Kanye West

Kanye Omari West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia.{{efn|Most biographies and reference works state that West was born in Atlanta, although some sources give his birthplace as Douglasville, a small city west of Atlanta.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JanbEhQx5RwC&pg=PA15 |title=Kanye West: Grammy-Winning Hip-Hop Artist & Producer |first1=Audrey |last1=Borus |first2=Douglas |last2=Lynne |access-date=June 8, 2020 |isbn=978-1-61783-623-7 |year=2013}}{{cite web |last1=Revolt TV |title=A timeline of Kanye West's 41 years of excellence |url=https://www.revolt.tv/2018/6/8/20819428/a-timeline-of-kanye-west-s-41-years-of-excellence |website=Revolt |date=June 8, 2018 |access-date=June 8, 2020 |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609022529/https://www.revolt.tv/2018/6/8/20819428/a-timeline-of-kanye-west-s-41-years-of-excellence |url-status=live }}}} After his parents divorced when he was three years old, he moved with his mother to Chicago, Illinois.{{cite web|last=Arney|first=Steve|access-date=April 26, 2008|url=https://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_79bc1031-1dc9-511b-8444-243951568e4b.html|title=Kanye West Coming To Redbird.|work=Pantagraph|date=March 8, 2006|archive-date=April 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428042047/https://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_79bc1031-1dc9-511b-8444-243951568e4b.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_19_111/ai_n19206336|title=Dr. Donda West Tells How She Shaped Son To Be A Leader In Raising Kanye|first=Margena A.|last=Christian|date=May 14, 2007|work=Jet|access-date=August 19, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113155045/https://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_19_111/ai_n19206336|archive-date=November 13, 2007}} His father, Ray West, is a former Black Panther and was one of the first black photojournalists at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ray later became a Christian counselor, and in 2006, opened the Good Water Store and Café in Lexington Park, Maryland, with startup capital from his son.{{cite web|url=https://www.mygoodwater.com/about.html|title=About|publisher=Westar Waterworks, LLC t/a The Good Water Store and Café|access-date=December 31, 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623223030/https://www.mygoodwater.com/about.html|archive-date=June 23, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/06/AR2006120602139.html|title=How'd You Like Your Water?|first=Michael|last=Tunison|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=December 7, 2006|access-date=December 31, 2012|archive-date=December 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208084954/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/06/AR2006120602139.html|url-status=live}} West's mother, Donda C. West (née Williams),{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JanbEhQx5RwC&pg=PA15 |title=Kanye West: Grammy-Winning Hip-Hop Artist & Producer |first1=Audrey |last1=Borus |first2=Douglas |last2=Lynne |access-date=September 2, 2013 |isbn=978-1-61783-623-7 |year=2013}} was a professor of English at Clark Atlanta University and the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to serve as his manager.

West was raised in a middle-class environment, attending Polaris School for Individual Education{{cite magazine |last=Davis |first=Kimberly |date=June 2004 |title=The Many Faces of Kanye West |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J9kDAAAAMBAJ&q=kanye&pg=PA93 |magazine=Ebony |page=92 |access-date=July 19, 2007 |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302200411/https://books.google.com/books?id=J9kDAAAAMBAJ&q=kanye&pg=PA93#v=snippet&q=kanye&f=false |url-status=live }} in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois, after living in Chicago.{{cite magazine |last=Tyrangiel |first=Josh |date=August 21, 2005 |title=Why You Can't Ignore Kanye |url=https://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1096499,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401082700/https://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C1096499%2C00.html |archive-date=April 1, 2007 |access-date=June 7, 2007}} At the age of 10, West moved with his mother to Nanjing, China, where she was teaching at Nanjing University as a Fulbright Scholar.{{cite web |last1=Dillon |first1=Nancy |title=Donda West gave her all to enrich son Kanye West's life |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/donda-west-gave-enrich-son-kanye-west-life-article-1.256037 |website=New York Daily News |date=November 14, 2007 |access-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723234715/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/donda-west-gave-enrich-son-kanye-west-life-article-1.256037 |url-status=live }} According to his mother, West was the only foreigner in his class, but he settled in well and quickly picked up the language, although he has since forgotten most of it.{{cite book|last=West|first=Donda|author-link=Donda West|title=Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2007|location=New York City|pages=[https://archive.org/details/raisingkanyelive00west/page/85 85–93]|isbn=978-1-4165-4470-8|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/raisingkanyelive00west/page/85}} When asked about his grades in high school, West replied, "I got A's and B's."{{cite web|last=Mos|first=Corey|title=College Dropout Kanye Tells High School Students Not To Follow in His Footsteps|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1517484/20051205/west_kanye.jhtml|website=MTV|date=December 5, 2005|access-date=July 28, 2006|archive-date=December 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208030420/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1517484/20051205/west_kanye.jhtml|url-status=dead}}

West demonstrated an affinity for the arts at an early age; he began writing poetry when he was five years old.{{cite news|title=Kanye and His Mom Shared Special Bond|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/11/13/kanye-and-his-mom-shared-special-bond/|work=Chicago Tribune|date=November 13, 2007|access-date=August 7, 2012|archive-date=February 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221044031/https://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-11-13/news/0711130488_1_chicago-state-university-degree-from-auburn-university-kanye-west|url-status=live}} West started rapping in the third grade and began making musical compositions in the seventh grade, eventually selling them to other artists.{{cite web|author=Calloway, Sway|author2=Reid, Shaheem|title=Kanye West: Kanplicated|url=https://www.mtv.com/bands/w/west_kanye/news_feature_022404/index2.jhtml|date=February 20, 2004|publisher=MTV|access-date=April 21, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406021640/https://www.mtv.com/bands/w/west_kanye/news_feature_022404/index2.jhtml|archive-date=April 6, 2009}} West crossed paths with producer No I.D., who became West's friend and mentor.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXy2wTEsbCsC|title=Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture|last=Dills|first=Todd|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2007|isbn=978-0-313-33904-2|editor-last=Hess|editor-first=Mickey|volume=2|location=Westport, CT|pages=555–578|language=en|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-date=July 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723234713/https://books.google.com/books?id=bXy2wTEsbCsC|url-status=live}}{{Rp|557}} After graduating from high school, West received a scholarship to attend Chicago's American Academy of Art in 1997 and began taking painting classes. Shortly after, he transferred to Chicago State University to study English. At age 20, he dropped out to pursue his musical career.West, Donda, p. 106 This greatly displeased his mother, who was also a professor at the university, although she would later accept the decision.{{Rp|558}}

West began his early production career in the mid-1990s, creating beats primarily for burgeoning local artists in the Chicago area. He received his first official production credits at age nineteen, when he produced eight tracks on Down to Earth, the 1996 debut album of Chicago-based underground rapper Grav.{{cite magazine|title=Photos: Kanye West's Career Highs—and Lows 1 of 24|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/photos-kanye-wests-career-highs-and-lows-20101210|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 10, 2010|access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-date=February 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216104340/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/photos-kanye-wests-career-highs-and-lows-20101210|url-status=dead}} In 1998, West was the first producer signed to the management-production company Hip Hop Since 1978, founded by Gee Roberson and Kyambo "Hip-Hop" Joshua.{{cite web |title=Gee Starts Own Label |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=287384&title+Gee-Starts-Own-Label |website=Hits Daily Double |access-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203080324/https://hitsdailydouble.com/news%26id%3D308429 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |date=December 21, 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web |title=Gee, Is He Making Moves? |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=308429 |website=Hits Daily Double |access-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203080324/https://hitsdailydouble.com/news%26id%3D308429 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |date=September 20, 2017 |url-status=live }} For a time, West acted as a ghost producer for Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie. Due to his association with Angelettie, West was not able to release a solo album, so he formed the Go-Getters, a hip-hop group composed of him and fellow Chicago natives GLC, Timmy G, Really Doe, and Arrowstar.{{cite web|author=Barber, Andrew|title=93. Go-Getters "Let Em In" (2000)|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2012/07/the-100-best-kanye-west-songs/let-em-in|work=Complex|date=July 23, 2012|access-date=August 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727014600/https://www.complex.com/music/2012/07/the-100-best-kanye-west-songs/let-em-in|archive-date=July 27, 2012}}{{cite web|author=Reid, Shaheem|title=Music Geek Kanye's Kast of Thousands|url=https://www.mtv.com/bands/m/music_geek/kanyewest_100305/|publisher=MTV|date=September 30, 2005|access-date=April 23, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060415173601/https://www.mtv.com/bands/m/music_geek/kanyewest_100305/|archive-date=April 15, 2006}} The Go-Getters independently released their first and only studio album, World Record Holders in 1999 through West's company, Konman Productions. West spent much of the late 1990s further producing for several musical acts.{{cite book |title=Kanye West: Hip-Hop Biographies |year=2013 |publisher=Saddleback Education Publishing |isbn=978-1-62250-016-1 |page=18}} He produced the third track on Foxy Brown's second studio album Chyna Doll (1999), which became the second hip-hop album by a female rapper to peak atop the US Billboard 200 chart.

File:Jay-Z Kanye Watch the Throne Staples Center 9 (cropped).jpg's The Blueprint. The two are pictured here in 2011.]]

In 2000, West began producing for artists on Roc-A-Fella Records as an in-house producer. West is often credited with revitalizing Jay-Z's career with extensive contributions to his 2001 album The Blueprint, which Rolling Stone ranked among their list of greatest hip-hop albums.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/jay-z-the-blueprint-20120524|title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: #464 (The Blueprint)|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 18, 2003|access-date=December 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715175432/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/jay-z-the-blueprint-20120524|archive-date=July 15, 2016|url-status=live}} West produced songs for label cohorts such as Beanie Sigel and Freeway, but also produced beats which were used by artists on other labels including Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson.Mitchum, Rob. [https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8767-the-college-dropout/ Review: The College Dropout] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731093001/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8767-the-college-dropout/ |date=July 31, 2009 }}. Pitchfork. Retrieved July 23, 2009.Serpick, Evan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930054329/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kanye-west/biography Kanye West]. Rolling Stone Jann Wenner. Retrieved December 26, 2009. Meanwhile, West struggled to attain a record deal as a rapper.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496766/road-grammys-kanye-west.jhtml|title=Road to the Grammys: The Making Of Kanye West's College Dropout|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=February 9, 2005|access-date=January 4, 2009|publisher=MTV|archive-date=July 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718104107/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496766/road-grammys-kanye-west.jhtml|url-status=dead}} Multiple record companies, including Capitol Records, denied or ignored him because he did not portray the gangsta image prominent in mainstream hip-hop at the time.{{Rp|556}} Desperate to keep West from defecting to another label, then-label head Damon Dash reluctantly signed West to Roc-A-Fella as a recording artist.{{Rp|556}}{{cite web|author=Williams, Jean A|access-date=April 27, 2008|url=https://www.blackcollegian.com/kanye-west-the-man-the-music-and-the-message/|title=Kanye West: The Man, the Music, and the Message. (Biography)|publisher=The Black Collegian|date=October 1, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125003250/https://www.blackcollegian.com/kanye-west-the-man-the-music-and-the-message/|archive-date=January 25, 2015}}

A 2002 car accident, which shattered his jaw,{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kanye-west-apos-2002-car-211020679.html|title=How Kanye West's 2002 Car Crash Shaped His Entire Career|publisher=Yahoo-Finance|access-date=June 6, 2018|archive-date=April 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415153441/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kanye-west-apos-2002-car-211020679.html|url-status=live}} inspired West; two weeks after being admitted to the hospital, he recorded "Through the Wire" at the Record Plant Studios with his jaw still wired shut.Kearney, Kevin (September 30, 2005). [https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2005/09/kany-s30.html Rapper Kanye West on the cover of Time: Will rap music shed its "gangster" disguise?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401225638/https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2005/09/kany-s30.html |date=April 1, 2016 }}. World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved September 23, 2007. The song was first included on West's debut mixtape Get Well Soon..., which was released in December 2002.{{cite web|author=Kamer, Foster|access-date=June 6, 2018|url=https://www.complex.com/music/the-50-best-rapper-mixtapes/kanye-west-get-well-soon|title=9. Kanye West, Get Well Soon ... (2003)—The 50 Best Rapper Mixtapes|work=Complex|date=March 11, 2013|archive-date=March 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313223732/https://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/the-50-best-rapper-mixtapes/kanye-west-get-well-soon|url-status=live}} At the same time, West announced that he was working on an album titled The College Dropout, whose overall theme was to "make your own decisions. Don't let society tell you, 'This is what you have to do.{{' "}}Reid, Shaheem (December 10, 2002). "[https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459071/kanye-west-raps-through-broken-jaw.jhtml Kanye West Raps Through His Broken Jaw, Lays Beats For Scarface, Ludacris] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228152622/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459071/kanye-west-raps-through-broken-jaw.jhtml |date=December 28, 2013 }}". MTV. Retrieved October 23, 2007.

{{Main|The College Dropout|Late Registration}}

File:Kanye West in Portland.jpg in December 2005 as a supporting act for U2 on their Vertigo Tour]]

West recorded the remainder of the album in Los Angeles while recovering from the car accident. It was leaked months before its release date, and West used the opportunity to remix, remaster, and revise the album before its release;{{cite web|last=Patel|first=Joseph|title=Producer Kanye West's Debut LP Features Jay-Z, ODB, Mos Def|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1472302/kanye-west-readying-debut-lp.jhtml|date=June 5, 2003|publisher=MTV|access-date=April 21, 2009|archive-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026080735/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1472302/kanye-west-readying-debut-lp.jhtml|url-status=dead}} West added new verses, string arrangements, gospel choirs, and improved drum programming. The album was postponed three times from its initial date in August 2003,{{cite web|url=https://popmatters.com/pm/review/westkanye-getwellsoon/|title=Kanye West: Get Well Soon / I'm Good|first=Hartley|last=Goldstein|date=December 5, 2003|work=PopMatters|access-date=March 21, 2013|archive-date=June 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621015704/https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/westkanye-getwellsoon/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://cdn.best.complex.com/music/2011/09/clinton-sparks-30-favorite-mixtapes/get-well-soon|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119184429/https://cdn.best.complex.com/music/2011/09/clinton-sparks-30-favorite-mixtapes/get-well-soon|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2013|title=Kanye West × The Heavy Hitters, Get Well Soon (2003)—Clinton Sparks' 30 Favorite Mixtapes|work=Complex|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=December 9, 2012|author=Ahmed, Insanul}} and was eventually released in February 2004, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 as his debut single, "Through the Wire" peaked at No. 15 while on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks.[https://acharts.us/song/337 Kanye West—Through the Wire—Music Charts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204917/https://acharts.us/song/337 |date=September 30, 2007 }}. aCharts.us. Retrieved July 3, 2010. "Slow Jamz", his second single, featuring Twista and Jamie Foxx, became the three musicians' first No. 1 hit. The College Dropout received critical acclaim, was nominated for the top album of the year by American Music Awards and Billboard,{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=September 14, 2004 |title=32nd American Music Awards Nominees |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/32nd-american-music-awards-nominees-66500/ |access-date=February 12, 2024 |magazine=Billboard|language=en-US |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212181432/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/32nd-american-music-awards-nominees-66500/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=November 30, 2004 |title=2004 Billboard Music Awards Finalists |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/2004-billboard-music-awards-finalists-65464/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112062939/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65464/2004-billboard-music-awards-finalists |archive-date=November 12, 2015 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}} and has consistently been ranked among the great hip-hop works and debut albums by artists.

"Jesus Walks", the album's fourth single, reached the top 20 of the Billboard pop charts, despite industry executives' predictions that a song containing such blatant declarations of faith would never make it to the radio.{{Cite news|last=Jones|first=Steve|title=Kanye West runs away with 'Jesus Walks'|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-02-10-kanye-west-main_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=February 10, 2005|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025231046/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-02-10-kanye-west-main_x.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Leland|first=John|author-link=John Leland (journalist)|title=Rappers Are Raising Their Churches' Roofs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/13/arts/music/13hiph.html?pagewanted=all&position=|work=The New York Times|date=August 13, 2004|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=May 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528052014/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/13/arts/music/13hiph.html?pagewanted=all&position=|url-status=live}} The College Dropout was certified triple platinum in the U.S., and garnered West 10 Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, and Best Rap Album (which it received).{{Cite news|last=Montgomery|first=James|title=Kanye Scores 10 Grammy Nominations; Usher And Alicia Keys Land Eight|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1494569/kanye-scores-10-grammy-nominations.jhtml|publisher=MTV|date=December 7, 2004|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=April 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411073415/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1494569/kanye-scores-10-grammy-nominations.jhtml|url-status=dead}} During this period, West founded GOOD Music, a record label and management company that housed affiliate artists and producers, such as No I.D. and John Legend,Sheffield, Rob (November 22, 2010). [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-20101109 Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218061924/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-20101109 |date=December 18, 2010 }}. Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 11, 2010. and produced singles for Brandy, Common, Legend, and Slum Village.

