Kanye West began his career in music by churning out hit beats for the top lyricists in the rap game. But a fire to put his own lyrics to his beats burned relentlessly inside the young man. Kanye launched his solo career thanks to much of his work on albums for hip-hop mogul Jay-Z and took the world by storm as a rapper. After what seemed like delay after delay, including a 2002 car accident that caused his jaw to be temporarily wired shut, West released his debut record The College Dropout in 2004. The album was a hit and gained much critical acclaim, evidenced by the astounding 10 Grammy nominations West received in 2005. West took home Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song for his single “Jesus Walks” and a share of Best R&B Song.West’s music wasn’t the only thing to get him noticed. His flamboyant personality instantly made him one of the more intriguing artists out there. His spruced-up fashion sense set him apart from most other hip-hop artists and his amusing arrogance only contributed to his fast-growing reputation. He performed at most major awards shows and consistently released remarkable music videos. In 2005 West released his second effort, Late Registration, which produced a multitude of hit singles and won a Grammy for album of the year. He continued to produce for other artists like Janet Jackson, Brandy, The Game, Common and John Legend. After touring internationally and churning out beats for fellow artists for two years, West released his third album, Graduation, in September of 2007. Singles “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” and “Stronger” spearheaded the track list. West’s behavior has certainly caused its fair share of controversy. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he said that “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” on live television during a fundraiser for victims of the natural disaster. But West also defies a lot of negative stereotypes surrounding rap music. He’s openly voiced his opposition to the homophobia that exudes from a lot of rap music and has shown himself to be witty and intelligent. Kanye West is certainly a unique character in the realm of music. His talent as a producer and rapper is indisputable, as displayed by the hardware his musical endeavors have earned him. West’s versatility is sure to keep him in the public eye for a long time, and his brash behavior should help him continue his reign as a media darling for years to come.
