Kanye West, born Kanye Omari West, is an American rapper, hip-hop artist, producer, and fashion entrepreneur widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 21st century. Known for constantly reinventing his sound and challenging genre boundaries, West has played a defining role in shaping modern hip-hop, popular music, and contemporary fashion culture.

Kanye West was born on 8 June 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. He was raised primarily by his mother Dr. Donda West, an academic who later became his manager and most significant personal influence. Her death on 10 November 2007 in Los Angeles due to complications following cosmetic surgery deeply affected West both personally and artistically.

In 2002, shortly after securing a record deal, West was involved in a near-fatal car accident that shattered his jaw. Refusing to delay his career, he recorded the breakthrough single Through the Wire while his jaw was still wired shut, a moment that became central to his public narrative. He quickly recovered and released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, which received critical acclaim and commercial success.

Following the album’s release, West gained further attention by contributing to the hit single Slow Jamz alongside Twista and Jamie Foxx. The same year, he founded his own record label, GOOD Music, in New York City, establishing a platform that would later introduce and shape numerous artists.

A recurring visual symbol throughout West’s early career was the teddy bear mascot, which appeared on the covers of his first three studio albums and became one of his most recognizable trademarks. Beyond music, West emerged as a major fashion figure, collaborating with luxury brands and artists such as Louis Vuitton and contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, who designed the cover art for the 2007 album Graduation.

At the 2005 Grammy Awards, Kanye West received ten nominations, winning Best Rap Album for The College Dropout and Best Rap Song for Jesus Walks. He also shared the Best R&B Song award for You Don’t Know My Name, performed by Alicia Keys. His second studio album Late Registration (2005) debuted at number one and further cemented his artistic credibility.

In 2006, West earned the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and won Best Hip-Hop Artist at the MTV Europe Music Awards. That same year, he released the live orchestral album Late Orchestration: Live at Abbey Road Studios, showcasing his ambition to merge hip-hop with classical elements.

West continued to gain international recognition, winning Best International Male Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards. Throughout this period, he frequently cited Justin Timberlake as a creative rival, fueling media narratives around competition and artistic ambition.

In his personal life, West began a relationship with model Alexis Phifer in 2004; the couple became engaged in 2007 before separating in 2008. He later entered a high-profile relationship with Kim Kardashian, whom he married on 24 May 2014 in Florence, Italy. The couple had four children: North West (born 2013), Saint West (born 2015), Chicago West (born 2018), and Psalm West (born 2019). Their marriage ended in divorce on 2 March 2022.

According to Forbes, Kanye West reached an estimated net worth of 1.3 billion dollars, earning a place on the magazine’s billionaires list. His business ventures have extended beyond music into fashion, footwear, and branding.

On 4 July 2020, West announced his candidacy for President of the United States, a move that generated widespread global media attention. His first public supporter was Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla.

On 19 October 2021, West legally changed his name to “Ye,” stating that the name held spiritual significance and was a frequently used term in the Bible. In January 2023, he reportedly married architectural designer Bianca Censori in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills.

Studio Albums
2004 – The College Dropout
2005 – Late Registration
2006 – Late Orchestration: Live at Abbey Road Studios
2007 – Graduation
2008 – 808s & Heartbreak
2010 – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2013 – Yeezus
2016 – The Life of Pablo
2018 – Ye
2019 – Jesus Is King

Collaborative Albums
2011 – Watch the Throne (with Jay-Z)
2012 – Cruel Summer (with GOOD Music)
2018 – Kids See Ghosts (with Kid Cudi)

Kanye West remains a polarizing yet undeniably transformative figure whose influence spans music, fashion, business, and popular culture, continuously redefining the boundaries of artistic expression.

Source: Biyografiler.com