye for 'Personal Reasons.'" USA Today, 19 Oct. 2021, www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/10/18/kanye-west-changes-name-ye-personal-reasons/8512169002/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2021.

Isaac, Pauline Jayne. "Kim Kardashian and Kanye West: Everything We Know About the Divorce Rumors." Glamour, 4 Feb. 2021, www.glamour.com/story/kim-kardashian-and-kanye-west-divorce-rumors-explained. Accessed 15 Feb. 2021.

Jenkins, Craig. "Kanye Is Running on Empty." Review of Donda 2, by Ye. Vulture, 7 Mar. 2022, www.vulture.com/2022/03/kanye-west-donda-2-album-review.html. Accessed 5 May 2022.

Klinkenberg, Brendan. "On Daytona and Ye, Kanye West Proves the Strengths (and Limitations) of a Short Album." Rolling Stone, 1 June 2018, www.rollingstone.com/kanye-west-ye-pusha-t-daytona-short-albums-w521001. Accessed 4 June 2018.

Ramirez, Nikki McCann, and Ryan Bort. "Kanye to Alex Jones: 'I Like Hitler.'" Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2022, www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kanye-west-alex-jones-i-like-hitler-1234639617/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.

Tyrangiel, Josh. "Why You Can’t Ignore Kanye." Time, 29 Aug. 2005, pp. 54–61.

Vazquez, Maegan, and Betsy Klein. "Kanye West Tells Trump MAGA Hat Made Him Feel Like 'Superman.'" CNN, 11 Oct. 2018, www.cnn.com/2018/10/11/politics/kanye-west-donald-trump-white-house-chicago/index.html. Accessed 5 Nov. 2018.

Voytko, Lisette. "Billionaire No More: Kanye West's Antisemitism Obliterates His Net Worth as Adidas Cuts Ties." Forbes, 25 Oct. 2022, www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2022/10/25/billionaire-no-more-kanye-wests-anti-semitism-obliterates-his-net-worth-as-adidas-cuts-ties/. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.

Weicker, Gretchen. Kanye West. Enslow, 2009.

West, Donda. Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar. Pocket, 2007.

Yeung, Neil Z. "Kanye West: Biography." AllMusic, www.allmusic.com/artist/kanye-west-mn0000361014/biography. Accessed 24 June 2024.