Kanye West Biography, Facts & FAQ

Kanye Omari West is an American rap artist and hip hop producer. Chicago-bred Kanye's music might be the most exciting thing going in hip-hop at the moment. He helped produce Jay-Z's The Blueprint, and producedd a consistent array of chart-topping inspirational beats for artists as diverse as Scarface, Talib Kweli, and Ludacris. His first three albums received wide acclaim, including nine grammys.

Kanye was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 8, 1977. He was raised on Chicago's South Side by his mother, an English professor, and spent summers with his father, an award-winning photographer who became a church counselor. His parents divorced when West was three.

West graduated from Polaris High School before completing exactly one year of art school at Chicago State University. He explained his decision to drop out of school in a 2004 interview. 'I dropped out of school because I wasn't learning fast enough... I learned from real life better.' While acting as producer to the stars, West cut a demo and began shopping it around. In 2002, Roc-A-Fella Records, the label that signed Jay-Z, decided to give West a chance as a rapper. The company already knew he was a talented record producer. West signed a record deal that year and began recording in the studio.

The College Dropout was hailed as one of the best albums of the year. Critics praised West for taking hip-hop in a new direction. Songs on the album focus on walking with God while trying to 'be real,' and the producer/rapper says it all with a gospel choir backing him up.

Kanye West Awards

Kanye West Discography

Graduation
Released: 09-11-2007
Discs: 1
Tracks: 13