Kanye West
Ray West was a former Black Panther, one of the first photojournalists at the Atlanta Journal- constitution and a Christian counselor, while Dr. Donda was a professor of English at the Clark Atlanta University and the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to serve as West’s manager.
When Ray West and Dr. Donda divorced when little Kanye was three years old back in 1980, he moved with his mother to Chicago Illinois where he attended the American Academy of Art and later enrolled at the Chicago State University but later dropped out to focus on music.
In 1998-1999 Kanye West produced for Jermaine Dupri, Foxy Brown, Goodie Mob and the group Harlem World.
He got his major break in 2000 when he started producing for Roc-a-Fella Records. He produced Jay-Z’s “This Can’t Be Life” 2000 and Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint” album released in September 2001. He later produced Nas, Scarface, Talib Keveli, Mos Def, T.I, Ludacris, DMX and Monica.
He did his first rap in Jay-Z’s “The Bounce” a song which he also produced under Jay-Z’s hit album, “Blueprint” in 2001.
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| Kanye and Kim |
His debut album, “The College Dropout” was released on Roc-A-Feller Records in February 2004. The album was certified triple platinum.
On August 30 2005, Kayane West released his second album, “Late Registration”. The album was rated Best Album of the Year by USA Today, Spin and TIME. Rolling Stone awarded the album the highest position on their end of the year record list. “Late Registration” sold over 800,000 copies in its first week and also topped the 200 Billboard list. The total CD sold in United States alone by the end of the year was 2.3 million units. It got nominated for eight awards, including, Album of the Year, Record of the Year for the song “Gold Digger”
After the death of his mother in July 2007 from a complication from cosmetic surgery involving abdominoplasty and breast reduction Kanye started a Foundation “Kanye West Foundation” in Chicago focused on helping Latino and African American children to stay in school and continue education through grade school, high school, and college. The foundation also helps children pursue music in school. West contributed over $500,000 to this foundation.
Two months after the death of his mother on September 18, 2007 he released his third album, “Graduation”. The album was released the same day 50 Cent released “Curtis”. The album was later certified double platinum with guest appearances like T-Pain, Mos Def and Li Wayne.
He was nominated in eight Grammy Awards categories for the 50th annual Grammy Awards. He won four of them including “Best Rap Album” for “Graduation” and “Best Rap Solo Performance” for, “Stronger” from “Graduation”
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| Kanye and JayZ |
In November 23 2008 he won the AMA awards. He was named GQ’s Most Stylist Men in America on February 17, 2009. The next day, February 18, 2009 West won International Solo Artist at the Brit Awards 2009.
During a Paris Fashion Week in 2009 he introduced his first shoe line designed for Louis Vuitton.
On October 15, 2010 he was ranked 3rd in BET’s ‘Top Ten Rappers of the 21st Century List’. He also won the 2012 BET award.
Kanye is married to Kim Kardashian and has two children
Other albums
- 808s & Heartbreak
- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
- Kanye West is about 1.79M tall, he loves listening to rock music.
More videos by Kanye West
Posted in Celebrity/Entertainers
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