West invested $2 million and took over a year to make his second album.Brown, p. 120 West was inspired by Roseland NYC Live, a 1998 live album by English trip hop group Portishead, produced with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra,{{cite news|author=Scaggs, Austin|title=Kanye West: A Genius In Praise of Himself|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-a-genius-in-praise-of-himself-20070920|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 20, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309060656/https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/16257550/kanye_west_a_genius_in_praise_of_himself/print|archive-date=March 9, 2009|access-date=August 9, 2015|url-status=live}} incorporating string arrangements into his hip-hop production. Though West had not been able to afford many live instruments around the time of his debut album, the money from his commercial success enabled him to hire a string orchestra for his second album Late Registration. West collaborated with American film score composer Jon Brion, who served as the album's co-executive producer for several tracks.Perez, Rodrigo (August 12, 2005). [https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1507538/20050812/west_kanye.jhtml "Kanye's Co-Pilot, Jon Brion, Talks About The Making Of Late Registration"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051105015432/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1507538/20050812/west_kanye.jhtml |date=November 5, 2005 }}. MTV. Viacom. Retrieved March 2, 2006.Brown, p. 124 Late Registration sold over 2.3 million units in the United States alone by the end of 2005 and was considered by industry observers as the only successful major album release of the fall season, which had been plagued by steadily declining CD sales.{{cite magazine|author=Knopper, Steve|title=Kanye Couldn't Save Fall|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/8829100/kanyewest|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=RealNetworks, Inc|date=November 15, 2005|access-date=November 27, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201190546/https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/8829100/kanyewest|archive-date=December 1, 2005|url-status=dead}}

When his song "Touch the Sky" failed to win Best Video at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards, West went onto the stage as the award was being presented to Justice and Simian for "We Are Your Friends" and argued that he should have won the award instead.{{cite news|access-date=April 24, 2008|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/kanye-west-unleashes-tirade-after-losing-at-mtv-europe-music-awards|title=Kanye West Unleashes Tirade After Losing at MTV Europe Music Awards|publisher=Fox News |date=November 3, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023223440/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227304,00.html|archive-date=October 23, 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/02112006/emas_shocker_kanye_stage_invasion|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603120826/https://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/02112006/emas_shocker_kanye_stage_invasion|archive-date=June 3, 2007|title=EMAs Shocker: Kanye Stage Invasion!|access-date=June 7, 2007|publisher=MTV}} Hundreds of news outlets worldwide criticized the outburst. On November 7, 2006, West apologized for this outburst publicly during his performance as support act for U2 for their Vertigo concert in Brisbane.{{cite news|access-date=April 24, 2008|url=https://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Nov03/0,4670,MTVAwardsKanye,00.html|title=Kanye West Upset at MTV Video Award Loss|publisher=Fox News|first=Jan M.|last=Olsen|date=November 3, 2006|archive-date=May 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510113205/https://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Nov03/0,4670,MTVAwardsKanye,00.html|url-status=live}} He later spoofed the incident on the 33rd-season premiere of Saturday Night Live in September 2007.{{cite web|url=https://snlarchives.net/Episodes/?2007092913|title=SNL Archives {{!}} Episodes {{!}} September 29, 2007 #13|work=SNL Archives|last=Navaroli|first=Joel|date=September 29, 2007|access-date=January 10, 2015|archive-date=March 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317152741/https://snlarchives.net/Episodes/?2007092913|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Graduation (album)|808s & Heartbreak|Kanye West MTV Video Music Awards controversy|Kanye West–Taylor Swift feud}}

West's third studio album, Graduation, was released in September 2007. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and selling 957,000 copies in its first week.{{cite magazine|author=Mayfield, Geoff|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049350/kanye-well-ahead-of-50-cent-in-first-day-sales-race|title=Kanye Well Ahead of 50 Cent in First-Day Sales Race|magazine=Billboard|date=September 12, 2007|access-date=September 12, 2007|archive-date=July 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704222314/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049350/kanye-well-ahead-of-50-cent-in-first-day-sales-race|url-status=live}} Graduation continued the string of critical and commercial successes by West, and the album's lead single, "Stronger", garnered his third number-one hit.{{cite magazine|author=Cohen, Jonathan|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049151/kanye-caps-banner-week-with-hot-100-chart-topper|title=Kanye Caps Banner Week With Hot 100 Chart-Topper|magazine=Billboard|date=September 20, 2007|access-date=September 28, 2007|archive-date=June 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628050924/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049151/kanye-caps-banner-week-with-hot-100-chart-topper|url-status=live}} "Stronger", which samples French house duo Daft Punk, has been accredited to not only encouraging other hip-hop artists to incorporate house and electronica elements into their music, but also for playing a part in the revival of disco and electro-infused music in the late 2000s.{{cite magazine|author=Frere-Jones, Sasha|title=Dance Revolution|url=https://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/notebook/2009/03/30/090330gonb_GOAT_notebook_frerejones|magazine=The New Yorker|date=March 30, 2009|access-date=April 16, 2009|author-link=Sasha Frere-Jones|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326014159/https://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/notebook/2009/03/30/090330gonb_GOAT_notebook_frerejones|archive-date=March 26, 2009}} His mother's death in November 2007{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7090287.stm|title=Entertainment | Kanye's mother dies after surgery|publisher=BBC News|date=November 12, 2007|access-date=September 2, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927113810/https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7090287.stm|url-status=live}} and the end of his engagement to Alexis Phifer{{cite web|last=McGee|first=Tiffany|title=Kanye West's Fiancée 'Sad' Over Breakup|url=https://people.com/celebrity/kanye-wests-fiance-sad-over-breakup/|work=People|access-date=November 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207093204/https://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20193726%2C00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines|archive-date=December 7, 2008|url-status=live}} profoundly affected West, who set off for his 2008 Glow in the Dark Tour shortly thereafter.{{cite web|last=Thorogood|first=Tom|title=Kanye West Opens Up His Heart|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/460118-kanye-west-opens-his-heart|publisher=MTV UK. Viacom International Media Networks|access-date=November 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217114954/https://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/460118-kanye-west-opens-his-heart|archive-date=December 17, 2008|url-status=dead}}

File:Kanyewestdec2008.jpg

Recorded mostly in Honolulu, Hawaii in three weeks,{{cite magazine|last=Macia|first=Peter|title=FADER 58: Kanye West Cover Story and Interview|magazine=The Fader|url=https://www.thefader.com/features/2008/11/25/fader-58-kanye-west-cover-story-and-interview|access-date=November 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202233800/https://www.thefader.com/features/2008/11/25/fader-58-kanye-west-cover-story-and-interview|archive-date=December 2, 2008|url-status=dead}} West announced his fourth album, 808s & Heartbreak, at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, where he performed its lead single, "Love Lockdown". Music audiences were taken aback by the uncharacteristic production style and the presence of Auto-Tune, which typified the pre-release response to the record.{{cite news|title=Urban Review: Kanye West, 808s and Heartbreak|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/nov/09/kanye-west-hip-hop-808s-heartbreak|work=The Observer|date=November 9, 2008|access-date=November 24, 2008|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201103614/https://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/09/kanye-west-hip-hop-808s-heartbreak|archive-date=December 1, 2008|url-status=live}} 808s & Heartbreak was released by Island Def Jam in November 2008.{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Kanye West Inspires The Question: Should Rappers Sing?|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599993/20081121/west_kanye.jhtml|publisher=MTV. Viacom|access-date=November 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204032313/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599993/20081121/west_kanye.jhtml|archive-date=December 4, 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Montgomery, James|title=New Albums From Kanye West, Ludacris, Killers To Get Rare Monday Release on November 24|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598986/20081110/west_kanye.jhtml|date=November 10, 2008|publisher=MTV|access-date=August 12, 2008|archive-date=November 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103181659/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598986/new-lps-from-ludacris-kanye-west-killers-get-monday-release-date.jhtml|url-status=dead}} Upon its release, the lead single "Love Lockdown" debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100,{{cite magazine|date=July 2, 2009|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043977/ti-back-atop-hot-100-kanye-debuts-high|title=T.I. Back Atop Hot 100, Kanye Debuts High|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 11, 2012|archive-date=May 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502013852/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043977/ti-back-atop-hot-100-kanye-debuts-high|url-status=live}} while follow-up single "Heartless" debuted at number four.[https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?exp=y&Ne=4&inert=25&Ntt=Heartless+Kanye+West&Ntk=Keyword&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&nor=10&an=bbcom&Ns=FORMATTED_DATE|0&N=37+4294126188#pos25 Heartless: Hot 100 Charts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505231714/https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?exp=y&Ne=4&inert=25&Ntt=Heartless+Kanye+West&Ntk=Keyword&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&nor=10&an=bbcom&Ns=FORMATTED_DATE%7C0&N=37+4294126188#pos25 |date=May 5, 2009 }}. Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2009. While it was criticized prior to release, 808s & Heartbreak is considered to have had a significant effect on hip-hop music, encouraging other rappers to take more creative risks with their productions.{{cite web|last=Carmichael|first=Emma|url=https://www.theawl.com/2011/09/kanye%E2%80%99s-808s-how-a-machine-brought-heartbreak-to-hip-hop|title=Kanye's '808s': How A Machine Brought Heartbreak To Hip Hop|publisher=The Awl|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=March 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229125050/https://www.theawl.com/2011/09/kanye%E2%80%99s-808s-how-a-machine-brought-heartbreak-to-hip-hop|archive-date=December 29, 2011}}

While Taylor Swift was accepting her award for Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, West went on stage and grabbed the microphone from her to proclaim that Beyoncé deserved the award instead. He was subsequently removed from the remainder of the show for his actions.{{cite news|first=Lisa|last=Respers|title=Anger over West's disruption at MTV awards|date=September 14, 2009|access-date=September 15, 2009|website=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/09/14/kanye.west.reaction/index.html|archive-date=October 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017080013/https://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/09/14/kanye.west.reaction/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|title=Kanye West Storms the VMAs Stage During Taylor Swift's Speech|date=September 13, 2009|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 13, 2009|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-storms-the-vmas-stage-during-taylor-swifts-speech-20090913?rand=84857|archive-date=January 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119133749/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-storms-the-vmas-stage-during-taylor-swifts-speech-20090913?rand=84857|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|last=Vozick|first=Simon|url=https://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/13/kanye-west-taylor-swift/|title=Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift's VMAs moment: What was he thinking? by Simon Vozick-Levinson|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 13, 2009|access-date=September 5, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118015021/https://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/13/kanye-west-taylor-swift/|archive-date=November 18, 2010}} West was criticized by various celebrities for the outburst,{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2009/best-female-video/|title=2009 MTV Video Music Awards—Best Female Video|publisher=MTV|access-date=September 15, 2009|archive-date=March 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303052537/https://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2009/best-female-video/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-kanye-fallout15-2009sep15,0,4346169.story|title=Kanye West expresses Swift regret on blog and 'The Jay Leno Show'|date=September 15, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 15, 2009|first1=Todd|last1=Martens|first2=Yvonne|last2=Villarreal|archive-date=September 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923114807/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-kanye-fallout15-2009sep15,0,4346169.story|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Adam Lambert, Donald Trump, Joe Jackson Slam Kanye West's VMA Stunt|website=MTV|date=September 13, 2009|access-date=September 13, 2009|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1621475/adam-lambert-donald-trump-joe-jackson-slam-kanye-wests-vma-stunt/|archive-date=February 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207040009/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621475/.../swift__taylor.jhtml|url-status=dead}} and by President Barack Obama, who called West a "jackass".{{cite news|title=Obama calls Kanye West a jackass|publisher=BBC News|date=September 16, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8258330.stm|archive-date=September 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903115121/https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8258330.stm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Patrick|last=Gavin|title=Obama calls Kanye 'jackass'|publisher=Politico|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=September 15, 2009|url=https://www.politico.com/click/stories/0909/did_obama_call_kanye_a_jackass.html|archive-date=February 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209044435/https://www.politico.com/click/stories/0909/did_obama_call_kanye_a_jackass.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Audio: President Obama Calls Kanye West a 'Jackass'|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|work=People|url=https://www.people.com/package/article/0,,20302940_20304704,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205110150/https://www.people.com/package/article/0,,20302940_20304704,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2012}}{{cite news|title=Obama Calls Kanye West a 'Jackass'|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|publisher=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obama-calls-kanye-west-a-jackass/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916180832/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/15/obama-calls-kanye-west-jackass/|archive-date=September 16, 2009|url-status=live}} The incident sparked a large influx of Internet photo memes.{{cite web|access-date=October 3, 2009|url=https://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/09/16/kanye-wests-vma-interruption-photos/|title=Kanye West's VMA Interruption Gives Birth To Internet Photo Meme|website=MTV|date=September 16, 2009|author=Anderson, Kyle|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001234936/https://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/09/16/kanye-wests-vma-interruption-photos|archive-date=October 1, 2009}} West subsequently apologized,{{cite news|url=https://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6833664.ece|date=September 14, 2009|title=Kanye West spoils the show at MTV awards|last=Booth|first=Jenny|work=The Times|access-date=September 14, 2009|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615184732/https://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6833664.ece|url-status=dead}} including personally to Swift.{{cite web|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|title=Taylor Swift Tells 'The View' Kanye West Hasn't Contacted Her. The country star discusses her reaction to the VMA incident.|date=September 15, 2009|website=MTV|access-date=September 15, 2009|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621550/2009915/swift__taylor.jhtml|archive-date=March 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328130534/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621550/2009915/swift__taylor.jhtml|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Kanye calls Taylor Swift after 'View' appearance|work=Today|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|url=https://www.today.com/id/32861800|archive-date=October 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006213404/https://www.today.com/id/32861800|url-status=live}} However, in a November 2010 interview, he seemed to recant his past apologies, describing the act at the 2009 awards show as "selfless".{{cite web|url=https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/11/video-kanye-west-backtracks-taylor-swift-apology/|title=VIDEO: Kanye West Backtracks On Taylor Swift Apology | Radar Online|date=November 8, 2010|access-date=July 27, 2019|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331091030/https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/11/video-kanye-west-backtracks-taylor-swift-apology/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Kanye West Backtracks on Taylor Swift Apology|url=https://dimewars.com/Blog/ViewBlogArticle.aspx?vn=Kanye+West+Backtracks+On+Taylor+Swift+Apology&BlogID=487b238f-9fac-4228-b9ba-7c29bdfe8528|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814162021/https://dimewars.com/Blog/ViewBlogArticle.aspx?vn=Kanye%2BWest%2BBacktracks%2BOn%2BTaylor%2BSwift%2BApology&BlogID=487b238f-9fac-4228-b9ba-7c29bdfe8528|archive-date=August 14, 2011}}

{{Main|My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|Watch the Throne|Cruel Summer (GOOD Music album)}}

Following the highly publicized incident, West took a brief break from music and threw himself into fashion, only to hole up in Hawaii for the next few months writing and recording his next album. Importing his favorite producers and artists to work on and inspire his recording, West kept engineers behind the boards 24 hours a day and slept only in increments. Noah Callahan-Bever, a writer for Complex, was present during the sessions and described the "communal" atmosphere as thus: "With the right songs and the right album, he can overcome any and all controversy, and we are here to contribute, challenge, and inspire."{{cite web|first=Noah|last=Callahan-Bever|date=November 2010|url=https://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway|title=Kanye West: Project Runaway|website=Complex|accessdate=November 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228123251/https://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway |archive-date=December 28, 2010 }} A variety of artists contributed to the project, including close friends Jay-Z, Kid Cudi and Pusha T, as well as collaborations with artists including Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Gil Scott Heron.Hermes, Will (October 25, 2010). [https://web.archive.org/web/20101228174246/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/lost-in-the-world-20101025 Lost in the World by Kanye West feat. Bon Iver and Gil Scott-Heron | Rolling Stone Music]. Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 2, 2011.

File:Kanye West SWU Music & Arts Festival 2011 (crop).jpg Festival in Brazil in 2011]]

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, West's fifth studio album, was released in November 2010 to widespread acclaim from critics, many of whom considered it his best work and said it solidified his comeback.{{cite magazine|last=Fastenberg|first=Dan|date=December 9, 2010|url=https://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2035313_2035394,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212233453/https://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2035313_2035394,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 12, 2010|title=Kanye's Beautiful, Dark Twittered Fantasy—The Top 10 Everything of 2010|magazine=Time|location=New York|access-date=September 18, 2012}} In stark contrast to his previous effort, which featured a minimalist sound, Dark Fantasy adopts a maximalist philosophy and deals with themes of celebrity and excess. The record included the international hit "All of the Lights", and Billboard hits "Power", "Monster", and "Runaway",[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kanye west|chart=all}} Kanye West Album & Song Chart History—Hot 100]. Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2010. the latter of which accompanied a 35-minute film of the same name directed by and starring West.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/954875/kanye-west-premieres-35-minute-long-runaway-video-in-london|title=Kanye West Premieres 35-Minute-Long 'Runaway' Video in London|date=October 7, 2010|first=Mariel|last=Concepcion|magazine=Billboard, Inc|access-date=January 16, 2018|archive-date=July 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713200936/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/954875/kanye-west-premieres-35-minute-long-runaway-video-in-london|url-status=live}} During this time, West initiated the free music program GOOD Fridays through his website, offering a free download of previously unreleased songs each Friday, a portion of which were included on the album. This promotion ran from August to December 2010.{{cite web|last=Reiff|first=Corbin|url=https://www.avclub.com/cataloging-g-o-o-d-fridays-kanye-west-s-beautiful-dar-1798286945|title=Cataloging G.O.O.D. Fridays: Kanye West's beautiful dark twisted promotional campaign|work=The A.V. Club|date=November 22, 2015|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228084021/https://www.avclub.com/cataloging-g-o-o-d-fridays-kanye-west-s-beautiful-dar-1798286945|url-status=live}} Dark Fantasy went on to go platinum in the United States,{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=KANYE+WEST&ti=MY+BEAUTIFUL+DARK+TWISTED+FANTASY|title=Searchable Database|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)|at=Search: Kanye West|access-date=February 18, 2012|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819013927/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=KANYE+WEST&ti=MY+BEAUTIFUL+DARK+TWISTED+FANTASY|url-status=live}} but its omission as a contender for Album of the Year at the 54th Grammy Awards was viewed as a "snub" by several media outlets.{{cite web|last=Abebe|first=Nitsuh|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/12/grammy-nominations-breakdown.html|title=Explaining the Kanye Snub, and Other Thoughts on the Grammy Nominations|work=New York Intelligencer|date=December 1, 2011|access-date=January 31, 2012|archive-date=January 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122085427/https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/12/grammy-nominations-breakdown.html|url-status=live}}

2011 saw West embark on a festival tour to commemorate the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, performing and headlining at numerous festivals, including: SWU Music & Arts, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Oya Festival, Flow Festival, Live Music Festival,

The Big Chill, Essence Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and Coachella, which was described by The Hollywood Reporter as "one of greatest hip-hop sets of all time".{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Jeff|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-delivers-one-greatest-179408|title=Kanye West Delivers One of Greatest Hip-Hop Sets of All Time at Coachella|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 18, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2013|archive-date=February 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227030143/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-delivers-one-greatest-179408|url-status=live}} West released the collaborative album Watch the Throne with Jay-Z in August 2011. By employing a sales strategy that released the album digitally weeks before its physical counterpart, Watch the Throne became one of the few major label albums in the Internet age to avoid a leak.{{cite web|last=Gissen|first=Jesse|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/08/jay-z-kanye-west-miraculously-manage-to-keep-watch-the-throne-leak-free/|title=Jay-Z & Kanye West Miraculously Manage to Keep Watch the Throne Leak-Free|work=XXL|publisher=Harris Publications|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=August 12, 2011|archive-date=August 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816204001/https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/08/jay-z-kanye-west-miraculously-manage-to-keep-watch-the-throne-leak-free/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Perpetua|first=Matthew|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jay-z-and-kanye-west-avoid-watch-the-throne-leak-20110808|title=Jay-Z and Kanye West Avoid 'Watch the Throne' Leak|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=August 12, 2011|archive-date=September 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919061629/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jay-z-and-kanye-west-avoid-watch-the-throne-leak-20110808|url-status=dead}} "Niggas in Paris" became the record's highest-charting single, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The co-headlining Watch the Throne Tour kicked off in October 2011 and concluded in June 2012.{{cite magazine|last1=Doherty|first1=Maggie|title=Jay-Z & Kanye West Tease 'Watch The Throne' Tour Set List: Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/465433/jay-z-kanye-west-tease-watch-the-throne-tour-set-list-watch|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 16, 2018|date=October 28, 2011|archive-date=May 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510051151/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/465433/jay-z-kanye-west-tease-watch-the-throne-tour-set-list-watch|url-status=live}} In 2012, West released the compilation album Cruel Summer, a collection of tracks by artists from West's record label GOOD Music.

