Kanye West
Atlanta-born, Chicago-raised producer and rapper who rose from Roc-A-Fella beatmaker to one of the best-selling and most-awarded artists in hip hop history.
South Shore upbringing
Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta on June 8, 1977, and moved to Chicago at age three after his parents divorced. His mother, Donda West, became chair of the English department at Chicago State University, and the two settled in the South Shore neighborhood on the South Side. He attended Polaris School for Individual Education in suburban Oak Lawn and briefly enrolled at Chicago State before leaving to pursue music, a decision that shaped the title of his first album. As a teenager he learned production under Chicago producer No I.D.
Roc-A-Fella producer
West first made his name as an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, earning early acclaim for his soul-sample work on Jay-Z's “The Blueprint” (2001). On October 23, 2002, he broke his jaw in a head-on car crash driving home from the studio; weeks later he recorded “Through the Wire” with his jaw still wired shut, and the song helped launch his own rapping career.
Albums and hits
“The College Dropout,” released February 10, 2004, through Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. “Late Registration” (2005) and “Graduation” (2007) both reached No. 1, and “Gold Digger” and “Stronger” topped the Hot 100. Later albums including “808s & Heartbreak” (2008), “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (2010), “Yeezus” (2013), “The Life of Pablo” (2016), “Ye” (2018), “Jesus Is King” (2019) and “Donda” (2021) repeatedly shifted his sound. He founded GOOD Music in 2004, and “Bully” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in 2026.
Legacy
West has won 24 Grammy Awards, among the most of any hip hop artist, and legally changed his name to Ye in 2021. His public statements have drawn frequent controversy; antisemitic remarks in 2022 led Adidas to end its Yeezy partnership. His production and album-making remain among the most influential in modern hip hop.
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