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Kanye Omari West (born June 8 1977) is a Grammy Award-winning American producer/rapper.

Biography

The West family moved from Atlanta, Georgia, where Kanye was born, to the Chicago area when Kanye was three-years old. He then moved to the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, FL, on Kells Rd. Kanye grew up next to his future possy, Eric Richie Adam and Sambo. They had many wild adventures, including a rap group idea. West's father, Ray West, was working as an award-winning photojournalist when Kanye was born, and currently works as a pastoral marriage counselor. Kanye's mother, Dr. Donna West, worked as the Chair of English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to serve as Kanye's manager.

After attending Columbia College Chicago, a local Chicago art school, West then attended Chicago State University. West dropped out of CSU and began working on his music career. Even while attending school, West produced for local acts. He gained some fame by producing hit singles for major hip-hop/R&B artists, including Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Cam'ron, Janet Jackson, Brandy, Talib Kweli, Dilated Peoples, Chamillionaire, Ludacris, Carter Hays, and John Legend. West himself worked on his first solo album for a long period of time, having the release pushed back on multiple occasions.

West soon became a major name in hip-hop production following the release of Jay-Z's critically-acclaimed album The Blueprint, which featured four tracks produced by Kanye, most notably the lead single "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and the Prodigy and Nas diss "Takeover." Due to his appearance and overall style, West struggled to find a way to get his own voice on record. Jay-Z has admitted that Roc-A-Fella was reluctant to support West as a rapper at first, claiming that he saw him as a producer first and foremost. Multiple record companies put him aside because he was not a former street hustler and he did not wear stereotype hip-hop apparel. He was therefore not marketable the way other rappers were.

Kanye was involved in a car crash October 23, 2002, when he fell asleep at the wheel while coming home from the studio. The crash left his jaw fractured in three places, and nearly killed him. The crash inspired his first single "Through the Wire." He recorded it two weeks after the crash while his mouth was still wired shut.Following this recovery Kanye was said to have become a born again Christian after he said that Jesus saved him with a quick recovery. He shows his faith in many of his songs such as the song 'Jesus Walks'.

"Through the Wire," which sampled Chaka Khan's classic track "Through the Fire," would eventually become his lead single from The College Dropout, which was released on Roc-a-Fella Records in February 2004. A later single from the album, "Jesus Walks," would become a major success, and later a staple of his benefit performances, such as at the Live 8 concert. The College Dropout received a great deal of critical praise, in spite of some hip-hop fans' claims that Kanye was much more accomplished as a producer than as a rapper.

On August 30th, 2005, Kanye West released his second album Late Registration. Reviews ranged from glowing ("Late Registration is an undeniable triumph" -Rolling Stone) to mixed ("As ornate and bloated as West's ego". -Spin magazine Sep 2005, p.99).* The first two singles were "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" (which contained samples from Shirley Bassey's "Diamonds Are Forever") and "Gold Digger" featuring Jamie Foxx. The album went on to sell over 904,000 copies in its first week, and spun off eight Grammy Award nominations including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Gold Digger." West announced that his third and fourth albums will be titled Graduation and A Good Ass Job, respectively.

West, holder of six Grammys, has collaborated with numerous artists, most notably with rapper Twista on songs such as "Overnight Celebrity" and "Slow Jamz" (also featuring Jamie Foxx) — the latter would reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, becoming the first number one hit for all artists involved. West is also featured on Brandy's single, "Talk About Our Love." Others with whom West has collaborated include Jay-Z, Chamillionaire, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Ludacris, Dilated Peoples, Mariah Carey, Miri Ben-Ari (whose violin arrangements featured heavily on The College Dropout), and John Legend (who also features on West's first album, providing background vocals). Kanye West is also credited with revitalizing the careers of such rappers as Common and Twista, as well as more recently producing the critically acclaimed The Game track "Dreams."

In early 2005, West coined the term "white crunk" to describe the gritty drum sounds of Scottish alternative dance-rock group Franz Ferdinand, whom he claims is among his favorite bands. West and the band met at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards, where they sat down together to share praise and advice. West feels that the white crunk vibe has affected his new work, and is best exemplified on the track "Diamonds from Sierra Leone", from his 2005 album Late Registration. The band itself is also greatly influenced by Kanye and sought advice from him on how to improve production for their 2005 album You Could Have It So Much Better. Currently he is working with Common for his next album, Finding Forever, and rappers Consequence and Really Doe for their GOOD Music debuts.

Political views

On July 2, 2005, West appeared on the Philadelphia bill of Live 8, using the global platform to refer to "man-made diseases placed in African communities," a reference to the belief that AIDS was introduced to Africa via the CHAT polio vaccine.