{{Main|Yeezus|The Yeezus Tour}}

Sessions for West's sixth solo effort begin to take shape in early 2013 in his own personal loft's living room at a Paris hotel.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/arts/music/kanye-west-talks-about-his-career-and-album-yeezus.html?pagewanted=all|title=Behind Kanye's Mask|work=The New York Times|date=June 11, 2013|access-date=June 13, 2013|author=Caramanica, Jon|archive-date=June 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612162353/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/arts/music/kanye-west-talks-about-his-career-and-album-yeezus.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}} Determined to "undermine the commercial",{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/articles/9157-the-yeezus-sessions/|title=The Yeezus Sessions|work=Pitchfork|date=June 24, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2013|author=Dombal, Ryan|archive-date=June 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626203159/https://pitchfork.com/features/articles/9157-the-yeezus-sessions/|url-status=dead}} he once again brought together close collaborators and attempted to incorporate Chicago drill, dancehall, acid house, and industrial music.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-kanye-west-yeezus-review-20130616,0,6122329.column|title=Kanye West's 'Yeezus' an uneasy listen|work=Chicago Tribune|date=June 16, 2013|access-date=June 17, 2013|author=Kot, Greg|archive-date=June 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616222316/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-kanye-west-yeezus-review-20130616,0,6122329.column|url-status=live}} Primarily inspired by architecture, West's perfectionist tendencies led him to contact producer Rick Rubin fifteen days shy of its due date to strip down the record's sound in favor of a more minimalist approach.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rick-rubin-finishing-kanye-wests-yeezus-seemed-impossible-20130627|title=Rick Rubin: Finishing Kanye West's Yeezus Seemed Impossible|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2013|author=Blistein, Jon|archive-date=June 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630092456/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rick-rubin-finishing-kanye-wests-yeezus-seemed-impossible-20130627|url-status=dead}} Initial promotion of his sixth album included worldwide video projections of the album's music and live television performances.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/50579-watch-kanye-west-projects-new-video-new-slaves-on-buildings-around-the-world/|title=Watch: Kanye West Projects New Video "New Slaves" on Buildings Around the World|work=Pitchfork|date=May 17, 2013|access-date=June 6, 2018|author=Battan, Carrie|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143650/https://pitchfork.com/news/50579-watch-kanye-west-projects-new-video-new-slaves-on-buildings-around-the-world/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/kanye-west-unleashes-the-fury-of-black-skinhead-on-snl-20130519|title=Kanye West Unleashes the Fury of 'Black Skinhead' on 'SNL'|magazine=Rolling Stone|location=New York|date=May 19, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2013|author=Coleman, Miriam|archive-date=June 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605083844/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/kanye-west-unleashes-the-fury-of-black-skinhead-on-snl-20130519|url-status=dead}} Yeezus, West's sixth album, was released June 18, 2013, to rave reviews from critics.{{cite news|url=https://au.ibtimes.com/articles/480410/20130619/kanye-west-yeezus-kim-kardashian.htm|access-date=June 22, 2013|last=Torrente|first=Ria Kristina|date=June 19, 2013|title=Kanye West's Yeezus Gets Rave Reviews|newspaper=International Business Times|location=New York|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925064429/https://au.ibtimes.com/articles/480410/20130619/kanye-west-yeezus-kim-kardashian.htm|archive-date=September 25, 2013}} It became his sixth consecutive number one debut, but also marked his lowest solo opening week sales.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1568153/official-kanye-wests-yeezus-sells-327000-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-chart|title=Official: Kanye West's 'Yeezus' Sells 327,000; Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=June 25, 2013|access-date=June 29, 2013|archive-date=June 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629000131/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1568153/official-kanye-wests-yeezus-sells-327000-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-chart|url-status=live}}

File:Yeezus tour.jpg in 2013]]

In September 2013, West announced he would be headlining his first solo tour in five years, to support Yeezus, with fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar accompanying him as a supporting act.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/52170-kanye-west-announces-tour-with-kendrick-lamar/|title=Kanye West Announces Tour With Kendrick Lamar|work=Pitchfork|date=September 6, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2014|archive-date=October 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015155108/https://pitchfork.com/news/52170-kanye-west-announces-tour-with-kendrick-lamar/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.glidemagazine.com/39618/kanye-west-announces-fall-arena-tour-kendrick-lamar-opening/|title=Kanye West Announces Fall Arena Tour—Kendrick Lamar Opening|work=Glide Magazine|date=September 6, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2014|archive-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010002939/https://www.glidemagazine.com/39618/kanye-west-announces-fall-arena-tour-kendrick-lamar-opening/|url-status=live |author1=Glide }} The tour was met with rave reviews from critics.{{cite magazine|last1=Ringen|first1=Jonathan|title=11 Reasons Kanye West's 'Yeezus' Tour Is Actually Incredible|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/11-reasons-kanye-wests-yeezus-tour-is-actually-incredible-20131122|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 22, 2013|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819090854/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/11-reasons-kanye-wests-yeezus-tour-is-actually-incredible-20131122|url-status=dead}} Rolling Stone described it as "crazily entertaining, hugely ambitious, emotionally affecting (really!) and, most importantly, totally bonkers". Writing for Forbes, Zack O'Malley Greenburg praised West for "taking risks that few pop stars, if any, are willing to take in today's hyper-exposed world of pop", describing the show as "overwrought and uncomfortable at times, but [it] excels at challenging norms and provoking thought in a way that just isn't common for mainstream musical acts of late".{{cite web|last1=Greenburg|first1=Zack O'Malley|title=Kanye West Makes His Own Artpop on Yeezus Tour|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/11/25/kanye-west-makes-his-own-artpop-on-yeezus-tour/#7ac1db4f18f2|website=Forbes|access-date=July 25, 2016|archive-date=August 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824110602/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/11/25/kanye-west-makes-his-own-artpop-on-yeezus-tour/#7ac1db4f18f2|url-status=live}} West subsequently released a number of singles featuring Paul McCartney, including "Only One"{{cite magazine|last1=Young|first1=Alex|title=Kanye West premieres 'Only One' featuring Paul McCartney—listen|url=https://consequence.net/2014/12/kanye-west-premieres-only-one-featuring-paul-mccartney-listen/|magazine=Consequence of Sound|access-date=January 1, 2015|archive-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423172637/https://consequence.net/2014/12/kanye-west-premieres-only-one-featuring-paul-mccartney-listen/|url-status=live}} and "FourFiveSeconds", also featuring Rihanna.{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Sam|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-kanye-west-songwriting-fourfiveseconds-rihanna-kim-kardashian-2341934|title=Paul McCartney on writing with Kanye West: "I was tootling around on guitar, and Kanye spent a lot of time looking at pictures of Kim"|work=NME|date=June 21, 2018|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228084516/https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-kanye-west-songwriting-fourfiveseconds-rihanna-kim-kardashian-2341934|url-status=live}}

In November 2013, West stated that he was beginning work on his next studio album, hoping to release it by mid-2014,Jackson, Reed (November 25, 2013). [https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/11/kanye-west-hopes-new-album-summer/ "Kanye West Hopes To Have New Album Out By Summer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012215802/https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/11/kanye-west-hopes-new-album-summer/ |date=October 12, 2018 }}. XXL. with production by Rick Rubin and Q-Tip.{{cite web|last=Rys|first=Dan|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/12/q-tip-will-produce-kanye-wests-next-album-rick-rubin/|title=Q-Tip Will Produce Kanye West's Next Album With Rick Rubin—XXL|publisher=Xxlmag.com|date=December 3, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2014|archive-date=May 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527030656/https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/12/q-tip-will-produce-kanye-wests-next-album-rick-rubin/|url-status=live}} Having initially announced a new album entitled Yeezus II slated for a 2014 release, West announced in March 2015 that the album would instead be tentatively called So Help Me God.{{cite magazine|last1=Peters|first1=Mitchell|title=Kanye West Announces Name Change of His New Album on Twitter|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6553812/kanye-west-announces-name-change-of-his-new-album-on-twitter-swish-so-help-me-god|access-date=May 31, 2015|magazine=Billboard|date=May 3, 2015|archive-date=June 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607163951/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6553812/kanye-west-announces-name-change-of-his-new-album-on-twitter-swish-so-help-me-god?|url-status=live}} In May 2015, West was awarded an honorary doctorate by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for his contributions to music, fashion, and popular culture.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/11/kanye-west-receives-honorary-doctorate-chicago|title=Kanye West receives honorary doctorate in Chicago|author=|date=May 11, 2015|website=The Guardian|access-date=June 19, 2018|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623170101/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/11/kanye-west-receives-honorary-doctorate-chicago|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/59535-kanye-west-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-saic-listen/|title=Kanye West Receives Honorary Doctorate From SAIC: Listen|work=Pitchfork|date=May 11, 2015|access-date=May 12, 2015|archive-date=May 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513205756/https://pitchfork.com/news/59535-kanye-west-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-saic-listen/|url-status=live}}{{efn|The school rescinded the honorary degree in late 2022 in light of West's public antisemitic statements.{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Kanye West's honorary degree rescinded by School of the Art Institute of Chicago |url=https://abc7chicago.com/kanye-west-new-name-school-of-the-art-institute-chicago-ye-honorary-degree/12545134/ |access-date=December 8, 2022 |website=ABC7 Chicago |language=en |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208183749/https://abc7chicago.com/kanye-west-new-name-school-of-the-art-institute-chicago-ye-honorary-degree/12545134/ |url-status=dead }}}} The next month, West headlined at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, despite a petition signed by almost 135,000 people against his appearance.{{cite news|last1=Renshaw|first1=David|title=Kanye West Glastonbury petition crosses 100,000 signature mark|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-304-1224342|access-date=September 9, 2020|work=NME|date=March 22, 2015|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204092837/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-304-1224342|url-status=live}} Another petition aimed to block West from headlining the 2015 Pan American Games, garnering 50,000 supporters.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/kanye-west/86979 |title=NME News 50,000 people sign petition to stop Kanye West from playing Pan Am Games closing ceremony |work=NME|date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721145307/https://www.nme.com/news/kanye-west/86979 |url-status=live }}

{{Main|The Life of Pablo}}

West announced in January 2016 that Swish would be released on February 11, and later that month, released new songs "Real Friends" and a snippet of "No More Parties in LA" with Kendrick Lamar. On January 26, 2016, West revealed he had renamed the album from Swish to Waves.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/63468-kanye-west-announces-new-album-title-shares-final-tracklist/|title=Kanye West Announces New Album Title, Shares Final Tracklist—Pitchfork|work=Pitchfork|date=February 10, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629202953/https://pitchfork.com/news/63468-kanye-west-announces-new-album-title-shares-final-tracklist/|url-status=live}} In the weeks leading up to the album's release, West became embroiled in several Twitter controversies.{{cite news|last1=Wilstein|first1=Dave|title=Kanye West Declares Bill Cosby 'Innocent'|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/09/kanye-west-bill-cosby-is-innocent.html|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=February 10, 2016|access-date=April 2, 2016|archive-date=April 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408133122/https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/09/kanye-west-bill-cosby-is-innocent.html|url-status=live}} Several days ahead of its release, West again changed the title, this time to The Life of Pablo.{{cite web|last=McHenry|first=Jackson|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/02/kanye-shares-final-track-list-for-new-album.html|title=Kanye Shares the 'Final' Track List for His New Album, Which Is Now Called The Life of Pablo|work=Vulture|date=February 10, 2016|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228085447/https://www.vulture.com/2016/02/kanye-shares-final-track-list-for-new-album.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Britton|first=Luke Morgan|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/wiz-khalifa-2-4-1200573|title=Wiz Khalifa opens up about Kanye West beef and reconciliation|work=NME|date=March 23, 2016|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228085444/https://www.nme.com/news/music/wiz-khalifa-2-4-1200573|url-status=live}} On February 11, West premiered the album at Madison Square Garden as part of the presentation of his Yeezy Season{{nbsp}}3 clothing line.Phillips, Amy (February 11, 2016). [https://pitchfork.com/news/63472-kanye-west-new-album-the-life-of-pablo-debut-live-stream-watch-it-here/ "Kanye West New Album The Life Of Pablo Debut Live Stream: Watch It Here"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211182735/https://pitchfork.com/news/63472-kanye-west-new-album-the-life-of-pablo-debut-live-stream-watch-it-here/ |date=February 11, 2016 }}. Pitchfork. Retrieved February 11, 2016. Following the preview, West announced that he would be modifying the tracklist once more before its release to the public.West, Kanye (February 12, 2016). "The album is being mastered and will be out today{{nbsp}}... added on a couple of tracks{{nbsp}}...". Twitter. Retrieved February 16, 2016. He released the album exclusively on Tidal on February 14, 2016, following a performance on SNL.{{cite web|url=https://pigeonsandplanes.com/2016/02/chance-the-rapper-annotated-ultralight-beam/|title=Chance The Rapper Annotated His Verse on Kanye West's "Ultralight Beam"|work=pigeonsandplanes.com|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=June 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623234529/https://pigeonsandplanes.com/2016/02/chance-the-rapper-annotated-ultralight-beam/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21542-the-life-of-pablo/|title=Kanye West: The Life of Pablo|website=Pitchfork|date=February 15, 2016|access-date=February 15, 2016|last=Greene|first=Jayson|archive-date=February 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215235527/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21542-the-life-of-pablo/|url-status=live}} Following its release, West continued to tinker with mixes of several tracks, describing the work as "a living breathing changing creative expression"{{cite magazine|last1=Dandridge-Lemco|first1=Ben|title=Kanye West Is Updating "Wolves"|magazine=The Fader|url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/03/15/kanye-west-is-updating-wolves|access-date=March 15, 2016|archive-date=March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317211812/https://www.thefader.com/2016/03/15/kanye-west-is-updating-wolves|url-status=live}} and proclaiming the end of the album as a dominant release form.{{cite web|last1=Hamilton|first1=Jack|title=The Life of Pablo Is an Attack on the Very Idea of the Album|url=https://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2016/02/kanye_west_s_the_life_of_pablo_is_an_attack_on_the_very_idea_of_the_album.html|website=Slate|date=February 19, 2016|access-date=March 25, 2016|archive-date=March 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324070257/https://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2016/02/kanye_west_s_the_life_of_pablo_is_an_attack_on_the_very_idea_of_the_album.html|url-status=live}} Despite West's earlier comments, in addition to Tidal, the album was released through several other competing services starting in April.{{cite news|last1=Shah|first1=Neil|title=Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo' Now Widely Available to Stream|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/04/01/kanye-wests-the-life-of-pablo-now-widely-available-to-stream/|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=April 2016|access-date=April 4, 2016|archive-date=April 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403211534/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/04/01/kanye-wests-the-life-of-pablo-now-widely-available-to-stream/|url-status=live}}

File:Saint pablo tour.jpg in 2016]]

In February 2016, West stated on Twitter that he was planning to release another album in the summer of 2016, tentatively called Turbo Grafx 16 in reference to the 1990s video game console of the same name.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/63742-kanye-west-says-new-album-coming-this-summer/|title=Kanye West Says New Album Coming This Summer—Pitchfork|work=Pitchfork|date=February 24, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=October 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002203653/https://pitchfork.com/news/63742-kanye-west-says-new-album-coming-this-summer/|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet |last1=West |first1=Kanye |user=kanyewest |number=703446573552967680 |date=February 27, 2016 |title=My next album is titled "Turbo Grafx 16" as of now ...|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160313050042/https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/703446573552967680 |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |url-status=dead}} In June 2016, West released the collaborative lead single "Champions" off the GOOD Music album Cruel Winter, which has yet to be released.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4356393/kanye-west-new-album-cruel-winter/|title=Kanye West debuts 6-minute track|last=Lang|first=Cady|date=June 3, 2016|magazine=Time|access-date=June 3, 2016|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828224933/https://time.com/4356393/kanye-west-new-album-cruel-winter/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2016/06/kanye-west-premieres-first-single-from-cruel-winter-listen/|title=Kanye West debuts single with a bunch of all-stars|author=|date=June 3, 2016|website=Consequence of Sound|access-date=June 3, 2016|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413155718/https://consequence.net/2016/06/kanye-west-premieres-first-single-from-cruel-winter-listen/|url-status=live}} Later that month, West released a controversial video for "Famous", which depicted wax figures of several celebrities (including West, Kardashian, Taylor Swift, businessman and then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, comedian Bill Cosby, and former president George W. Bush) sleeping nude in a shared bed.{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/775796/kanye-west-gets-almost-no-reactions-from-stars-depicted-naked-in-famous-video|title=Kanye West Gets Almost No Reactions From Stars Depicted Naked in "Famous" Video|work=E! Online|date=June 26, 2016|access-date=June 28, 2016|archive-date=June 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628150056/https://www.eonline.com/news/775796/kanye-west-gets-almost-no-reactions-from-stars-depicted-naked-in-famous-video|url-status=live}}

In August 2016, West embarked on the Saint Pablo Tour in support of The Life of Pablo. The performances featured a mobile stage suspended from the ceiling.{{cite web|last1=Mitchell|first1=Chris|title=Kanye West Soars Above Crowd To Kick Off Saint Pablo Tour|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.40174/title.kanye-west-soars-above-crowd-to-kick-off-saint-pablo-tour|website=HipHopDX|date=August 26, 2016|access-date=October 14, 2016|archive-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018202042/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.40174/title.kanye-west-soars-above-crowd-to-kick-off-saint-pablo-tour|url-status=live}} West postponed several dates in October following the Paris robbery of several of his wife's effects.{{cite web|last1=Brandle|first1=Lars|title=Kanye West Reschedules 'Saint Pablo' Tour Dates Following Kim Kardashian Robbery|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7526747/kanye-west-reschedules-saint-pablo-tour-dates-kim-kardashia|website=Billboard Magazine|date=October 4, 2016|access-date=October 14, 2016|archive-date=October 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008021137/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7526747/kanye-west-reschedules-saint-pablo-tour-dates-kim-kardashia|url-status=live}} On November 21, 2016, West cancelled the remaining 21 dates on the Saint Pablo Tour, following a week of no-shows, curtailed concerts and rants about politics.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-kanyewest/exhausted-kanye-west-hospitalized-cancels-tour-after-bizarre-rants-idUSKBN13G1X6|title='Exhausted' Kanye West Cancels Tour After Bizarre Rants|date=November 21, 2016|publisher=Reuters|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141202/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-kanyewest/exhausted-kanye-west-hospitalized-cancels-tour-after-bizarre-rants-idUSKBN13G1X6|url-status=live}} He was later admitted for psychiatric observation at UCLA Medical Center.{{cite news |title=Kanye West Hospitalized After Canceling Tour: Sources |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kanye-walks-west-s-saint-pablo-tour-cancelled-following-beyonc-n686856 |publisher=NBC News |first1=Andrew |last1=Blankstein |first2=Alex |last2=Johnson |first3=Emma |last3=Margolin |date=November 21, 2016 |access-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124152023/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kanye-walks-west-s-saint-pablo-tour-cancelled-following-beyonc-n686856 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-kanye-west-hospitalized-kim-kardashian-public-20161122-story.html|title=Kanye West's doctor called 911 during breakdown, report says; Kim Kardashian skips public return|first=Christie|last=D'Zurilla|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 22, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=November 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123045938/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-kanye-west-hospitalized-kim-kardashian-public-20161122-story.html|url-status=live}} He stayed hospitalized over the Thanksgiving weekend because of a temporary psychosis stemming from sleep deprivation and extreme dehydration.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-to-remain-hospitalized-over-thanksgiving-news.25692.html?|title=Kanye West enters hospital due to sleep deprivation and extreme dehydration|last=Lilah|first=Rose|date=November 24, 2016|website=Hotnewhiphop|access-date=November 24, 2016|archive-date=November 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125110208/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-to-remain-hospitalized-over-thanksgiving-news.25692.html|url-status=live}} Following this episode West took an 11-month break from posting on Twitter and the public in general.{{cite web|last1=Nevins|first1=Jake|title=Kanye West returns to Twitter, writing a philosophy book 'in real time'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/18/kanye-west-twitter-return-philosophy-book|website=The Guardian|date=April 18, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=April 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419140116/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/18/kanye-west-twitter-return-philosophy-book|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Ye (album)|Kids See Ghosts (album)}}

