Kanye West

Categories: Entertainment | Music | Urban Music | Rap | Hip Hop | R&B
  • Kanye West is a popular hip-hop producer, rapper and record label head whose first three albums have received a great deal of critical praise and commercial success. West has won nine Grammy Awards and has produced a number of hit singles - both for himself and a variety of other hip-hop/R&B artists such as Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson and John Legend. West has turned to fashion and has designed shoes for Nike and Louis Vuitton.Rap Basement: Kanye's Nike & Louis Vuitton Shoes (January 28, 2009)

    At the MTV Video Music Awards on September 13, 2009, West stormed the stage when Taylor Swift won the award for Best Female Video. He interrupted her and said Beyonce should have won.

  • South Park

    West was featured on South Park on April 8, 2009, in a video titled "Gay Fish" as an attempt to get him to "check his ego." The day following the show, West wrote on his blog "South Park murdered me last night and it's pretty funny. It hurts my feeling but what can you expect from South Park." He went on to say "I actually have been working on my ego though, having the crazy ego is played out in my life and career."Yahoo: Kanye says 'South Park' put him in check (April 10, 2009)
  • Paparazzi Scuffle

    Media sources reported on March 18, 2009, that West was charged with vandalism, battery and grand theft in connection with a September 11, 2008, paparazzi scuffle at LAX. Don Crawley was also charged in the incident. Both could face prison time if found guilty, West could face up to two years and six months.LA Times: Kanye West charged in LAX paparazzi scuffle (March 18, 2009) Kayne pleaded not guilty to the charges on May 15, 2009.TMZ: Kanye Arraigned (May 18, 2009)
  • Storytellers

    In 2009, West appeared on an episode VH1's Storytellers. During the performance, he talked about his mother's passing, his failed relationship with Alexis Phifer and the way he is portrayed in the media.The Boombox: Kanye West Defends Chris Brown, Calls OJ 'Amazing' (February 27, 2009)
  • Background

    Kanye West was born in Atlanta, Georgia but moved to suburban Chicago with his mother at the age of three after his parents divorced. West briefly attended classes at the American Academy of Art before dropping out to spend more time working on music. During that time, West started producing music for local artists and eventually went on to produce records for more established acts - most notably Roc-a-Fella executive Jay-Z.
  • The College Dropout

    Although initially reluctant to embrace West as a rapper, Jay-Z's Roc-a-Fella records eventually released West's debut album The College Dropout in 2004. The album, which included the religiously themed single "Jesus Walks", went on to sell over 3 million albums and established West as a new voice in the world of Hip-Hop.
  • Late Registration

    His second album, Late Registration, received eight Grammy Nominations including Album of the Year and was one of the best reviewed records of the year. His collaboration with Jamie Foxx, the single "Gold Digger", became one of his most popular songs to date and eventually hit #1 on the U.S. Charts.
  • Graduation

    West's third album, Graduation, was released on September 11, 2007. The original release date was changed in order to coincide with the release of the 50 Cent album Curtis. 50 Cent stated he would end his career as a rapper if his sales did not beat those of Graduation. 50 Cent later recanted his statement when Graduation outsold Curtis. Graduation sold 957,000 units in its first week while Curtis sold 691,000 units. Besides the high sales, West earned himself another 4 Grammy Awards for the album.
  • 808s & Heartbreak

    808s & Heartbreak will be released November 25, 2008. Songs on the album include "Coldest Winter," "Robocop," "Anyway," and "Heartless." The album's first single, "Love Lockdown", was premiered by West at the 2008 Video Music Awards.

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