In "Crack Music", he raps, "How we stop the Black Panthers?/Ronald Reagan cooked up an answer." In the second verse, he raps, "Who gave Saddam anthrax?/George Bush got the answer." He has accused American politicians of insensitivity, claiming they "...[ride home in their Benzes and Bentleys while poor Africans starve."

Demonstrating his dislike of George Bush, in the 2006 orchestra version of "All Falls Down" (released on "Late Registration"), Kanye replaces "...and the White man gets paid off of all of that", with "...and George Bush gets paid off of all of that".

On August 22, 2005, the MTV special All Eyes on Kanye West aired, on which West said that the term "gay" is the exact opposite word of "hip-hop" to many. He said that hip hop has always been about "speaking your mind and about breaking down barriers, but everyone in hip-hop discriminates against gay people." He then reflected on a personal experience. He said that he had ... "a turning point" when he realized one of his cousins was gay. He said, regarding this experience, "Yo, this is my cousin. I love him and I've been discriminating against gays." He further said, "Not just hip-hop but America just discriminates against gay people." He concluded by saying "... And I wanna just come on TV, and just tell my rappers, just tell my friends, 'Yo, stop it.'" He also drew comparison between African Americans' struggle for civil rights and today's gay rights movement.

The following year, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, West further expounded his experiences with and views on the relationship between the black and gay communities:

Controversy

On September 2, 2005, during a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina relief on NBC, A Concert for Hurricane Relief, West was a featured speaker. Controversy arose when West was presenting, as he deviated from the prepared script:

Mike Myers, whom West was paired with to present, spoke next and continued as normal by reading the script. Once it was West's turn to speak again, he said, "George Bush doesn't care about black people".

Although the camera quickly cut away, West's comments still reached the U.S. East Coast in the live news-feed. They were also broadcast on the west coast three hours later, however the line about President Bush was removed.

A week later West performed before a Patriots game and was loudly booed for the duration of his performance due to audience's disgust with him and his previous comments. *

After the 2006 Grammy nominations were released, West said he would "really have a problem" if he didn't win the Album of the Year award because of the comments, saying: "I don't care what I do, I don't care how much I stunt — you can never take away from the amount of work I put into it. I don't want to hear all of that politically correct stuff." *.

In January 2006, West again sparked controversy when he appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in the image of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. Later that month, he suggested in Playboy that he'd be a griot in a modern day Bible claiming "I bring up historical subjects in a way that makes kids want to learn about them." Seeing himself as an inspirational speaker, West claimed he would be "a part of the Bible" citing he is "definitely in the history books already." This brought some controversy, leading to Carlos Mencia calling him "crazy" and writing a rap song entitled "Kanye West is a Crazy Nigga." He claimed that West did not belong in the Bible, because West is a rapper and is "not God and not Jesus" and "He thinks he's God but he's just a little 'dee dee dee. '"*

West ran into some minor controversy regarding the writing credits for the Grammy-nominated song "Jesus Walks." Although MC Rhymefest had received co-credit, some alleged that the song's lyrics were entirely written by the then-unknown MC (the two maintain that they wrote and produced the song together and there is no evidence that all or even most of the song was the work of Rhymefest). Although Rhymfest received award for his co-writing--an incredibly common practice in popular music--some fans maintained that the nomination was inappropriate for a hip-hop artist since West had not written all of the lyrics *.

Additionally, a financial dispute occurred over Royce da 5'9"'s song "Heartbeat", produced by West and released on Build & Destroy: The Lost Sessions. After the disagreement, West disavowed ever working with Royce again.

Production technique

Kanye West uses a production technique which consists of utilizing sped-up soul samples set to his own drum beat. He used this formula for "This Can't Be Life," a track from Jay-Z's Roc La Familia that was his second beat for a Roc-A-Fella artist, after Beanie Sigel's title track to The Truth. West has admitted that Wu-Tang Clan producer RZA influenced him in his style; RZA has been known to include sped-up soul samples in his beats, albeit with much grimier production layers that are the group's trademark. West's technique played a large role in defining the soul sound of Jay-Z's critically-acclaimed The Blueprint, although tracks such as "Takeover," where West flips an instrumental by The Doors for the beat, showed more variety. The two tracks he produced on Jay-Z's critically-acclaimed The Black Album delved into jazz ("Encore") and reggae ("Lucifer.")

For his debut The College Dropout, West generally utilized the technique he had become known for; the album's lead single "Through the Wire," for example, featured sped-up samples of Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire." On his sophomore effort Late Registration, however, with the help of Jon Brion, he expanded his sound, utilizing non-altered samples along with string compositions crafted by Brion and other layered sounds. West's choice of Brion as producer was likely influenced by Brion's work for Fiona Apple, another of West's cited influences.