{{See also|Daytona (album)|Nasir (album)|K.T.S.E.}}

It was reported in May 2017 that West was recording new music in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a wide range of collaborators.{{cite web|title=Kanye West Is Reportedly Busy Creating His Next Album ... On a Mountain|date=May 9, 2017|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/05/09/kanye-west-next-album/|access-date=April 19, 2018|archive-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420202857/https://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/05/09/kanye-west-next-album/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Everything We Know So Far About Kanye West's New Album|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/kanye-west-new-album-details-release-date/|access-date=April 19, 2018|archive-date=August 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831115341/https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/kanye-west-new-album-details-release-date/|url-status=live}} In April 2018, West announced plans to write a philosophy book entitled Break the Simulation,{{cite magazine|last1=Romano|first1=Nick|title=Kanye West says he's writing a philosophy book called Break the Simulation|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 14, 2018|url=https://ew.com/books/2018/04/14/kanye-west-book-philosophy-break-the-simulation/|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420135909/https://ew.com/books/2018/04/14/kanye-west-book-philosophy-break-the-simulation/|url-status=live}} later clarifying that he was sharing the book "in real time" on Twitter and began posting content that was likened to "life coaching".{{cite news|last1=Raspers France|first1=Lisa|title=Kanye West is life coaching on Twitter|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/entertainment/kanye-west-twitter/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420003305/https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/entertainment/kanye-west-twitter/index.html|url-status=live}} Later that month, he also announced two new albums, a solo album and self-titled collaboration with Kid Cudi under the name Kids See Ghosts, both of which would be released in June.{{cite web|last1=Strauss|first1=Matthew|title=Kanye Announces 2 New Albums, Including Kid Cudi Collaboration|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-announces-new-album-release-date/|website=Pitchfork|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=April 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419215045/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-announces-new-album-release-date/|url-status=live}} Additionally, he revealed he would produce upcoming albums by GOOD Music label-mates Pusha T and Teyana Taylor, as well as Nas.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-says-hes-producing-nas-new-album|title=Kanye Says He's Producing Nas' New Album|date=April 23, 2018|last=Wicks|first=Amanda|website=Pitchfork|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423042727/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-says-hes-producing-nas-new-album/|url-status=live}} Shortly thereafter, West released the non-album singles "Lift Yourself" and "Ye vs. the People", in which he and T.I. discussed West's support of Donald Trump.{{cite web |last1=Wicks |first1=Amanda |last2=Blais-Billie |first2=Braudie |title=Kanye West Drops New Song "Ye vs. the People" With T.I.: Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-premieres-new-song-ye-vs-the-people-with-ti/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=June 7, 2018 |date=April 28, 2018 |archive-date=April 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428182336/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-premieres-new-song-ye-vs-the-people-with-ti/ |url-status=live }}

Pusha T's Daytona, "the first project out of Wyoming", was released in May to critical acclaim, although the album's artwork—a photograph of deceased singer Whitney Houston's bathroom that West paid $85,000 to license—attracted some controversy.{{cite tweet |user=kanyewest |number=999777955894050816 |url=https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/999777955894050816 |title=Daytona is the first project out of Wyoming. I'm really proud of what we put together. We've spent a year and a half digging for samples and writing. I really appreciate the overwhelmingly positive response that we've been receiving. 🙏🙏🙏 x|access-date=May 24, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-debuts-new-album-ye-in-wyoming-listen/|title=Kanye West Unveils New Album YE {{!}} Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|date=June 2018|language=en|access-date=June 1, 2018|archive-date=June 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602011928/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-debuts-new-album-ye-in-wyoming-listen/|url-status=live}} The following week, West released his eighth studio album, Ye. West has suggested that he scrapped the original recordings of the album and re-recorded it within a month.{{cite web|last1=Skelton|first1=Erik|title=Kanye West Says He Completely Redid His Album After TMZ|url=https://pigeonsandplanes.com/news/2018/06/kanye-west-i-completely-redid-the-album-after-tmz|website=Pigeons & Planes|access-date=June 7, 2018|date=June 3, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605223749/https://pigeonsandplanes.com/news/2018/06/kanye-west-i-completely-redid-the-album-after-tmz|url-status=live}} The week after, West released a collaborative album with Kid Cudi, titled Kids See Ghosts, named after their group of the same name. West also completed production work on Nas' Nasir{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8461315/hip-hop-community-reacts-to-nas-new-kanye-west-produced-album-nasir|title=The Hip-Hop Community Reacts to Nas' New Kanye West-Produced Album|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219130644/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8461315/hip-hop-community-reacts-to-nas-new-kanye-west-produced-album-nasir|url-status=live}} and Teyana Taylor's K.T.S.E., which were released in June 2018.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-teyana-taylors-kanye-produced-new-album-ktse/|title=Listen to Teyana Taylor's Kanye-Produced New Album K.T.S.E.|website=Pitchfork|date=June 23, 2018|language=en|access-date=December 19, 2019|last1=Blais-Billie|first1=Braudie|last2=Strauss|first2=Matthew|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219130640/https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-teyana-taylors-kanye-produced-new-album-ktse/|url-status=live}}

In September, West announced his ninth studio album Yandhi to be released by the end of the month and a collaborative album with fellow Chicagoan rapper Chance the Rapper titled Good Ass Job. That same month, West announced that he would be changing his stage name to "Ye".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/29/hear-ye-kanye-west-announces-name-change-ahead-of-snl|title=Hear Ye: Kanye West announces name change ahead of SNL|date=September 29, 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=September 29, 2018|language=en|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413204952/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/29/hear-ye-kanye-west-announces-name-change-ahead-of-snl|url-status=live}} Yandhi was originally set for release in September 2018 but was postponed multiple times.{{cite web|last=Blais-Billie|first=Braudie|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-postpones-release-of-new-album-yandhi-again/|title=Kanye Postpones Release of New Album Yandhi Again|work=Pitchfork|date=November 12, 2018|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228084717/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-postpones-release-of-new-album-yandhi-again/|url-status=live}} In January 2019, West pulled out of headlining that year's Coachella festival after negotiations broke down due to discord regarding stage design.{{cite web|last1=Snapes|first1=Laura|title=Kanye West ruled out of Coachella after he demands a new stage|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/14/kanye-west-coachella-festival-custom-stage|website=The Guardian|access-date=January 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118210217/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/14/kanye-west-coachella-festival-custom-stage|archive-date=January 18, 2019|date=January 14, 2019}} In July, it was reported that songs from West's unreleased album Yandhi were leaked online.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/07/kanye-west-yandhi-leak/|title=Songs From Kanye West's 'Yandhi' Have Apparently Leaked|date=July 18, 2019|website=Spin|access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511013238/https://www.spin.com/2019/07/kanye-west-yandhi-leak/|url-status=live}} The following month, Kim Kardashian announced that West's next album would be titled Jesus Is King, effectively scrapping Yandhi.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-announces-new-album-jesus-king-next-month-check-tracklist-2543368|title=Kanye West confirms release date of new album 'Jesus Is King'|date=September 17, 2019|access-date=September 22, 2020|work=NME|first=Will|last=Richards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921203156/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-announces-new-album-jesus-king-next-month-check-tracklist-2543368|archive-date=September 21, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-says-new-album-jesus-is-king-is-out-this-week/|title=Kanye West Says New Album Jesus Is King Is Out This Week|website=Pitchfork|date=October 21, 2019|language=en|access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=October 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021060603/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-says-new-album-jesus-is-king-is-out-this-week/|url-status=live}} By October, the entire unfinished album was available for a short time on streaming services Spotify and Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2019/10/kanye-west-yandhi-album-spotify-leak|title=Kanye West's 'YANDHI' Album "Leaks" on Spotify and TIDAL (UPDATE)|website=HypeBeast|date=October 8, 2019|access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=January 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111203102/https://hypebeast.com/2019/10/kanye-west-yandhi-album-spotify-leak|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Jesus Is King|Donda|Donda 2}}

On January 6, 2019, West started his weekly "Sunday Service" events, which included soul variations of both West's and others' songs and were attended by multiple celebrities, including the Kardashians, Charlie Wilson, and Kid Cudi.{{cite web |last1=Penrose |first1=Nerisha |title=Everything You Need to Know About Kanye West's Sunday Services |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a26962861/kanye-west-sunday-services-location-videos-attendees/ |website=Elle |access-date=March 28, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032616/https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a26962861/kanye-west-sunday-services-location-videos-attendees/ |url-status=live }} West previewed a new song, "Water" at his "Sunday Service" orchestration performance at Coachella 2019,{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/21/entertainment/kanye-west-new-song-water/index.html|title=Kanye West debuts new song 'Water' during Sunday Service at Coachella|last=Vera|first=Amir|publisher=CNN|date=April 21, 2019|access-date=April 23, 2019|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032617/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/21/entertainment/kanye-west-new-song-water/index.html|url-status=live}} which was later revealed to feature on his upcoming album Jesus Is King;{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/new-kanye-west-album-jesus-is-king-878415/|title=Kim Kardashian Teases Track List for New Kanye West Album 'Jesus Is King'|date=August 29, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|access-date=November 1, 2019|first=Charles|last=Holmes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914093002/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/new-kanye-west-album-jesus-is-king-878415/|archive-date=September 14, 2019|url-status=live}} West released the album on October 25, 2019.{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Patrick |title=Review: Kanye West finds God (and Chick-fil-A) on frustrating new album 'Jesus is King' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/10/25/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-imax-film-album/4089656002/ |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=October 28, 2019 |language=en |quote="Jesus is King," the rapper's most clear-cut foray into Christian hip-hop, was released midday Friday after multiple delays and tracklist changes. |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032629/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/10/25/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-imax-film-album/4089656002/ |url-status=live }} It became the first to ever top the Billboard 200, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Top Rap Albums, Top Christian Albums and Top Gospel Albums at the same time.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-wests-jesus-is-king-makes-history-hot-christian-songs-hot-gospel-songs-charts-1253139|title=Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Makes History on Hot Christian Songs, Hot Gospel Songs Charts|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 7, 2019|language=en|access-date=November 28, 2019|archive-date=November 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107193947/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-wests-jesus-is-king-makes-history-hot-christian-songs-hot-gospel-songs-charts-1253139|url-status=live}} On December 25, 2019, West and Sunday Service released Jesus Is Born, containing 19 songs, including several re-workings of older West songs.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/25/entertainment/kanye-west-jesus-is-born-trnd/index.html |title=Kanye West dropped a new album on Christmas and called it—what else?—'Jesus Is Born' |publisher=C.N.N. Entertainment |editor-last=Asmelash |editor-first=Leah |date=December 25, 2019 |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032632/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/25/entertainment/kanye-west-jesus-is-born-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }}

West released a single titled "Wash Us in the Blood" on June 30, 2020, featuring fellow American rapper and singer Travis Scott, along with the music video, which was set to serve as the lead single from his tenth studio album Donda.{{cite web|last=Welch|first=Will|url=https://www.gq.com/story/inside-kanye-west-vision-for-the-future-cover-may-2020|title=Inside Kanye West's Vision for the Future|website=GQ|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=July 13, 2020|archive-date=April 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415223343/https://www.gq.com/story/inside-kanye-west-vision-for-the-future-cover-may-2020|url-status=live}} However, in September 2020, West stated that he would not be releasing any further music until he is "done with [his] contract with Sony and Universal".{{cite web |title=Kanye West Says He Won't Release New Music Until Freed From Sony and Universal Contracts |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/9/kanye-west-not-releasing-new-music-until-freed-from-sony-universal-contracts |website=HypeBeast |date=September 15, 2020 |access-date=October 2, 2020 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032636/https://hypebeast.com/2020/9/kanye-west-not-releasing-new-music-until-freed-from-sony-universal-contracts |url-status=live }} On October 16, he released the single "Nah Nah Nah".{{cite web|title=Kanye West Remixes "Nah Nah Nah" With DaBaby & 2 Chainz|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-remixes-nah-nah-nah-with-dababy-and-2-chainz-new-song.1989328.html|access-date=December 6, 2020|website=HotNewHipHop|date=November 13, 2020|language=en|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113143332/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-remixes-nah-nah-nah-with-dababy-and-2-chainz-new-song.1989328.html|url-status=live}} West held several listening parties at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for his upcoming album Donda in the summer of 2021, where he had taken up temporary residence in one of the stadium's locker rooms, converting it into a recording studio to finish the recording.{{Cite magazine|last=Abubaker|first=Mustafa|date=July 23, 2021|title=We Still Don't Know What's on Kanye's Mind|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-donda-premiere-review-1201351/|access-date=July 27, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726150941/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-donda-premiere-review-1201351/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=July 26, 2021|title=Kanye West living in Atlanta stadium to work on new album|url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-hip-hop-and-rap-kanye-west-adad6ab7856b767e49ee4bc847c42e42|access-date=July 27, 2021|publisher=Associated Press|language=en|archive-date=July 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727034724/https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-hip-hop-and-rap-kanye-west-adad6ab7856b767e49ee4bc847c42e42|url-status=live}} After multiple delays, Donda was released on August 29, 2021.{{Cite magazine|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|title=Kanye West Finally Releases 'Donda' to Streaming Services|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-donda-streaming-services-1218346/|access-date=August 29, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 29, 2021|language=en|archive-date=August 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829153643/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-donda-streaming-services-1218346/|url-status=live}} West claimed the album was released early without his approval and alleged that Universal had altered the tracklist.{{cite news |title=Kanye West: Donda released by Universal without my say, artist claims |publisher=BBC News |date=August 30, 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58383576 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032704/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58383576 |url-status=live }} He released a deluxe edition of Donda, including five new songs, to streaming services on November 14, 2021.{{cite web|date=November 16, 2021|title=Ye (Formerly Kanye West) Releases 'Donda' Deluxe Edition Featuring New Big Names|url=https://americansongwriter.com/ye-formerly-kanye-west-releases-donda-deluxe-edition-featuring-new-big-names/|access-date=November 22, 2021|website=American Songwriter|language=en-US|archive-date=May 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524044633/https://americansongwriter.com/ye-formerly-kanye-west-releases-donda-deluxe-edition-featuring-new-big-names/|url-status=live}} On November 20, days after ending their long-running feud,{{Cite magazine|last=Brandle|first=Lars|date=November 17, 2021|title=No More War? Drake and Kanye West Pose For Photographs|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/drake-ye-reconcile-photographs-1234998304/|access-date=November 22, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032704/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/drake-ye-reconcile-photographs-1234998304/|url-status=live}} West and rapper Drake confirmed that they would stage the "Free Larry Hoover" benefit concert on December 9 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|title=Kanye West and Drake Confirm 'Free Larry Hoover' Benefit Concert|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-drake-free-larry-hoover-benefit-concert-1260723/|date=November 20, 2021|access-date=November 21, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032709/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-drake-free-larry-hoover-benefit-concert-1260723/|url-status=live}}

On January 5, 2022, West was announced as one of the 2022 headliners of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.{{Cite magazine|last=Brooks|first=Dave|title=Kanye West to Headline Coachella 2022, Considering Sunday Service|url=https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/coachella-2022-kanye-west-billie-eilish-headliners-1235015988/|date=January 5, 2022|access-date=January 5, 2022|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=August 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804080420/https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/coachella-2022-kanye-west-billie-eilish-headliners-1235015988/|url-status=live}} Later that month on January 15, West released the first single for his upcoming album Donda 2, "Eazy" featuring The Game,{{cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=January 15, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |title=Kanye West Calls Out Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson On New Track 'Eazy' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-the-game-eazy-drop-1284695/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220115082443/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-the-game-eazy-drop-1284695/ |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |url-status=live}} to be executive produced by American rapper Future.{{cite magazine|last=Jones|first=Marcus|date=January 27, 2022|title=Kanye West shares Donda 2 release date, Future is executive producer|url=https://ew.com/music/kanye-west-donda-2-release-date-future-executive-producer/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=January 28, 2022|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127191544/https://ew.com/music/kanye-west-donda-2-release-date-future-executive-producer/|url-status=live}} West hosted a listening event for the album at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on February 22.{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=February 13, 2022|title=Kanye West Sets 'Donda 2' 2.22.22 Event in Miami. Kid Cudi Likely Won't Be There|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-donda-2-22222-event-miami-kid-cudi-beef-1299424/|access-date=February 16, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032725/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-donda-2-22222-event-miami-kid-cudi-beef-1299424/|url-status=live}} In April, shortly before Coachella, West pulled out as headlining act,{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/kanye-west-pulls-out-of-coachella-1235224072/|title=Kanye West Pulls Out of Coachella|work=Variety|first1=Jem|last1=Aswad|date=April 4, 2022|access-date=December 29, 2023|archive-date=August 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819010240/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/kanye-west-pulls-out-of-coachella-1235224072/|url-status=live}} then proceeded to pull out of headlining Rolling Loud.{{Cite magazine|last=Peters|first=Mitchell|title=Kanye West Pulls Out of Rolling Loud Miami 2022 Headlining Set|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-cancels-rolling-loud-miami-2022-performance-1235115265/|date=July 17, 2022|access-date=July 17, 2022|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032727/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-cancels-rolling-loud-miami-2022-performance-1235115265/|url-status=live}} West and The Game performed the single on July 22, marking West's first performance in five months following the low profile he had been keeping since Donda 2 remained unfinished.{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=July 10, 2022 |title=Kanye West Returns to Stage to Deliver 'Eazy' at the Game's L.A. Show |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-returns-eazy-at-the-game-la-show-1380457/ |access-date=July 11, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032726/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-returns-eazy-at-the-game-la-show-1380457/ |url-status=live }} A day later, despite cancelling as headliner, he appeared at Rolling Loud during Lil Durk's set.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-after-canceling-headlining-set-shows-up-at-rolling-loud-to-do-hot-shit-with-lil-durk/|title=Kanye West, After Canceling Headlining Set, Shows Up at Rolling Loud to Do "Hot Shit" With Lil Durk|work=Pitchfork|first=Allison|last=Hussey|date=July 23, 2022|access-date=December 29, 2023|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032733/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-after-canceling-headlining-set-shows-up-at-rolling-loud-to-do-hot-shit-with-lil-durk/|url-status=live}} In December 2022, after weeks of controversial antisemitic statements, West released a new song, "Someday We'll All Be Free", on his Instagram.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-someday-well-all-be-free-new-song-infowars-1234643524/|title=Kanye West Vents About the Consequences of His Actions on New Track|first1=Andre|last1=Gee|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 8, 2022|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032733/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-someday-well-all-be-free-new-song-infowars-1234643524/|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Vultures 1|Vultures 2|Bully (album)|Cuck (album)}}

File:YS Bologna 2024.jpg, for Vultures 1 (2024)]]

On August 25, 2023, West was reported to be in the process of recording his eleventh studio album, with two sources close to him stating that the release of new music was "imminent".{{Cite news |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=August 25, 2023 |title=Ye plans to drop a new album |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/ye-plans-drop-new-album-rcna101889 |access-date=October 14, 2023 |publisher=NBC News |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119023619/https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/ye-plans-drop-new-album-rcna101889 |url-status=live }} On October 13, Billboard reported that West had finished recording a collaborative studio album with Ty Dolla Sign and was in the process of shopping the album to distributors, adding that the album was originally intended for an official release that day but was ultimately pushed back for unknown reasons and expected to drop within the coming weeks.{{Cite magazine |last=Stutz |first=Colin |date=October 13, 2023 |title=Kanye West Is Shopping a New Album to Distributors |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/kanye-west-new-album-ty-dolla-sign-shopping-distributors/ |magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128012339/https://www.billboard.com/pro/kanye-west-new-album-ty-dolla-sign-shopping-distributors/ |url-status=live }} The eponymous lead single for the album, "Vultures" featuring Bump J, was released on November 22, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Sam |date=November 22, 2023 |title=Lil Durk Seemingly Reacts To Being Cut From Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's 'Vultures' Single |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/lil-durk-kanye-west-vultures-removed-reaction |access-date=November 22, 2023 |website=HipHopDX |language=en |archive-date=November 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122130556/https://hiphopdx.com/news/lil-durk-kanye-west-vultures-removed-reaction |url-status=live }}

