Artists A-Z # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Genres: Rap  
Styles: Hip-Hop  Pop-Rap  

BIO

Date Of Birth:06/08/1977 Place Of Birth:Atlanta, Georgia, USA Years Active:00’s Genre(s):Rap  Style(s):Hip-Hop Pop-Rap  Instrument(s):Vocals, Percussion, Piano Associated Projects: Website:http://www.kanyewest.com

Kanye Omari West was born in an upper middle class family in Atlanta, Georgia. With both of his parents he lived only for three years, because they divorced and mother took Kanye with her to Chicago, Illinois. Kanye got a good education (Polaris High School, The American Academy of Art), but finally dropped his study in the Chicago University to devote himself fully to the musical career. Later West also became well-known for producing other rap and R&B singers' hits, including The Game, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson and Eminem. Inspired by the music of Wu-Tang Clan, Dr.Dre and Jay-Z, Kanye worked out his own style - he took vocal samples from different songs (usually soul ones) and added them to his own drums and other instruments. Using heavily the music of his idols, the rapper started promoting his songs to different recording companies since 2001, but they refused him saying they did not like his unusual image.

On October 23, 2002, Kanye West got into a car accident after falling asleep while driving. Every cloud has a silver lining, and this crash inspired him for writing the first sinlge, Through The Wire, with a strong faith motive. It entered the debut album College Dropout that saw light in 2004. It was highly apprased by critics for good sampling and whitty wordplay in lyrics. Rap-singer also chose for his symbol a cute teddy bear that can be seen on all his albums and singles. In August 2005 West released his second disc, Late Registration. It got the most favorable critical acclaims and brought Kanye the Grammy award after releasing such brilliant rap anthems as Diamonds From Sierra Leone (which features wonderful vocals of Shirley Bassey's from Diamonds Are Forever) and Gold Digger (featuring Jamie Foxx). Though soon after this event the artist said he was going to launch his own clothes line, the condition of this project is unsettled till now. In January 2006 West shocked the audience appearing on the Rolling Stone cover in the image of Jesus. Though after College Dropout ovewhealming success the singer was never afraid to take brave decisions.

He wanted to get the Grammy for The Best Album Of The Year in 2006, but having 8 Grammies in the pocket, did not win the nomination (the prize went to U2). It was the beginning of the unlucky period in West's musical añtivity, but happy personal life compensated it - Kanye announced the engagement to his girlfriend Alexis. In November of the same year West was again involved into a scandal. At the MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony his video lost the competition and West went into the scene saying aloud that it was him who should have got the award. He later apologized for this statement. In the beginning of 2007 it was known that Kanye worked on his new creation, called Graduation, and the third studio record would be availiable to listeners in September of this year. In July the artist officially transmitted the release date from September 18 to September 11 - the presentation date of 50 Cent's new edition Curtis. That meant that the albums would compete in sales and popularity. 50 Cent even proclaimed that if his disc lost he would have finished his musical career. Though sensibility won and the rival refused from these words. The first sinlge from Graduation, Stronger, recorded with the electronica giants Daft Punk, showed that Kanye West has serious chances for the win. As soon as a year later, West presented his new studio effort that received the title 808’s & Heartbreak. This record appeared the most personal in the artist’s entire discography. He executed this album in his established and easy recognizable manner.