GOOD Music and Pastelle Clothing

"GOOD Music" (an acronym for Getting Out Our Dreams), the record label founded by Kanye West, has already released John Legend's platinum selling debut album Get Lifted, along with Common's platinum album — Be. Other artists on the GOOD Music label include GLC, Consequence, Really Doe, SA-RA Creative Partners, and Fonzworth Bentley.

In September 2005, West announced that he will release his Pastelle Clothing line in spring 2006. He said of the decision, "Now that I have a Grammy under my belt and Late Registration second album is finished, I am ready to launch my clothing line next spring." *

Kanye West will be in the studio in 2006 working on new albums from the artists signed on his G.O.O.D. Music label. G.O.O.D. Music artists rumored to release an album in 2006 are SA-RA, Keyshia Cole, Consequence and GLC. West is also rumored to be producing tracks for Jay-Z, and may be working with a future record producer, poet, writer, film producer and fellow college dropout from Shreveport, Louisiana.

He is also rumored to be working with R&B singer, Ciara, on her sophomore album, Mixed Emotions.

Awards

2006 Grammy Awards

On February 8, 2006, West won three Grammy Awards after being nominated for eight, alongside Mariah Carey and his own protégé, John Legend. At the ceremony, West performed "Gold Digger" with Jamie Foxx and members of the Florida A&M Marching 100 marching band. He also performed "Touch the Sky" after an appearance by long-time friend and comedian DeRay Davis, who revisited his character as the leader of the fictional fraternity "Broke Phi Broke" from Late Registration. His nominations included (Awards won in bold):

2005 Grammy Awards

In 2005, Kanye West received ten Grammy Award nominations, making him the most nominated artist of 2005. At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony held on February 13, 2005, West won Best Rap Album for his album The College Dropout, Best Rap Song, along with long-time friend and rapper Rhymefest, for his single "Jesus Walks", and Best R&B Song for producing Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name." West performed at the show alongside John Legend, Mavis Staples and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

His 2005 Grammy nominations were (Awards won in bold):

West's 2005 Grammy Acceptance Speech:

Others

His work with pop icon Janet Jackson also earned him a Grammy nomination for her single "I Want You," produced by West, which was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

After losing the Best New Artist award to Gretchen Wilson at the 2004 American Music Awards, West went on a rant against the music industry, claiming "I was the best new artist this year," and "I got 10 Grammy nominations, and won three — even if I should have won all 10" *.

Kanye West was named 'Best International Male' at the 2006 Brit Awards in London. He also gave what was generally considered the standout performance of the ceremony, performing a medley of Diamonds from Sierra Leone, Gold Digger, and Touch The Sky. During Gold Digger, he danced with over seventy female dancers, who were painted gold and dressed in gold bikinis.

Trivia

  • In his home he paid for a painting on his ceiling similar to Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and replaced the faces of the disciples with his own.
  • His mother's name is Donna West. His fathers name is Ray West.
  • He moved to Chicago at age 3.
  • Parents are divorced.
  • Lived in Japan with his mother when he was 10.
  • Has won 8 out of 18 Grammy nominations.
  • Dropped out of Columbia College Chicago, which both of West's full lengths are based around.
  • Was an art major at Chicago State University.
  • His second album Late Registration sold 860,000 copies in its first week.
  • His "George Bush doesn't care about black people" outburst was satirized on Arrested Development. GOB's puppet Franklin Delano Bluth wore a t-shirt with the slogan "George Bush doesn't care about black puppets" in one of the series' final episodes.
  • Started as a ghost-producer. (Producing songs by proxy)
  • Before West became well-known, he produced a track for The Madd Rapper featuring Eminem called "Stir Crazy."
  • In "I Need To Know," Kanye imitates Eminem's verse from "Dead Wrong" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous" uses lyrics from Notorious B.I.G.'s verse from the same song
  • In the mixtape world, Kanye has a term named after him called the "Homemade Kanye" which means when a mixtape DJ/producer steals a famous producer's drum kits to make new beats but bills them as new beats by the artists to sell mixtapes.
  • Kanye West was involved in a significant cadet moment during the video for the Beastie Boys hit "Triple Trouble".
  • His height is 5' 8"
  • He owns a condo in Hoboken, NJ.