Throughout late 2023 and early 2024, West and Ty Dolla $ign held several concerts previewing songs from the album. In a trailer for the album, West announced that Vultures would be released as a trilogy of albums, with each of the album's three volumes set to be released on February 9, March 6, and April 5, 2024. In January 2024, West co-signed 4Batz and called him his favorite new artist.{{Cite web|title=Kanye West Calls TikTok Sensation 4Batz His New Favorite Artist|url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/kanye-west-tiktok-4batz-new-favorite-artist-1234846807/|access-date=February 16, 2024|website=Vibe|date=January 31, 2024 |language=en|archive-date=February 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217041724/https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/kanye-west-tiktok-4batz-new-favorite-artist-1234846807/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/758727-kanye-west-4batz-industry-plant-hip-hop-news|title=Kanye West Co-Signs 4batz Again And Prompts A Plethora Of "Industry Plant" Accusations|work=HotNewHipHop|last=Cole|first=Alexander|date=January 21, 2024|accessdate=February 20, 2024|archive-date=February 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222190623/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/758727-kanye-west-4batz-industry-plant-hip-hop-news|url-status=live}} On February 8, 2024, West released the first volume's second single, "Talking / Once Again" featuring his eldest daughter North.{{Cite magazine |last=Cummings-Grady |first=Mackenzie Cummings-Grady |date=February 7, 2024 |title=Kanye and North West Plus Ty Dolla Sign and His Daughter Come Together in 'Talking / Once Again' Video |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-north-west-talking-once-again-video/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |magazine=XXL|archive-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207231932/https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-north-west-talking-once-again-video/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=February 10, 2024 |title=Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign Release New Album Vultures 1 |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-and-ty-dolla-sign-release-new-album-vultures-1/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=February 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211030525/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-and-ty-dolla-sign-release-new-album-vultures-1/ |url-status=live }} A day later, producer Erick Sermon revealed in an interview that West's upcoming eleventh studio album was titled Y3, while also stating that he had contributed to the album in 2023.{{Cite magazine |last=Cummings-Grady |first=Mackenzie |date=February 9, 2024 |title=Kanye West's Next Solo Album Is Called Y3, Erick Sermon Says |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-y3-album/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |magazine=XXL |archive-date=February 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210203053/https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-y3-album/ |url-status=live }} West has since denied working on an album titled Y3.{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-denies-y3-solo-album-dropping/|title=Kanye West Denies He Has a Solo Album Called Y3 Dropping|date=February 29, 2024|last=Coleman|first=C. Vernon II|magazine=XXL|access-date=August 10, 2024|archive-date=September 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929034936/https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-denies-y3-solo-album-dropping/|url-status=live}}

On February 10, 2024, hours after West held a listening party at UBS Arena, the first volume of the Vultures trilogy, entitled Vultures 1, was officially released.{{Cite magazine |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=February 10, 2024 |title=Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign Finally Release 'Vultures 1' Album |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/kanye-west-ty-dolla-ign-finally-release-vultures-album-1235906767/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |magazine=Variety|archive-date=February 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210154448/https://variety.com/2024/music/news/kanye-west-ty-dolla-ign-finally-release-vultures-album-1235906767/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Lamarre |first=Carl |date=February 10, 2024 |title=Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign Team Up for New Album 'Vultures 1': Stream It Now |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-1-album-stream-it-now-1235558698/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |magazine=Billboard|archive-date=February 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210213649/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-1-album-stream-it-now-1235558698/ |url-status=live }} The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming West's eleventh consecutive and Ty Dolla Sign's first number one album, respectively.{{Cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=February 18, 2024 |title=Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's 'Vultures 1' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-1-debuts-number-one-billboard-200-albums-chart-1235610342/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218201249/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-1-debuts-number-one-billboard-200-albums-chart-1235610342/ |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |access-date=February 18, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}} Vultures 2 released later that year on August 3.{{cite web |last1=Setaro |first1=Shawn |date=August 3, 2024 |title=Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's 'Vultures 2' is Finally Here |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-2-finally-here |website=HipHopDX |access-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816105531/https://hiphopdx.com/news/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-2-finally-here |url-status=live }} On September 28, during a concert in Haikou, China at the Wuyuan River Stadium, West announced his eleventh solo album Bully, debuting the track "Beauty and the Beast".{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2024 |title=Kanye West Announced His Next Solo Studio Album 'Bully' While In China |url=https://uproxx.com/music/kanye-west-announces-solo-album-bully/ |access-date=September 29, 2024 |website=Uproxx |archive-date=September 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929034910/https://uproxx.com/music/kanye-west-announces-solo-album-bully/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Peters |first=Mitchell |date=September 28, 2024 |title=Ye Announces New Album 'Bully,' Debuts Song 'Beauty and the Beast' at China Listening Event |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-bully-album-beauty-and-the-best-song-announcement-1235787962/ |access-date=September 29, 2024 |magazine=Billboard|archive-date=September 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929034834/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-bully-album-beauty-and-the-best-song-announcement-1235787962/ |url-status=live }} On March 15, 2025, he shared a song on his X account titled "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine" featuring his daughter North and vocals credited to Sean Combs, resulting in legal action from Kim Kardashian.{{cite magazine|last=Burton|first=Poppy|date=March 16, 2025|title=Kim Kardashian and Kanye West at "war" after he drops song seemingly featuring Diddy and their daughter North|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kim-kardashian-and-kanye-west-at-war-after-he-drops-song-seemingly-featuring-diddy-and-their-daughter-north-3846591|magazine=NME|access-date=March 20, 2025}} On March 19, he shared links on X to three versions of Bully, all of which were accompanied by a short film starring his son Saint.{{cite magazine|last=Horowitz|first=Steven J.|date=March 19, 2025|title=Kanye West Releases New Album 'Bully' Via Film Starring His Son Saint West|url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/kanye-west-releases-bully-album-saint-west-film-1236342007/|magazine=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|access-date=March 20, 2025|archive-date=March 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319235023/https://variety.com/2025/music/news/kanye-west-releases-bully-album-saint-west-film-1236342007/|url-status=live}} He stated that the album was "not finished and half of the vocals [are] AI", and added that he did not intend to release it on streaming services because of "French and Jewish record labels".{{cite news|last=Brown|first=August|date=March 19, 2025|title=Kanye West sort-of releases new album, 'Bully,' amid more hateful posts|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-03-19/kanye-west-sort-of-releases-new-album-bully-amid-more-hateful-posts|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 20, 2025|archive-date=March 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321024229/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-03-19/kanye-west-sort-of-releases-new-album-bully-amid-more-hateful-posts|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=March 19, 2025|title=Ye Surprise Drops 'Bully' Album Via Short Wrestling Film Starring Son Saint West|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/ye-surprise-drop-bully-album-short-wrestling-film-saint-west-1235925742/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 20, 2025|archive-date=March 20, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320000251/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/ye-surprise-drop-bully-album-short-wrestling-film-saint-west-1235925742/|url-status=live}}

On March 26, 2025, West released "WW3" under the name Ye onto streaming services, after having been previously teased by Dave Blunts and Adin Ross.{{cite report|url=https://raptv.com/article/ye-drops-ww3-amid-copyright-lawsuit-by-german-singer/|title=Ye Drops "WW3" Song as Lawsuit News Breaks|publisher=Rap TV|language=English|access-date=April 2, 2025|date=March 31, 2025|last=Gee|first=Maddie|archive-date=April 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401043606/https://raptv.com/article/ye-drops-ww3-amid-copyright-lawsuit-by-german-singer/|url-status=live}} A week later, DJ Akademiks announced that West is set to release WW3, a collaborative album with Blunts,{{cite web |last1=Horvath |first1=Zachary |title=Kanye West Claims He & Dave Blunts Are 'Almost Finished' With 'WW3' Album |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/902634-kanye-west-dave-blunts-album-progress-hip-hop-news |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=April 19, 2025 |date=April 15, 2025}} a few days after they held an interview where West wore a black Ku Klux Klan-inspired outfit and said further controversial remarks.{{cite report|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-tracklist-for-new-album-ww3-1235059177/|title=Ye Leans Into Controversy With Potential Tracklist For New Album 'WW3'|publisher=Vibe Magazine|language=English|access-date=April 3, 2025|date=April 3, 2025|last=Bennett|first=Jessica}}{{cite report|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/kanye-west-interview-dj-akademiks-2025/|title=8 Things We Learned From Ye's Interview With DJ Akademiks|publisher=Billboard|language=English|access-date=April 3, 2025|date=March 31, 2025|last=Saponera|first=Michael}} West changed the album's title to Cuck on April 21,{{cite web |last1=Blake |first1=Cole |title=Kanye West Bizarrely Changes His Album Title To 'Cuck' |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/904297-kanye-west-album-cuck-hip-hop-news |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=April 22, 2025 |date=April 21, 2025}} and in the following weeks released its singles "Cousins" and "Heil Hitler." On May 21, 2025, West released "Alive" featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again, likely being the theme song for West's upcoming YZY SZN 10 fashion collection.{{Cite magazine |last=Saponara |first=Michael |date=2025-05-21 |title=Ye & YoungBoy Never Broke Again Flex on Their Detractors With Blaring Collaboration 'Alive': Listen |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-nba-youngboy-alive-1235977939/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Three days later, West stated that Bully would still release on June 15, 2025 in a 'meeting' with Sneako.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-24 |title=SNEAKO on X: "The Meeting" |url=https://x.com/sneako/status/1926342391939600672 |access-date=2025-05-24}}{{Cite web |last=Nevares |first=Gabriel Bras |date=2025-05-24 |title=Kanye West Confirms Release Date For New Album "Bully" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/914038-kanye-west-release-date-new-album-bully-hip-hop-news |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Hot New Hip-hop}} West announced plans to film a music video for "Alive" in Utah, sharing snippets on his Instagram account.{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Cole |date=2025-05-25 |title=Kanye West Teases "Alive" Music Video As Feud With Playboi Carti Heats Up |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/914241-kanye-west-alive-music-video-feud-playboi-carti-hip-hop-news |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}

File:Kanye West at Revel Ovation Hall.jpg

West's musical career is defined by frequent stylistic shifts and different musical approaches.{{cite web|year=2007|access-date=April 24, 2008|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p353484|title=Kanye West—Biography|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|publisher=AllMusic. All Media Guide|archive-date=February 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217223433/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p353484|url-status=live}} In the subsequent years since his debut, West has both musically and lyrically taken an increasingly experimental approach to crafting progressive hip-hop music while maintaining accessible pop sensibilities.{{cite book |last1=Gates|last2=Henry Louis|display-authors=etal|editor-last1=Bradley|editor-first1=Adam|editor-last2=DuBois|editor-first2=Andrew |title=The Anthology of Rap|url=https://archive.org/details/anthologyofrap00brad|url-access=registration|location=New Haven, Connecticut|publisher=Yale University Press|date=2010 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/anthologyofrap00brad/page/705 705–713]|chapter=Kanye West|isbn=9780300141900}}{{cite news|author=Caramanica, Jon|title=The Education of Kanye West|url=https://nytimes.com/2007/08/26/arts/music/26cara.html|work=The New York Times|date=August 26, 2007|access-date=September 17, 2007|archive-date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114004037/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/arts/music/26cara.html|url-status=live}}Tannenbaum, Rob. "Playboy Interview: Kanye West." Playboy (March 2006), 49. Ed Ledsham of PopMatters said that "West's melding of multiple genres into the hip-hop fold is a complex act that challenges the dominant white notions of what constitutes true 'art' music."{{cite magazine|last=Ledsham|first=Ed|date=June 2, 2015|url=https://www.popmatters.com/194052-who-will-survive-in-america-kanye-wests-hybridization-of-hip-hop-2495523254.html|title=Who Will Survive in America? Kanye West's Hybridization of Hip-Hop|magazine=PopMatters|access-date=November 25, 2019|archive-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428040758/https://www.popmatters.com/194052-who-will-survive-in-america-kanye-wests-hybridization-of-hip-hop-2495523254.html|url-status=live}} West's rhymes have been described as funny, provocative and articulate, capable of seamlessly segueing from shrewd commentary to comical braggadocio to introspective sensitivity.{{cite web|author=McCormick, Neil|title=Kanye West: Hip hop's David Bowie|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/10940931/Kanye-West-Hip-hops-David-Bowie.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/10940931/Kanye-West-Hip-hops-David-Bowie.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=July 2, 2014|access-date=July 12, 2014}}{{cbignore}} West imparts that he strives to speak in an inclusive manner so groups from different racial and gender backgrounds can comprehend his lyrics, saying he desired to sound "just as ill as Jadakiss and just as understandable as Will Smith".VH1 staff (October 12, 2005). {{cite web |url=https://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1511372/10122005/west_kanye.jhtml |title=Kanye West: Greatness, Perfection, Gucci |access-date=January 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027222703/https://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1511372/10122005/west_kanye.jhtml |archive-date=October 27, 2005 }}. VH1. Viacom. Retrieved May 16, 2008. Early in his career, West pioneered a style of hip-hop production dubbed "chipmunk-soul",{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-100-greatest-debut-albums-of-all-time-20130322/the-college-dropout-19691231 |title=100 Best Debut Albums Ever |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 13, 2013 |access-date=November 22, 2016 |archive-date=March 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325070201/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-100-greatest-debut-albums-of-all-time-20130322/the-college-dropout-19691231 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | author=Cowie, Del | title=The Many Sides of Kanye West | url=https://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid=1&csid1=2325 | work=Exclaim! | date=February 27, 2004 | access-date=February 17, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050130180742/https://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid=1&csid1=2325 | archive-date=January 30, 2005}} a sampling technique involving the manipulation of tempo in order to chop and stretch pitched-up samples from vintage soul songs.{{cite news|access-date=April 26, 2008|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/kanye-west-king-of-rap-403127.html|title=Kanye West: King of rap|work=The Independent|location=UK|date=September 22, 2007|author=Burrell, Ian|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930070532/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/kanye-west-king-of-rap-403127.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2016/02/09/kanye-west-new-album/79814890/# |title=Is Kanye West the greatest artist of the 21st century? |last=Ryan |first=Patrick |work=USA Today |date=February 9, 2016 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210162150/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2016/02/09/kanye-west-new-album/79814890/ |archive-date=February 10, 2016}}

On his debut studio album, The College Dropout (2004), West formed the constitutive elements of his style, described as intricate hip-hop beats, topical subject matter, and clumsy rapping laced with inventive wordplay.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/arts/music/kanye-west-talks-about-his-career-and-album-yeezus.html|title=Behind Kanye's Mask|date=June 16, 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=June 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612210522/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/arts/music/kanye-west-talks-about-his-career-and-album-yeezus.html|url-status=live}} The record saw West diverge from the then-dominant gangster persona in hip-hop in favor of more diverse, topical lyrical subjects,Davis, Kimberly. [https://books.google.com/books?id=J9kDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA93 "The Many Faces of Kanye West"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302210259/https://books.google.com/books?id=J9kDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA93#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=March 2, 2024 }} (June 2004) Ebony. including higher education, materialism, self-consciousness, minimum-wage labor, institutional prejudice, class struggle, family, sexuality, his struggles in the music industry, and middle-class upbringing.Love, Josh. [https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/kanye-west/the-college-dropout.htm Review: The College Dropout] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060915033648/https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/kanye-west/the-college-dropout.htm |date=September 15, 2006 }}. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved on July 23, 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/article/2009912270315|title=Music of the decade|date=December 27, 2009|last=James|first=Jim|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722204901/https://www.courier-journal.com/article/2009912270315|archive-date=July 22, 2012|access-date=June 17, 2011}} [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1928558221.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+27%2C+2009&author=&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=I.3&desc=Music+of+the+decade Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107123558/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1928558221.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+27,+2009&author=&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=I.3&desc=Music+of+the+decade |date=November 7, 2012 }} Over time, West has explored a variety of music genres, encompassing and taking inspiration from chamber pop on his second studio album, Late Registration (2005), arena rock and europop on his third album, Graduation (2007),{{cite web|author=Greene, Jayson|title=Kanye West Graduation—Music Review|url=https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/kanye-west/graduation.htm|work=Stylus Magazine|date=September 10, 2007|access-date=September 10, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929172650/https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/kanye-west/graduation.htm|archive-date=September 29, 2007}}{{cite web|author=Laws, Angel|title=Exclusive Interview W/ Kanye West|url=https://concreteloop.com/interviews-kanyewest|work=Concrete Loop|publisher=concreteloop.com|date=October 5, 2007|access-date=October 5, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006002519/https://concreteloop.com/interviews-kanyewest|archive-date=October 6, 2007}} synth-driven electropop on his fourth album, 808s & Heartbreak (2008),{{cite book|last=Graves|first=Kirk Walker|page=49|year=2014|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s_CHAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA49|title=Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|chapter=A (Very) Brief Aside Re: '808s & Heartbreak'|access-date=August 3, 2014|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-1-62356-542-8|archive-date=March 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302200328/https://books.google.com/books?id=s_CHAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA49#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-kanye-west-808s-amp-heartbreak-rocafella-mercury-1038395.html|access-date=August 3, 2014|date=November 28, 2008|title=Album: Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak(Roc-a-Fella/Mercury)|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|archive-date=December 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201073453/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-kanye-west-808s-amp-heartbreakrocafellamercury-1038395.html|url-status=dead}} acid-house, drill, industrial rap and trap on Yeezus (2013),{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/06/the-shocking-poignance-of-kanye-wests-i-yeezus-i/276919/|title=The Shocking Poignance of Kanye West's 'Yeezus'|work=The Atlantic|date=June 18, 2013|access-date=June 19, 2013|author=Kornhaber, Spencer|archive-date=June 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618154714/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/06/the-shocking-poignance-of-kanye-wests-i-yeezus-i/276919/|url-status=live}} gospel and Christian rap on The Life of Pablo (2016), Jesus is King (2019) and Donda (2021),{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|year=2016|issue=February 16|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/kot/ct-kanye-west-pablo-review-ent-0217-20160215-column.html|title=Kanye West's bewildering, frustrating 'Pablo'|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=April 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405173258/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/kot/ct-kanye-west-pablo-review-ent-0217-20160215-column.html|archive-date=April 5, 2016|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-wests-jesus-is-king-a-work-in-progress-892567/|title=Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Still Sounds Like a Work-in-Progress|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=September 30, 2019|access-date=October 2, 2019|first=Charles|last=Holmes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001125147/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-wests-jesus-is-king-a-work-in-progress-892567/|archive-date=October 1, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-detroit-892196/|title=Inside Kanye West's Album (and Film) Premiere in Detroit|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=September 28, 2019|access-date=October 2, 2019|first=Samuel J.|last=Robinson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001024556/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-detroit-892196/|archive-date=October 1, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Shorter|first=Marcus|url=https://consequence.net/2021/08/donda-review-kanye-west-analysis/|title=Kanye West Channels His Vulnerability on Donda, Delivering His Best Album in Years|date=August 30, 2021|work=Consequence|access-date=August 30, 2021|archive-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830004008/https://consequence.net/2021/08/donda-review-kanye-west-analysis/|url-status=live}} and psychedelic music on Kids See Ghosts (2018).{{cite web |last=Thiessen |first=Christopher |title=Kids See Ghosts: Kids See Ghosts (album review) |url=https://www.popmatters.com/kids-see-ghosts-2579340354.html?rebelltitem=1 |website=PopMatters |date=June 20, 2018 |access-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715150327/https://www.popmatters.com/kids-see-ghosts-2579340354.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1 |archive-date=July 15, 2019 |url-status=live }}

