Kanye West
- Birth name: Kanye Omari West (now legally changed to Ye)
- Born: 8 June 1977
- Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia, US
- Nationality: American
- Main activity: Rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and fashion designer
- Musical genre: Hip hop, rap, gospel
Kanye West is a versatile and provocative artist who has made a name for himself in both music and fashion. He started as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the early 2000s, making hit singles for artists like Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Ludacris. He then launched his own rap career with acclaimed albums such as The College Dropout (2004) and Late Registration (2005). He has experimented with various musical styles and genres throughout his career, ranging from soul and gospel to electronic and industrial. He has also voiced his opinions on various social and political issues, often causing controversy and criticism. He has won 24 Grammy Awards and is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of his generation.
Career
West began his career as a producer in Chicago, working with local artists.Kanye West moved to New York City to work for Roc-A-Fella Records, producing tracks for Jay-Z’s The Blueprint (2001) and artists like Alicia Keys and Ludacris. Though initially met with resistance, he convinced the label to let him rap, releasing The College Dropout (2004), followed by hits like Late Registration (2005) and Graduation (2007), solidifying his place in hip hop.
He later pushed musical boundaries with 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016), Ye (2018), and Jesus Is King (2019). West also teamed up with Jay-Z on Watch the Throne (2011) and Kid Cudi on Kids See Ghosts (2018). He also founded his own record label, GOOD Music, in 2004.
Albums
West has released 10 studio albums so far in his career. They are:
- The College Dropout (2004)
- Late Registration (2005)
- Graduation (2007)
- 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
- Yeezus (2013)
- The Life of Pablo (2016)
- Ye (2018)
- Jesus Is King (2019)
- Donda (2021)
- Donda 2 (2022)
- Vultures 1 and Vultures 2 (with Ty Dolla ignas¥) (2024)
Children
West has four children with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian West, whom he married in 2014 and divorced in 2022. Their children are:
- North West - 15 June 2013
- Saint West - 5 December 2015
- Chicago West - 15 January 2018
- Psalm West - 9 May 2019
Family
West’s family includes:
- Bianca Censori (wife), an Australian architect
- Ray West (father), a former Black Panther and photojournalist
- Donda West (mother), a former professor of English at Chicago State University
- Ricky Anderson (cousin), a music executive
- Tony Williams (cousin), a singer
- Ibn Jasper (cousin), a barber and designer
Net Worth
In early 2025, Kanye West claimed a net worth of $2.77 billion, citing a valuation by Eton Venture Services based on his music and full ownership of Yeezy. While Forbes listed his net worth at $400 million in January, other reports estimate it closer to $2 billion, suggesting the Forbes figure is likely a major underestimate by May 2025.