Discography

Mixtapes

  • Get Well Soon
  • I'm Good
  • Mick Boogie presents the Essentials Collection
  • Kon the Louis Vuitton Don
  • Akademiks: JeaniusLevelMusikKanyeWest Vol. 1
  • Akademiks: JeaniusLevelMusikKanyeWest Vol. 2
  • Freshmen Adjustment
  • Freshmen Adjustment 2
  • Summer School (A roots Compilation)
  • Best of Kanye West
  • Tapemasters Inc- Kanye West: We Major
  • The Lost Tapes
  • Second Semester
  • Clinton Sparks presents Touch the Sky
  • Late
  • The College Dropout Mixtape Version
  • The High School Graduate Mixtape
  • Ego
  • The Class Of '06: The World's Best Dressed Label under G.O.O.D Music''

Albums

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US Hot 100 US Pop 100 US R&B/Hip-Hop US Rap UK Singles Chart Australian Singles Chart
2004 "Slow Jamz" (featuring Twista & Jamie Foxx) #1 (1 week) - #1 #1 #3 #26 The College Dropout / Kamikaze
2004 "Through the Wire" #15 - #6 #4 #9 The College Dropout
2004 "All Falls Down" (featuring Syleena Johnson) #7 * - #4 #2 #10 The College Dropout
2004 "Jesus Walks" #11 * - #2 #3 #18 The College Dropout
2004 "The New Workout Plan" - - #59 - - The College Dropout
2004 "Two Words" (feat. Mos Def & Freeway & The Harlem Boys Choir) - - - - - The College Dropout
2005 "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" #48 * #40 #21 #11 #8 Late Registration
2005 "Gold Digger" (featuring Jamie Foxx) #1 (10 weeks) Platinum #1 #1 #1 #2 #1 Late Registration
2005 "Heard 'Em Say" (featuring Adam Levine) #28 * #34 #12 #17 #22 #27 Late Registration
2006 "Touch The Sky" (featuring Lupe Fiasco) #41 #42 #28 #10 #8 #10 Late Registration
2006 "Drive Slow" (featuring Paul Wall, GLC & Tony Williams) #42 #45 #21 - - Late Registration

Guest appearances

  • "Welcome 2 Chicago" by Abstract Mindstate feat. Kanye West (2001)
  • "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly" by Consequence feat. Kanye West (2003)
  • "Higher" by Do or Die feat. Kanye West (2003)
  • "Oh Oh" by Melbeatz feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "So Soulful" by Consequence feat. Kanye West, Khayree, & John Legend (2004)
  • "03' Til Infinity" by Consequence feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "Take It As A Loss" by Consequence feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "I See Now" by Consequence feat. Kanye West, & Little Brother (2004)
  • "Where You At" by Kanye West feat. The Game & Ludacris (2004)
  • "Getting Out The Game" by Consequence feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "Turn Yourself In" by Consequence feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "Get By (Remix)" Talib Kweli feat. Mos Def, Jay Z, Kanye West, and Busta Rhymes (2004)
  • "Overnight Celebrity" by Twista feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "This Way" by Dilated Peoples feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "Changing Lanes" by CHOPS feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "Down And Out" by Cam'ron feat. Kanye West and Syleena Johnson (2004)
  • "The Food" by Common feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "Talk About Our Love" by Brandy feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "Confessions Part 2 (Remix)" by Usher feat. Kanye West, Shyne and Twista (2004)
  • "I Gotta Love" by Jin feat. Kanye West (October 2004)
  • "Selfish" by Slum Village feat. Kanye West and John Legend (2004)
  • "Pusha Man" by Bump J feat. Kanye West, & Rick James (2004)
  • "Pusha Man Remix" by Bump J feat. Kanye West, Keyshia Cole, & Rhymefest (2004)
  • "The Way That U Do" by Carl Thomas feat. Kanye West (2004)
  • "Crazy" by Aura feat. Kanye West, & Malice (2004 or 05)
  • "Fly Away" by Miri Ben-Ari feat. Fabolous, Kanye West, & Musiq Soulchild (2005)
  • "Number One" by John Legend feat. Kanye West (2005)
  • "Go" by Common feat. Kanye West (2005)
  • "Stay The Night" by Mariah Carey (produced by Kanye West) (2005)
  • "Extravaganza" by Jamie Foxx feat. Kanye West (2005)
  • "Brand New" by Rhymefest feat. Kanye West (February 2006)
  • "Tell Me When To Go (Remix)" by E-40 feat. Kanye West, The Game, and Ice Cube (2006)
  • "Back Like That (Remix)" by Ghostface feat. Kanye West and Ne-Yo (2006)
  • "Number 1" by Pharrell feat. Kanye West (2006)
  • "Side 2 Side" by Three 6 Mafia feat. Kanye West and Bow Wow (2006)
  • "More" by Rhymefest feat. Kanye West (2006)
  • "Rise Of The Phynx. Jet Phynx

Motion Picture Soundtracks

Kanye West has interpreted the theme music for " Impossible III". He has also recorded a song ("Impossible" featuring Twista, Keyshia Cole, and BJ) for the movie.

References

See also

External links

1977 births | African American musicians | Christian musicians | American rappers | American record producers | Buskers | Chicagoans | College dropouts | Def Jam affiliated performers | Grammy Award winners | Hip hop producers | Living people | Rhythmic Top 40 acts | Artist-producers | Saturday Night Live musical guests | People from Illinois | Chicago musicians

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