Early in his career, West made clear his interest in fashion and desire to work in the clothing design industry. He launched his own clothing line in spring 2006,{{cite web|url=https://www.stuffmagazine.com/articles/index.aspxid=1171|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929131853/https://www.stuffmagazine.com/articles/index.aspx?id=1171|archive-date=September 29, 2007|title=Stuff Style Icon of the Year|access-date=June 7, 2007|work=Stuff}} and developed it over the following four years before the line was ultimately cancelled in 2009.{{cite web|last=Mdudu|first=Naomi|url=https://www.thefashpack.net/perfectionist-kanye-wests-pastelle-line-cancelled/|title=Perfectionist Kanye West's Pastelle Line Cancelled?|publisher=The FashPack|date=October 9, 2009|access-date=February 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104184326/https://www.thefashpack.net/perfectionist-kanye-wests-pastelle-line-cancelled/|archive-date=November 4, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Tharpe|first=Frazier|url=https://www.complex.com/style/2011/09/what-couldve-been-a-history-of-kanyes-defunct-pastelle-line|title=What Could've Been: A History of Kanye's Defunct Pastelle Line|work=Complex Magazine|date=October 11, 2011|access-date=January 14, 2013|archive-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827065926/https://www.complex.com/style/2011/09/what-couldve-been-a-history-of-kanyes-defunct-pastelle-line|url-status=live}} In January 2007, West's first sneaker collaboration was released, a special-edition Bapesta from A Bathing Ape.{{cite web |title=Kanye West x Bapesta FS-001 Low 'College Dropout' |url=https://www.kickgame.co.uk/products/kanye-west-x-bapesta-fs-001-low-college-dropout |website=Kick Game |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327010336/https://www.kickgame.co.uk/products/kanye-west-x-bapesta-fs-001-low-college-dropout |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=The Kanye West Sneaker Collaboration That's Cooler Than Yeezys |url=https://www.gq.com/story/kanye-west-bape-sneakers-collaboration |website=GQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227045241/https://www.gq.com/story/kanye-west-bape-sneakers-collaboration |archive-date=December 27, 2021 |date=January 5, 2007}} In 2009, West collaborated with Nike to release his own shoe, the Air Yeezys, becoming the first non-athlete to be given a shoe deal with the company.{{cite web |last1=Facey |first1=Robert |title=A Complete History of Hip-Hop Sneaker Deals |url=https://www.complex.com/sneakers/2012/05/a-complete-history-of-hip-hop-sneaker-deals/ |website=Complex |access-date=January 20, 2019 |date=May 7, 2012 |archive-date=January 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121010852/https://www.complex.com/sneakers/2012/05/a-complete-history-of-hip-hop-sneaker-deals/ |url-status=live }} In January 2009, he introduced his first shoe line designed for Louis Vuitton during Paris Fashion Week. The line was released in summer 2009.{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2009/3/kanye-west-x-louis-vuitton-sneakers-for-june-2009|title=Kanye West x Louis Vuitton Sneakers for June 2009|publisher=Hypebeast|date=March 5, 2011|access-date=February 2, 2013|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106145819/https://hypebeast.com/2009/3/kanye-west-x-louis-vuitton-sneakers-for-june-2009|url-status=live}} West has additionally designed shoewear for Italian shoemaker Giuseppe Zanotti.{{cite web|last=Hislop|first=Rachel|url=https://globalgrind.com/style/kanye-west-complete-history-shoe-designs-photos|title=Renaissance Man: Kanye West's Complete History Of Shoe Designs|publisher=Global Grind|date=September 26, 2012|access-date=February 4, 2013|archive-date=November 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128063533/https://globalgrind.com/style/kanye-west-complete-history-shoe-designs-photos|url-status=live}}

In fall 2009, West moved to Rome, where he interned at Italian fashion brand Fendi, giving ideas for the men's collection.{{cite web|url=https://www.sohh.com/kanye-west-reveals-global-escapes-i-moved-to-rome-after-i-left-japan-worked-at-fendi-for-4-months-under-cover|title=Kanye West's fashion journey|last=Cochrane|first=Lauren|work=The Guardian|date=August 13, 2011|access-date=June 9, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731120447/https://www.sohh.com/kanye-west-reveals-global-escapes-i-moved-to-rome-after-i-left-japan-worked-at-fendi-for-4-months-under-cover/|url-status=live}} In March 2011, West collaborated with M/M Paris for a series of silk scarves featuring artwork from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.{{cite web|title=Kanye West x M/M (Paris) Silk Scarves—A Closer Look|url=https://hypebeast.com/2011/5/kanye-west-x-mm-paris-silk-scarves-a-closer-look|website=Hypebeast|date=May 4, 2011|access-date=May 4, 2011|archive-date=March 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302031044/https://hypebeast.com/2011/5/kanye-west-x-mm-paris-silk-scarves-a-closer-look|url-status=live}} In October 2011, West premiered his women's fashion label at Paris Fashion Week.[https://web.archive.org/web/20111015193050/https://ifdb.co/fashion/kanye_west_-_womens_springsummer_2012_rtw_show/1291 Kanye West—Spring/Summer 2012 ready-to-wear show—The Internet Fashion Database] Retrieved and verified on October 2, 2011 His debut fashion show received mixed-to-negative reviews.{{cite web|last=Odell|first=Amy|url=https://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/10/what_kanye_west_got_right_and.html|title=What Kanye West Got Right and Wrong With His First Paris Fashion Week Show—The Cut|work=New York Intelligencer|date=August 17, 2011|access-date=October 5, 2011|archive-date=October 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004233358/https://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/10/what_kanye_west_got_right_and.html|url-status=live}} In March 2012, West premiered a second fashion line at Paris Fashion Week.{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Julee|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/kanye-west-fall-2012-fashion-show_n_1325769.html|title=Kanye West Debuts Fall 2012 Collection During Paris Fashion Week|work=HuffPost|date=March 7, 2012|access-date=February 2, 2012|archive-date=March 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307121554/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/kanye-west-fall-2012-fashion-show_n_1325769.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Leitch|first=Luke|url=https://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG9126626/Paris-Fashion-Week-Kanye-West-autumnwinter-2012.html|title=Paris Fashion Week: Kanye West autumn/winter 2012|newspaper=Telegraph (UK)|date=March 6, 2012|access-date=February 2, 2013|location=London|archive-date=October 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005132102/https://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG9126626/Paris-Fashion-Week-Kanye-West-autumnwinter-2012.html|url-status=live}} Critics deemed the sophomore effort "much improved" compared to his first show.{{cite magazine|last=Frank|first=Alex|url=https://www.thefader.com/2012/03/07/kanye-west-at-paris-fashion-week-round-ii-the-reviews/|title=Kanye West at Paris Fashion Week Round II: The Reviews|magazine=The Fader|date=March 7, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909035413/https://www.thefader.com/2012/03/07/kanye-west-at-paris-fashion-week-round-ii-the-reviews/|url-status=live}}

On December 3, 2013, Adidas officially confirmed a new shoe collaboration deal with West.{{cite news|last=Little|first=Lyneka|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/12/04/adidas-confirms-new-deal-with-kanye-west/|title=Adidas Confirms New Deal with Kanye West|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=December 4, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2013|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815205941/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/12/04/adidas-confirms-new-deal-with-kanye-west/|url-status=live}} After months of anticipation and rumors, West confirmed the release of the Adidas Yeezy Boosts. In 2015, West unveiled a Yeezy clothing line, premiering in collaboration with Adidas early that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.racked.com/2015/9/8/9251093/yeezy-season-1-kanye-west-adidas-shopping-guide|title=Yeezy Season 1: How to Shop Kanye West x Adidas [Updated]|first=Nicola|last=Fumo|date=September 8, 2015|work=racked.com|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909035516/https://www.racked.com/2015/9/8/9251093/yeezy-season-1-kanye-west-adidas-shopping-guide|url-status=live}} In June 2016, Adidas announced a new long-term contract with Kanye West that extended the Yeezy line to a number of stores, planning to sell sports performance products like basketball, football, and soccer,{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/5-nba-players-who-should-be-wearing-adidas-yeezy-sneakers-on-the-court-news.22554.html?|title=Adidas announces long-term contract with Adidas Yeezys|last=Rooney|first=JKyle|date=June 29, 2016|website=Hotnewhiphop|access-date=June 29, 2016|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630155721/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/5-nba-players-who-should-be-wearing-adidas-yeezy-sneakers-on-the-court-news.22554.html|url-status=live}} although Adidas terminated the partnership with West in October 2022 due to his antisemitic remarks.{{Cite press release |date=October 25, 2022 |title=ADIDAS TERMINATES PARTNERSHIP WITH YE IMMEDIATELY |url=https://www.adidas-group.com/en/media/news-archive/press-releases/2022/adidas-terminates-partnership-ye-immediately/ |publisher=adidas |location=Herzogenaurach |access-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-date=December 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231165327/https://www.adidas-group.com/en/media/news-archive/press-releases/2022/adidas-terminates-partnership-ye-immediately/ |url-status=live }} In May 2021, West signed a 10-year deal linking Yeezy with GAP to create Yeezy Gap, however, in September 2022, West announced that he was ending the deal.{{cite web |last=D'innocenzio |first=Anne |date=September 15, 2022 |title=Kanye West says he's splitting with Gap after 2 years |url=https://www.cp24.com/entertainment-news/kanye-west-says-he-s-splitting-with-gap-after-2-years-1.6070169 |access-date=September 18, 2022 |website=CP24 |language=en |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916195430/https://www.cp24.com/entertainment-news/kanye-west-says-he-s-splitting-with-gap-after-2-years-1.6070169 |url-status=live }}

West founded the record label and production company GOOD Music in 2004, in conjunction with Sony BMG, shortly after releasing his debut album, The College Dropout. West, alongside then-unknown Ohio singer John Legend and fellow Chicago rapper Common were the label's inaugural artists.{{cite web|title=G.O.O.D. Music is Founded by Kanye West|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2012/09/the-complete-history-of-good-music/good-music-founded|work=The Complete History of G.O.O.D. Music|publisher=Complex.com|access-date=December 3, 2013|last=Chesna|first=Benjamin|date=September 26, 2012|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807162618/https://www.complex.com/music/2012/09/the-complete-history-of-good-music/good-music-founded|url-status=live}} The label houses artists including West, Big Sean, Pusha T, Teyana Taylor, Yasiin Bey / Mos Def, D'banj and John Legend, and producers including Hudson Mohawke, Q-Tip, Travis Scott, No I.D., Jeff Bhasker, and S1. GOOD Music has released ten albums certified gold or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In November 2015, West appointed Pusha T the new president of GOOD Music.{{Cite magazine|title=Pusha T Named President of G.O.O.D. Music|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6753076/pusha-t-president-good-music-exclusive|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 9, 2015|archive-date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112001322/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6753076/pusha-t-president-good-music-exclusive?|url-status=live}}

In August 2008, West revealed plans to open 10 Fatburger restaurants in the Chicago area after his company, KW Foods LLC, bought the rights to the chain in Chicago. The first location opened in September 2008 in Orland Park and a second followed in January 2009.{{cite web|title=Kanye West To Open Chain of Fatburger Restaurants in Chicago|url=https://www.ballerstatus.com/2008/08/13/kanye-west-to-open-chain-of-fatburger-restaurants-in-chicago/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150204111514/https://www.ballerstatus.com/2008/08/13/kanye-west-to-open-chain-of-fatburger-restaurants-in-chicago/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2015|website=BallerStatus.com|date=August 2010}} The Orland Park location closed in early 2011 due to poor sales performance.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/kanye-west-closes-orland-park-fatburger/1908471/|title=Kanye West Closes Orland Park Fatburger|date=January 25, 2011|website=NBC Chicago|access-date=October 10, 2024|archive-date=November 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127044755/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/kanye-west-closes-orland-park-fatburger/1908471/|url-status=live}}

In January 2012, West announced his establishment of the creative content company Donda, named after his late mother.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2012/01/kanye-west-announces-creative-company-donda/|title=Kanye West Announces Creative Company DONDA|last=Osei|first=Anthony|date=January 5, 2012|magazine=Complex Magazine|access-date=January 9, 2012|archive-date=January 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108200345/https://www.complex.com/music/2012/01/kanye-west-announces-creative-company-donda|url-status=live}} In his announcement, West proclaimed that the company would "pick up where Steve Jobs left off"; Donda would operate as a "design company" with a goal to "make products and experiences that people want and can afford".Graham, Mark, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140227074738/https://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2012-01-05/kanye-wests-epic-1600-word-twitter-rant-the-complete-text-neatly-organized-for-your-reading-pleasure/ Kanye West's Epic 1600-word Twitter Rant: Neatly Organized for your Reading Pleasure], January 5, 2012, 'VH1', retrieved August 4, 2015. In stating Donda's creative philosophy, West articulated the need to "put creatives in a room together with like minds" in order to "simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see, taste, touch, and feel". West is notoriously secretive about the company's operations, maintaining neither an official website nor a social media presence.Hope, Clover, [https://www.vibe.com/2013/08/kanye-west-has-dream-inside-creative-agency-donda/ Kanye West has a Dream: Inside his Creative Agency DONDA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207124828/https://www.vibe.com/2013/08/kanye-west-has-dream-inside-creative-agency-donda/ |date=February 7, 2016 }}, August 19, 2013, 'VIBE', retrieved August 4, 2015.Pasori, Cedar, [https://www.complex.com/style/2014/11/how-kanye-wests-creative-company-donda-is-making-its-own-brand-of-cool/ How Kanye West's Creative Company DONDA is making its own Brand of Cool] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223034420/https://www.complex.com/style/2014/11/how-kanye-wests-creative-company-donda-is-making-its-own-brand-of-cool |date=December 23, 2015 }}, November 3, 2014, 'Complex Magazine', retrieved August 4, 2015. Contemporary critics have noted the consistent minimalistic aesthetic exhibited throughout Donda creative projects.Sargent, Jordan, [https://www.spin.com/2013/11/kanye-west-2-chainz-pusha-t-big-sean-donda-minimalist-design-company/ DONDA: Kanye West Goes G.O.O.D. Trill Hunting with His Minimalist Design Company] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820114429/https://www.spin.com/2013/11/kanye-west-2-chainz-pusha-t-big-sean-donda-minimalist-design-company/ |date=August 20, 2018 }}, November 13, 2013, 'Spin Magazine', retrieved August 4, 2015.Babcock, Gregory, [https://www.complex.com/style/2015/06/rich-wilkerson-jr-donda-book/ Kanye's Stylish Pastor Releases DONDA-Designed Book] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309183431/https://www.complex.com/style/2015/06/rich-wilkerson-jr-donda-book |date=March 9, 2016 }}, June 23, 2015, 'Complex Magazine', retrieved August 4, 2015.{{cite web|last=Lewis|first=Brittany|url=https://globalgrind.com/2014/11/03/donda-created-music-covers-photos-kanye-west-creative-house/|title=Every Music Cover Kanye West's Creative House DONDA Has Created So Far... (LIST)|date=November 3, 2014|work=Global Grind|access-date=December 29, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212083517/https://globalgrind.com/2014/11/03/donda-created-music-covers-photos-kanye-west-creative-house/|url-status=live}}

West expressed interest in starting an architecture firm in May 2013, saying "I want to do product, I am a product person, not just clothing but water bottle design, architecture{{nbsp}}... I make music but I shouldn't be limited to one place of creativity"{{Cite news|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2013/09/24/im-working-with-five-architects-at-a-time-kanye-west/|title='I'm working with five architects at a time'—Kanye West|date=September 24, 2013|work=Dezeen|access-date=September 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928200716/https://www.dezeen.com/2013/09/24/im-working-with-five-architects-at-a-time-kanye-west/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/07/kanye-west-announces-architecture-arm-to-his-company-yeezy-home|title=Kanye West announces architecture arm to his company Yeezy|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|date=May 7, 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=September 28, 2018|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000244/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/07/kanye-west-announces-architecture-arm-to-his-company-yeezy-home|url-status=live}} and then later in November 2013, delivering a manifesto on his architectural goals during a visit to Harvard Graduate School of Design.{{Cite news|url=https://www.citylab.com/design/2013/11/kanye-west-goes-harvard-delivers-manifesto-architecture/7616/|title=Kanye West Goes to Harvard, Delivers Manifesto on Architecture|work=CityLab|access-date=September 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000131/https://www.citylab.com/design/2013/11/kanye-west-goes-harvard-delivers-manifesto-architecture/7616/|url-status=live}} In May 2018, West announced he was starting an architecture firm called Yeezy Home, which will act as an arm of his already successful Yeezy fashion label.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2018/05/07/kanye-west-announces-yeezy-home-architecture-arm/|title=Kanye West to launch architecture arm of Yeezy fashion label|date=May 7, 2018|work=Dezeen|access-date=September 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928200755/https://www.dezeen.com/2018/05/07/kanye-west-announces-yeezy-home-architecture-arm/|url-status=live}} In June 2018, the first Yeezy Home collaboration was announced by designer Jalil Peraza, teasing an affordable concrete prefabricated home as part of a social housing project.{{Cite news|url=https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/7/17326702/kanye-west-yeezy-home-architecture-design|title=Is Kanye West's first architecture project an affordable concrete prefab?|work=Curbed|access-date=September 28, 2018|archive-date=September 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928201042/https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/7/17326702/kanye-west-yeezy-home-architecture-design|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2018/06/04/kanye-west-yeezy-home-architecture-social-housing-project-instagram/|title=Kanye West begins Yeezy Home architecture venture with social-housing project|date=June 4, 2018|work=Dezeen|access-date=September 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000120/https://www.dezeen.com/2018/06/04/kanye-west-yeezy-home-architecture-social-housing-project-instagram/|url-status=live}}

In March 2015, it was announced that West is a co-owner, with various other music artists, in the music streaming service Tidal. The service specialises in lossless audio and high definition music videos. Jay-Z acquired the parent company of Tidal, Aspiro, in the first quarter of 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/business/media/jay-z-buys-the-music-streaming-firm-aspiro.html|title=Jay Z Buys the Music Streaming Firm, Aspiro|work=The New York Times|date=March 13, 2015|access-date=March 31, 2015|first=Ben|last=Sisario|archive-date=September 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908091219/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/business/media/jay-z-buys-the-music-streaming-firm-aspiro.html|url-status=live}} Sixteen artist stakeholders including Jay-Z, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Madonna, Chris Martin, Nicki Minaj co-own Tidal, with the majority owning a 3% equity stake.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6509498/jay-z-tidal-launch-artist-stakeholders|title=It's Official: Jay Z's Historic Tidal Launches With 16 Artist Stakeholders|magazine=Billboard|first=Andrew|last=Flanagan|date=March 30, 2015|access-date=March 31, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402032038/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6509498/jay-z-tidal-launch-artist-stakeholders|url-status=live}} In October 2022, in direct response to bans he received on Twitter and Instagram stemming from his antisemitic comments,{{cite web |last1=Wagner |first1=Kurt |last2=Bhashin |first2=Kim |title=Ye Says He Bought Parler Because Instagram, Twitter Penalized Him |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-17/ye-says-parler-purchase-prompted-by-instagram-twitter-penalties |date=October 17, 2022 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=Bloomberg News |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017190731/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-17/ye-says-parler-purchase-prompted-by-instagram-twitter-penalties |url-status=live }} West reached an agreement in principle to acquire the alt-tech social network Parler for an undisclosed amount.{{cite web |last=Browne |first=Ryan |title=Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, agrees to buy conservative social media platform Parler, company says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/17/kanye-west-is-buying-conservative-social-media-platform-parler-company-says.html |date=October 17, 2022 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |publisher=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119085751/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/17/kanye-west-is-buying-conservative-social-media-platform-parler-company-says.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Coster |first1=Helen |last2=Datta |first2=Tiyashi |last3=Balu |first3=Nivedita |title=Kanye West agrees to buy social media app Parler |language=en |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/parler-be-acquired-by-kanye-west-2022-10-17/ |date=October 17, 2022 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017222740/https://www.reuters.com/technology/parler-be-acquired-by-kanye-west-2022-10-17/ |url-status=live }} Parler and West mutually agreed to terminate the proposed deal in mid-November.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/01/tech/kanye-parler-deal-termination/index.html|title=Kanye West is no longer acquiring Parler, company says|first=Brian|last=Fung|work=CNN Business|date=December 1, 2022|access-date=December 2, 2022|archive-date=December 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201224143/https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/01/tech/kanye-parler-deal-termination/index.html|url-status=live}}

West, alongside his mother, founded the Kanye West Foundation in Chicago in 2003, tasked with a mission to battle dropout and illiteracy rates, while partnering with community organizations to provide underprivileged youth access to music education.{{cite web|url=https://www.kanyewestfoundation.org/the_foundation.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806210737/https://www.kanyewestfoundation.org/the_foundation.html|archive-date=August 6, 2008|title=About the Dr. Donda West Foundation|publisher=Kanye West Foundation website (archived)|year=2008|access-date=February 6, 2013}} In 2007, West and the Foundation partnered with Strong American Schools as part of their "Ed in '08" campaign.{{cite news|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/education/25schools.html|title=Billionaires Start $60 Million Schools Effort|work=The New York Times|date=April 25, 2007|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530090527/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/education/25schools.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://education-portal.com/articles/Kanye_West_to_Politicians%3A_Yo,_Education_is_Important.html|title=Kanye West to Politicians: Yo, Education Is Important|publisher=Education Portal Stone|date=August 24, 2007|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=July 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708120106/https://education-portal.com/articles/Kanye_West_to_Politicians%3A_Yo,_Education_is_Important.html|url-status=live}} As spokesman for the campaign, West appeared in a series of PSAs for the organization, and hosted an inaugural benefit concert in August of that year.{{cite web|last=Webb|first=Tracey|url=https://www.blackgivesback.com/2007/08/hip-hop-superstar-kanye-west-combats.html|title=Hip Hop Superstar Kanye West Combats School Drop Out Rate Through Hip Hop Music|publisher=Black Gives Back|date=August 26, 2007|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=January 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116164634/https://www.blackgivesback.com/2007/08/hip-hop-superstar-kanye-west-combats.html|url-status=live}} In 2008, following the death of West's mother, the foundation was rechristened The Dr. Donda West Foundation.{{cite web|url=https://www.looktothestars.org/charity/dr-donda-west-foundation|title=Dr. Donda West foundation|publisher=Look to the Stars|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=March 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312044444/https://www.looktothestars.org/charity/dr-donda-west-foundation|url-status=live}} The foundation ceased operations in 2011.{{cite news|last=Horowitz|first=Steven J.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/business/20charity.html|title=Kanye West's Charity Closes|work=The New York Times|date=April 19, 2011|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909035409/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/business/20charity.html|url-status=live}} In 2013, Kanye West and friend Rhymefest founded Donda's House, Inc., a program aimed at helping at-risk Chicago youth.{{cite web|last=Minsker|first=Evan Minsker.|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/51675-kanye-wests-dondas-house-launches-free-music-writing-program-for-chicago-youth/|title=Kanye West's Donda's House Launches Free Music Writing Program for Chicago Youth|website=Pitchfork|date=July 28, 2013|access-date=March 11, 2016|archive-date=March 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312071653/https://pitchfork.com/news/51675-kanye-wests-dondas-house-launches-free-music-writing-program-for-chicago-youth/|url-status=live}}

West has contributed to hurricane relief in 2005 by participating in a Hurricane Katrina benefit concert after the storm had ravaged black communities in New Orleans{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-kanye-west-katrina-telethon-george-bush-black-people-20150902-htmlstory.html|title=10 years ago today, Kanye West said, 'George Bush doesn't care about black people'|date=September 2, 2015|last=Terry|first=Josh|website=Chicago Tribune|access-date=December 11, 2022|archive-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210830043610/https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-kanye-west-katrina-telethon-george-bush-black-people-20150902-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}} and in 2012 when he performed at a Hurricane Sandy benefit concert.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/14/arts/music/at-concert-for-sandy-relief-big-names-find-the-right-tone.html|title=Wave After Wave of the Right Tunes|date=December 13, 2012|last=Pareles|first=Jon|website=The New York Times|access-date=December 11, 2022|archive-date=December 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211211831/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/14/arts/music/at-concert-for-sandy-relief-big-names-find-the-right-tone.html|url-status=live}} In January 2019, West donated $10 million towards the completion of the Roden Crater by American artist James Turrell.{{cite news|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/15/kanye-west-donates-10-million-for-james-turrell-art-installation|title=Kanye West donates $10m for James Turrell art installation|work=The Guardian|date=January 15, 2019|access-date=January 20, 2019|archive-date=January 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121011023/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/15/kanye-west-donates-10-million-for-james-turrell-art-installation|url-status=live}} In June 2020, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the following protests, he donated $2{{nbsp}}million between the family of Floyd and other victims of police brutality, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. The donation funded legal fees for Arbery and Taylor's families, as well as establishing a 529 plan to fully cover college tuition for Floyd's daughter.{{cite news|last=Melas|first=Chloe|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/04/entertainment/kanye-west-two-million-dollar-donation/index.html|title=Kanye West donates $2 million, pays college tuition for George Floyd's daughter|publisher=CNN|date=June 5, 2020|access-date=June 6, 2020|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606005541/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/04/entertainment/kanye-west-two-million-dollar-donation/index.html|url-status=live}}

West made cameo appearances as himself in the films State Property 2 (2005) and The Love Guru (2008),{{cite web|last1=Rabin|first1=Nathan|title=State Property 2|url=https://www.avclub.com/state-property-2-1798208620|website=The A.V. Club|access-date=January 17, 2018|date=August 16, 2005|archive-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117190401/https://film.avclub.com/state-property-2-1798208620|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Newman|first1=Jason|title=High Five: Kanye West, Comedy Lover|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/2694262/hive-five-kanye-west-comedy-lover/|publisher=MTV|access-date=January 17, 2018|date=August 29, 2011|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407015510/https://www.mtv.com/news/2694262/hive-five-kanye-west-comedy-lover/|url-status=dead}} and in an episode of the television show Entourage in 2007.{{cite web|last1=Sundermann|first1=Eric|title=The Kanye West Scene in 'Entourage' Is One of the Greatest Moments in Television History|url=https://www.vice.com/da/article/the-kanye-west-entourage-scene-rules/|website=Noisey|publisher=Vice Media|access-date=January 17, 2018|date=June 8, 2015|archive-date=September 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917105327/https://noisey.vice.com/da/article/rb8j83/the-kanye-west-entourage-scene-rules|url-status=live}} West provided the voice for "Kenny West", a rapper, in the animated sitcom The Cleveland Show (2010–2012).{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Calvin|title=The Story Behind Kanye West's Appearance On The Cleveland Show|url=https://www.looper.com/963688/the-story-behind-kanye-wests-appearance-on-the-cleveland-show/|website=Looper|publisher=Static Media|access-date=January 21, 2025|date=August 13, 2022|archive-date=December 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206201546/https://www.looper.com/963688/the-story-behind-kanye-wests-appearance-on-the-cleveland-show/|url-status=live}} In 2009, he starred in the Spike Jonze-directed short film We Were Once a Fairytale (2009), playing himself acting belligerently while drunk in a nightclub.{{cite web|last1=Itzkoff|first1=Dave|title=Spike Jonze Explains His Kanye West Mini-Movie, 'We Were Once a Fairytale'|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/spike-jonze-explains-his-kanye-west-mini-movie-we-were-once-a-fairytale/|website=The New York Times|access-date=January 17, 2018|date=October 22, 2009|archive-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117131745/https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/spike-jonze-explains-his-kanye-west-mini-movie-we-were-once-a-fairytale/|url-status=live}} West wrote, directed, and starred in the musical short film Runaway (2010), which heavily features music from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The film depicts a relationship between a man, played by West, and a half-woman, half-phoenix creature.{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/vulture_talks_to_selita_ebanks.html|title=Vulture Talks to Selita Ebanks, the Star of Kanye's Movie|date=October 19, 2010|first=Amos|last=Barshad|work=New York|access-date=January 17, 2018|archive-date=October 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022131326/https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/vulture_talks_to_selita_ebanks.html|url-status=live}}

In 2012, West co-directed another short film, along with Alexandre Moors,{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/6snush/kanye-west-cruel-summer-cinema|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530230147/https://www.mtv.com/news/6snush/kanye-west-cruel-summer-cinema|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 30, 2024|title=Kanye West's Custom-Built {{'}}Cruel Summer{{'}} Cinema: Take A Look Inside!|date=May 30, 2012|last=Montgomery|first=James|website=MTV|access-date=May 30, 2024}} titled Cruel Summer, which premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival in a custom pyramid-shaped screening pavilion featuring seven screens constructed for the film. The film was meant to tie in with the compilation album of the same name to be released later that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/05/kanye-west-cruel-summer-cannes-2012.html|title=Kanye Screens Cruel Summer for Cannes, Kim, and an Approving Jay-Z|date=May 24, 2012|last=Yuan|first=Jada|website=Vulture|access-date=May 30, 2024|archive-date=September 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929034835/https://www.vulture.com/2012/05/kanye-west-cruel-summer-cannes-2012.html|url-status=live}} West made a cameo appearance in the comedy Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) as a MTV News representative in the film's fight scene.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/iircyd/kanye-west-anchorman-2-comedian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530230147/https://www.mtv.com/news/iircyd/kanye-west-anchorman-2-comedian|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 30, 2024|title=Kanye The Comedian? {{'}}Anchorman 2{{'}} Director Opens Up About Cameo|date=December 18, 2013|last=Sullivan|first=Kevin P.|website=MTV|access-date=May 30, 2024}} In September 2018, West announced the starting of a film production company named Half Beast, LLC.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/kanye-west-is-launching-a-new-company-find-out-what-hes-doing-next/ar-BBNpLBp|title=Kanye West is launching a new company: Find out what he's doing next|website=MSN|language=en-US|access-date=September 17, 2018|archive-date=September 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917105259/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/kanye-west-is-launching-a-new-company-find-out-what-hes-doing-next/ar-BBNpLBp|url-status=live}} A documentary shot over 21 years featuring footage of West's early days in Chicago through the death of his mother to his presidential run was announced to debut in 2021. Titled Jeen-Yuhs, it was acquired by Netflix for $30 million{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/kanye-west-documentary-reportedly-sold-netflix-30-million|title=Kanye West Documentary Reportedly Sold to Netflix for $30 Million|first=Brenton|last=Blanchet|date=April 7, 2021|publisher=Complex|access-date=October 20, 2021|archive-date=September 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918173351/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/kanye-west-documentary-reportedly-sold-netflix-30-million|url-status=live}} and released in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-mckinney/kanye-west-jeen-yuhs-documentary-part-1-revelations|title=10 Big Revelations From Part 1 of Kanye West's {{'}}Jeen-Yuhs{{'}} Documentary|date=February 16, 2022|last=McKinney|first=Jessica|website=Complex|access-date=May 30, 2024|archive-date=May 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530230148/https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-mckinney/kanye-west-jeen-yuhs-documentary-part-1-revelations|url-status=live}}

A documentary shot over six years with a billion-dollar budget was announced to debut in 2024. Titled In Whose Name?, it was directed by Nico Ballesteros and will be released in 2025.{{cite web |last1=Ritman |first1=Alex |title=Mysterious Kanye West Doc In Whose Name? Heads to AFM With Goodfellas and Utopia, First Image Revealed (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/kanye-west-doc-in-whose-name-afm-1236197279/ |website=Variety |access-date=November 1, 2024 |date=November 1, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |date=2024-11-01 |title=Kanye West Doc In Whose Name? To Be Unveiled At AFM As Goodfellas & Utopia Launch Sales |url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/kanye-west-doc-in-whose-name-revealed-afm-1236164638/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Kanye West U.S. presidential campaigns}}

File:Kanye West North Charleston Rally, July 2020.jpg, on July 19, 2020]]

On July 4, 2020, West announced on Twitter that he would be running in the 2020 presidential election.{{Cite news |last=Seipel |first=Brooke |date=July 4, 2020 |title=Kanye tweets he's running for president |language=en |work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/505893-kanye-tweets-hes-running-for-president |access-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120205450/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/505893-kanye-tweets-hes-running-for-president |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Drury |first=Sharareh |date=July 4, 2020 |title=Kanye West Announces 2020 Presidential Run |language=en |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-announces-2020-presidential-run-1301846 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705060424/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-announces-2020-presidential-run-1301846 |url-status=live }} On July 7, West was interviewed by Forbes about his presidential run, where he announced that his running mate would be Wyoming preacher Michelle Tidball, and that he would run as an independent under the "Birthday Party", explaining his decision of why he chose the name, saying, "Because when we win, it's everybody's 'birthday'."{{cite news |last1=Lane |first1=Randall |title=Kanye West Says He's Done With Trump—Opens Up About White House Bid, Damaging Biden And Everything In Between |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/#44bd292447aa |access-date=July 8, 2020 |work=Forbes|date=July 7, 2020 |archive-date=July 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708062958/https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/#44bd292447aa |url-status=live }} West also said he no longer supported Trump because he "hid in [a] bunker" during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|last=France|first=Lisa Respers|date=July 8, 2020|title=Kanye West says he no longer supports Trump and that he had coronavirus|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/entertainment/kanye-trump-coronavirus-forbes/index.html|access-date=July 8, 2020|publisher=CNN|archive-date=July 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714174654/https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/entertainment/kanye-trump-coronavirus-forbes/index.html|url-status=live}} Continuing, he said, "You know? Obama's special. Trump's special. We say Kanye West is special. America needs special people that lead. Bill Clinton? Special. Joe Biden's not special."

Various political pundits speculated that West's presidential run was a publicity stunt to promote his latest music releases.{{cite news |last1=Rolli |first1=Bryan |title=Kanye West's 2020 Presidential Run Is Just His Latest Outrageous Promotional Stunt |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrolli/2020/07/05/kanye-west-2020-presidential-run-promotional-stunt/#79c654b74a9d |access-date=July 8, 2020 |issue=July 5, 2020 |work=Forbes|archive-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719023633/https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrolli/2020/07/05/kanye-west-2020-presidential-run-promotional-stunt/#79c654b74a9d |url-status=live }}{{better source needed|date=May 2024|reason=See WP:FORBESCON}} On July 15, 2020, official paperwork was filed with the Federal Election Commission for West, under the "BDY" Party affiliation{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=July 15, 2020 |title=A 'Kanye 2020' Committee Just Filed With the FEC, But Is It Legit? |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-2020-fec-1029361/ |access-date=August 16, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818025733/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-2020-fec-1029361/ |url-status=live }} amid claims that he was preparing to drop out.{{cite web|date=July 15, 2020|title=Kanye West has reportedly dropped out of the presidential race|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-has-reportedly-dropped-out-of-the-presidential-race-2707866|access-date=July 15, 2020|website=NME|language=en-GB|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715053629/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-has-reportedly-dropped-out-of-the-presidential-race-2707866|url-status=live}} West held his first rally that weekend, on July 19.{{Cite news |date=July 20, 2020 |title=Kanye West launches unconventional 2020 campaign |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53467658 |access-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720010206/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53467658 |url-status=live }} West aligned himself with the philosophy of a consistent life ethic, a tenet of Christian democracy.{{cite web |title=Kanye West picks 'biblical life coach' as presidential running mate |url=https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/kanye-west-picks-biblical-life-coach-as-presidential-running-mate2 |publisher=Premier Christian Radio |access-date=August 31, 2020 |language=en |date=July 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812180559/https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/kanye-west-picks-biblical-life-coach-as-presidential-running-mate2 |url-status=live }} His platform advocated for the creation of a culture of life, endorsing environmental stewardship, supporting the arts, buttressing faith-based organizations, restoring school prayer, providing for a strong national defense, and "America First" diplomacy.{{cite web |last1=Kornhaber |first1=Spencer |title=Kanye West, Political Pawn |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/08/how-kanye-west-became-political-pawn/615256/ |publisher=The Atlantic |access-date=August 20, 2020 |language=en |date=August 14, 2020 |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123224432/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/08/how-kanye-west-became-political-pawn/615256/ |url-status=live }} In July 2020, West told Forbes that he is ignorant on issues such as taxes and foreign policy.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/|title=Kanye West Says He's Done With Trump—Opens Up About White House Bid, Damaging Biden And Everything In Between|first=Randall|last=Lane|website=Forbes|date=July 8, 2020|access-date=July 8, 2020|archive-date=July 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708062958/https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/|url-status=live}}

West conceded on Twitter on November 4, 2020.{{cite web|date=November 4, 2020|title='Welp': Kanye West admits defeat while teasing 2024 run|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/welp-kanye-west-admits-defeat-while-teasing-2024-run|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=The Washington Examiner|first=Anthony|last=Leonardi|language=en|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105110135/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/welp-kanye-west-admits-defeat-while-teasing-2024-run|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Carras |first=Christi |date=November 4, 2020 |title=Well, one thing is certain: Kanye West will not be elected president |language=en-US |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-11-04/election-2020-kanye-west-votes-president |access-date=November 5, 2020}} He received 66,365 votes in the 12 states he had ballot access in, receiving an average of 0.32%. Reported write-in votes gave West an additional 3,931 votes across 5 states. In addition, the Roque De La Fuente / Kanye West ticket won 60,160 votes in California (0.34%).{{cite web|url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/2020presgeresults.pdf|title=OFFICIAL 2020 PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS|publisher=FEC |access-date=June 4, 2021}} According to Reuters, on January 4, 2021, a Kanye West-linked publicist pressured a Georgia election worker to confess to bogus charges of election tampering to assist Trump's claims of election interference.{{Cite news|last1=Szep|first1=Jason|last2=So|first2=Linda|date=December 10, 2021|title=Kanye West publicist pressed Georgia election worker to confess to bogus fraud charges|language=en|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/kanye-west-publicist-pressed-georgia-election-worker-confess-bogus-fraud-charges-2021-12-10/|access-date=December 12, 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Olding|first=Barbie Latza Nadeau, Rachel|date=December 10, 2021|title=Of Course Trump's Jan. 6 Plot Now Involves Kanye's Henchwoman|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trevian-kutti-kanye-publicist-urged-georgia-election-worker-ruby-freeman-to-confess-to-fraud-says-reuters|access-date=December 12, 2021}}{{cite web|last=Jenkins|first=Cameron|date=December 10, 2021|title=Publicist linked to Kanye West pushed election worker to confess to Trump's fraud claims: Reuters|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/585368-publicist-linked-to-kanye-west-pushed-election-worker-to|access-date=December 12, 2021|website=The Hill|language=en}} In December 2021, The Daily Beast reported that West's presidential campaign received millions of dollars in services from a secret network of Republican operatives, payments to which the committee did not report. According to campaign finance experts, this was done to conceal a connection.{{Cite news|last1=Sollenberger|first1=Roger|last2=Bredderman|first2=William|date=December 17, 2021|title=Kanye West's 'Independent' Campaign Was Secretly Run by GOP Elites|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/kanye-wests-independent-campaign-was-secretly-run-by-gop-elites|access-date=December 18, 2021}}{{cite web|last=McLaughlin|first=Kelly|date=December 17, 2021|title=Kanye West's presidential campaign was run by GOP operatives who were trying to re-elect Trump, investigation finds|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-presidential-campaign-gop-operatives-investigation-finds-2021-12|access-date=December 18, 2021|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}

West stated his intention to run for president again in the 2024 presidential election, saying at a November 2019 event, "When I run for president in 2024, we would've created so many jobs that I'm not going to run, I'm going to walk." He was met with laughter from the audience.{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2019/11/08/kanye-west-says-hes-running-president-2024/2527854001/ |title=Kanye West on joining 2024 presidential race: 'I'm not going to run, I'm going to walk' |website=USA Today}} In response to a request for additional information from the Federal Election Commission regarding the creation of a presidential exploratory committee, West's representatives emphasized that he "has not decided whether to become a candidate for president in the 2024 election" and refused to file additional paperwork with the commission.{{cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Tyler|date=May 19, 2021|title=Kanye West 'has not decided' if he'll run for president again in 2024|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kanye-west-not-decided-run-president-2024|access-date=January 6, 2022|publisher=Fox News|language=en-US}} West officially launched his presidential campaign in November 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63754702 | title=Kanye West announces 2024 presidential bid|work=BBC News|first=Mark|last=Savage|date=November 25, 2022|access-date=May 30, 2024}} West claimed to have asked former president Donald Trump to be his running mate; according to West, Trump was "caught [...] off-guard" by the request and warned him of losing if he decided to run.{{Cite news |last=Helmore |first=Edward |date=November 25, 2022 |title=Kanye West announces 2024 presidential bid amid far-right ties |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/25/kanye-west-presidential-run-2024 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |title=Kanye West announces he's running for president |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/kanye-west-announced-running-president/story?id=71614805 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |website=ABC News |language=en}} In October 2023, an attorney for West said that he "is not a candidate for office in 2024".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-not-running-president-2024-1235450094/|title=Kanye West Not Running For President in 2024|date=October 20, 2023|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 20, 2023}}

{{Main|Views of Kanye West}}

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{{Wikinews|Rapper Kanye West denounces Bush response, American media at hurricane relief telethon}}

West has been an outspoken and controversial celebrity throughout his career, receiving criticism from the mainstream media, industry colleagues and entertainers, and three U.S. presidents. In a 2005 speech, West criticized both the media and the government's racial disparities in their response to Hurricane Katrina, stating on live television "George Bush doesn't care about black people".{{Cite news |last=Moraes |first=Lisa |date=September 3, 2005 |title=Kanye West's Torrent of Criticism, Live on NBC |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html |access-date=December 2, 2022}} He apologized for the comment in 2010, saying he "didn't have the grounds to call [Bush] a racist" and later stated in regard to the remark that he "was programmed to think from a victimized mentality".{{cite web|url=https://people.com/politics/kanye-west-george-bush-racist-2005-victim-mentality/|title=Kanye West Explains Calling George W. Bush Racist in 2005: 'I Was Caught Up in a Victim Mentality'|date=October 11, 2018|last=McAffee|first=Tierney|website=People|access-date=June 11, 2024}} West voiced his opposition to abortion in 2013, citing his belief in the Sixth Commandment,{{Cite magazine|title=Kanye West Claimed Democrats Make Black People Kill Their Children |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/zmj5b8/kanye-west-interview-big-boy-democrats-abortion-and-plan-b|first=Susan|last=Rinkunas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215155700/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/zmj5b8/kanye-west-interview-big-boy-democrats-abortion-and-plan-b |archive-date=December 15, 2019|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=July 5, 2020 |magazine=Vice}} and in 2022 deemed abortion "genocide and population control" of black people.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-24/kanye-west-lex-fridman-antisemitism-podcast|title=Kanye West assails Jews, abortion in new interview with Lex Fridman|date=October 25, 2022|website=Los Angeles Times}} In 2018, West stated that the 400-year enslavement of Africans "sounds like a choice",{{cite news|url=https://theguardian.com/music/2018/may/01/kanye-west-on-slavery-for-400-years-that-sounds-like-a-choice|title=Kanye West on slavery: 'For 400 years? That sounds like a choice'|work=The Guardian|first1=Benjamin|last1=Lee|first2=Ben|last2=Beaumont-Thomas|date=May 2, 2018|access-date=October 27, 2022}} before elaborating that his comment was in reference to mental enslavement and argued for free thought.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/01/entertainment/kanye-west-slavery-choice-trnd/index.html|title=Kanye West just said 400 years of slavery was a choice|first=Harmeet|last=Kaur|date=May 2018|publisher=CNN}} He later apologized for the comment.{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/music/kanye-west-apologizes-slavery-comment-cries-over-bipolar-disorder|title=Kanye West Apologizes for Saying 'Slavery Was a Choice' in Tearful Interview|work=People|first=Robyn|last=Merrett|date=August 29, 2018|access-date=August 30, 2018}}

In late 2022, West made a series of antisemitic statements, resulting in the termination of his collaborations, sponsorships, and partnerships with Vogue, Universal Music Group, CAA, Balenciaga, Gap, and Adidas.{{cite web |title=UMG Confirms Termination of Kanye West Relationship – Gap Removes Yeezy Products From Stores |url=https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2022/10/25/umg-gap-remove-yeezy-products-from-stores/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |publisher=Digital Music News|first=Ashley|last=King|date=October 25, 2022 }}{{cite web |title=Adidas cuts ties with Ye over antisemitic remarks that caused an uproar |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/10/25/1131285970/adidas-ye-kanye-west-antisemitic|date=October 25, 2022 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |publisher=NPR|first=Bobby|last=Allyn}} West was widely condemned after appearing at a dinner hosted by Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago beside Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/02/biden-condemns-antisemitism-after-ye-praises-hitler-post-trump-dinner.html|title=Biden condemns antisemitism as Ye praises Hitler days after dinner with Trump, white nationalist Fuentes|date=December 2, 2022|last=Kinery|first=Emma|work=CNBC|access-date=December 6, 2022}} In a subsequent December appearance on Alex Jones's InfoWars, West praised Adolf Hitler, denied the Holocaust,{{cite news |last1=Adragna |first1=Anthony |last2=Olander |first2=Olivia |title='A deranged Anti-semite': GOP outraged at Ye's latest horror show |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/01/ye-antisemitism-republicans-hitler-00071695 |access-date=December 2, 2022 |work=Politico |date=December 1, 2022}} and identified himself as a Nazi.{{Cite web |date=December 1, 2022 |title=Kanye West praises Hitler, calls himself a Nazi in unhinged interview |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/doubling-down-on-antisemitism-kanye-west-praises-hitler-in-unhinged-interview/ |access-date=December 3, 2022 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/12/kanye-west-alex-jones-donald-trump-hitler|title=Kanye West, Donald Trump's Dining Companion, Tells Alex Jones, "I'm a Nazi," Lists Things He Loves About Hitler|date=December 1, 2022|last=Levin|first=Bess|website=Vanity Fair|access-date=February 14, 2023}} After the interview, West used his Twitter account to post a picture of a swastika entangled in a Star of David, and his account was terminated.{{cite news |last1=Mohammed |first1=Leyla |title=Kanye West Leaked Messages Showing Elon Musk Told Him He'd 'Gone Too Far' Before Suspending His Twitter Account For Promoting His Presidential Campaign With A Swastika |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/leylamohammed/kanye-west-suspended-twitter-swastika-elon-musk |access-date=December 22, 2022 |work=BuzzFeed News|date=December 2, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Kanye West suspended from Twitter after posting swastika inside the Star of David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/02/kanye-west-suspended-from-twitter-after-posting-swastika-inside-the-star-of-david |work=The Guardian|first=Dan|last=Milmo|date=December 2, 2022 |access-date=December 2, 2022}} In July 2023, Twitter reversed the ban, citing assurances from West that he would not post harmful content.{{cite web | last=Busby | first=Mattha | title=Elon Musk reinstates Kanye West's Twitter account after ban | website=The Guardian| date=July 30, 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/30/elon-musk-reinstates-kanye-west-twitter-account-after-ban | access-date=July 30, 2023}}{{cite web | title=Twitter, now called X, reinstates Kanye West account | website=Al Jazeera| date=July 30, 2023 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/30/x-formerly-known-as-twitter-reinstates-kanye-west-account | access-date=July 30, 2023}} According to a 2023 report published by the Anti-Defamation League, West's antisemitic rhetoric has caused several instances of hate-speech vandalism, harassment, and violence across the United States.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kanye-west-anti-semitic-rhetoric-assaults-vandalism-1234678236/|title=Report: Kanye's Anti-Semitic Rhetoric Led to Assaults, Vandalism|date=February 13, 2023|last=Dickinson|first=Tim|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=March 7, 2023}} In December 2023, weeks before the release of his upcoming album, West apologized for his antisemitic remarks in a written statement on Instagram.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/ye-kanye-antisemitism-apology-40450fa8868c660d954b672d5dfbcc3a|title=The rapper Ye, who has a long history of making antisemitic comments, issues an apology in Hebrew|date=December 26, 2023|last=Sherman|first=Maria|website=Associated Press|access-date=December 28, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/26/kanye-west-apologises-to-jewish-community-for-2022-antisemitic-remarks|title=Kanye West apologises to Jewish community for 2022 antisemitic remarks|work=The Guardian|first=Ben|last=Beaumont-Thomas|date=December 26, 2023|access-date=December 28, 2023}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-apology-jewish-community-antisemitic-comments-1234936039/|title=Kanye Suddenly Decides His Hitler Talk Was Bad|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Emily|last=Zemler|date=December 26, 2023|access-date=December 28, 2023}} In a subsequent interview, he said "[s]ome of the stuff I was saying was true"{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-admits-he-was-two-months-from-going-bankrupt-after-adidas-deal-termination-3587469|title=Kanye West admits he was "two months from going bankrupt" after Adidas deal termination|date=February 14, 2024|last=Rigotti|first=Alex|website=NME|access-date=June 11, 2024}} and that Black people cannot be antisemitic because they "are Jew".{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2024/02/19/kanye-west-ty-dolla-vultures-billboard-chart/|title={{'}}Vultures{{'}} charts at No. 1 on Billboard despite Ye's antisemitic rants|date=February 19, 2024|last=Chery|first=Samantha|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 11, 2024}} In February 2025, he went on an antisemitic rant on X, professing his love for Hitler, and purchased local advertising during Super Bowl LIX which directed viewers to his website, where he was selling a swastika t-shirt.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/how-kanye-west-super-bowl-ad-swastika-shirts-1236302946/|title=How Kanye West Landed a Super Bowl Ad — Then Used It to Sell Swastika Shirts After It Aired|first=Michael|last=Schneider|work=Variety|date=February 10, 2025|accessdate=February 12, 2025}} He also defended Sean Combs from sexual abuse allegations.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Derrick Bryson |date=2025-02-07 |title=Ye Takes Back Apology and Calls Himself a Nazi in Social Media Rant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/arts/music/ye-takes-back-apology.html |access-date=2025-02-08 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Watts|first=Marina|title=Kanye West Defends Sean 'Diddy' Combs in Antisemitic, Slur-Ridden Rant |url=https://people.com/kanye-west-posts-antisemitic-slur-ridden-rant-8787605 |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=People |language=en}} In May 2025, Rolling Stone wrote that West's social media tirades had turned him into "a cultural and business pariah".

West has been one of the wealthiest musical artists; his net worth was as high as $1.8 billion in 2021.{{cite web |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Jill |date=April 6, 2021 |title=Tyler Perry, Kim Kardashian & Kanye West Hit Forbes Billionaires List For First Time; Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk Are No. 1 & 2 For 2021 |url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/tyler-perry-kim-kardashian-kanye-west-forbes-billionaires-list-jeff-bezos-elon-musk-1234728825/ |access-date=December 3, 2021 |website=Deadline|language=en-US}} In October 2022, Forbes estimated his net worth to have dropped to $400 million in large part due to Adidas's termination of their partnership following a series of public antisemitic statements.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2022/10/25/billionaire-no-more-kanye-wests-anti-semitism-obliterates-his-net-worth-as-adidas-cuts-ties/?sh=1c1ef5f517e7 |title=Billionaire No More: Kanye West's Anti-Semitism Obliterates His Net Worth As Adidas Cuts Ties |website=Forbes |first=Lisette |last=Voytko |date=October 25, 2022 |accessdate=October 25, 2022}}

In August 2021, West applied to court to have his legal name changed from "Kanye Omari West" to "Ye", with no middle or last name;{{cite web|last=Tapp|first=Tom|date=October 18, 2021|title=Kanye West Officially Changes His Name To "Ye," With Judge's Approval Today|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/kanye-changes-name-ye-1234857751/|access-date=October 18, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} he cited "personal reasons" for the change.{{cite web|last=Henderson|first=Cydney|title=It's official: Kanye West legally changes name to Ye for 'personal reasons,' reports say|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/10/18/kanye-west-changes-name-ye-personal-reasons/8512169002/|date=October 18, 2021|access-date=October 19, 2021|website=USA Today|language=en-US}} The request was granted by Michelle Williams Court, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, in October 2021. West had alluded to wishing to change his name since 2018 and had used Ye as a nickname for several years prior, stating in a 2018 interview that he believed "ye" ({{IPAc-en|j|iː}}) was the most commonly used word in the Bible:{{efn|In the King James Bible, the most commonly used translation of the Christian Bible in the United States, the word that appears the most is not "ye", but rather "Lord" (not counting indefinite articles).{{cite web|last=Desborough|first=Jenny|title=Why Has Kanye West Changed His Name? Meaning Behind Ye Explained|url=https://www.newsweek.com/why-has-kanye-west-changed-his-name-ye-meaning-explained-1640228|date=October 19, 2021|access-date=October 20, 2021|website=Newsweek|language=en-US}}}} "In the Bible it means 'you'. So, I'm you. I'm us. It's us. It went from being Kanye, which means the only one, to just Ye."{{cite news |last=Aubrey |first=Elizabeth |date=October 18, 2021 |title=Kanye West officially changes his name to 'Ye' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kanye-west-name-change-ye-real-b1940681.html8512169002/ |url-access=registration |access-date=October 19, 2021 |website=The Independent |language=en-GB}}

In April 2025, West said that he and a male cousin had an incestuous relationship as children. The relationship began when they attempted reenacting what they saw in gay pornography magazines that West had discovered in his mother's closet. West said that he performed oral sex on his cousin until he was 14, when he ended the relationship.{{cite web |last1=Matthews |first1=David |title=Kanye West reveals past incestuous relationship with male cousin |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/21/kanye-west-cousin/ |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=April 21, 2025 |date=April 21, 2025}}

In April 2012, West began dating reality television star Kim Kardashian, with whom he had already been long-time friends.{{cite web|title=Khloe Kardashian: I Told Kim Kardashian To Date Kanye West "For Years!"|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/khloe-kardashian-i-told-kim-kardashian-to-date-kanye-west-for-years-201376|work=Us Weekly|access-date=June 7, 2013|date=June 7, 2013|first=Brittany|last=Galla}}{{cite web|last=Garibaldi|first=Christina|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1688065/kim-kardashian-oprah-kanye-west-dating.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624203411/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1688065/kim-kardashian-oprah-kanye-west-dating.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2012|title=Kim Kardashian Explains Why It Took 'So Long' To Date Kanye West|publisher=MTV|date=June 21, 2012|access-date=August 12, 2012}} West and Kardashian became engaged in October 2013,{{cite news|title=Kimye forever: Kim Kardashian, Kanye West get engaged|url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/10/22/showbiz/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-engaged/|publisher=CNN|access-date=October 22, 2013|date=October 22, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://ca.eonline.com/news/472716/kim-kardashian-is-engaged-to-kanye-west.com|publisher=E Online!|title=Kim Kardashian Is Engaged to Kanye West!|first=Natalie|last=Finn|date=October 21, 2013|access-date=October 22, 2013}} and married at Fort di Belvedere in Florence in May 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.people.com/article/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-married-wedding-florence-italy|work=People|title=It's Official: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Are Married|last=Corriston|first=Michelle|date=May 24, 2014|access-date=May 24, 2014}} Their private ceremony was subject to widespread mainstream coverage, with which West took issue.Lee, Christina. [https://www.idolator.com/7520141/kanye-west-kim-kardashian-wedding-speech "Kanye West Blasts Media Coverage Of Kim Kardashian In Wedding Speech."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107155602/https://www.idolator.com/7520141/kanye-west-kim-kardashian-wedding-speech |date=January 7, 2020 }} Idolator. May 28, 2014. The couple's high-profile status and respective careers have resulted in their relationship becoming subject to heavy media coverage; The New York Times referred to their marriage as "a historic blizzard of celebrity".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/t-magazine/kanye-west-adidas-yeezy-fashion-interview.html?_r=0|title=The Agony and the Ecstasy of Kanye West.|work=The New York Times|date=April 10, 2015|last=Caramanica|first=Jon}}

West and Kardashian have four children: North West (born June 2013),{{cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-welcome-their-baby-girl/|title=Kim Kardashian Is a Mom!|date=June 15, 2013|work=People|access-date=June 15, 2013|first=Dahvi|last=Shira}}{{cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/kim-kardashian-baby-name-revealed/|title=Kim Kardashian's Baby Name: Finally Revealed!|date=June 20, 2013|work=People|access-date=June 21, 2013|first1=Jennifer|last1=Garcia|first2=Rennie|last2=Dyball}} Saint West (born December 2015),{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4139432/kim-kardashian-west-kanye-west-saint-west/|title=The Long History Behind Kim and Kanye's New Baby's Name|access-date=December 8, 2015|date=December 7, 2015|magazine=Time|first=Ashley|last=Ross}} Chicago West (born via surrogate in January 2018),{{Cite news|url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/chicago-west-baby-name-kanye-hometown|title=Kim Kardashian's Third Child Is Named After Kanye West's Hometown|work=Travel + Leisure|access-date=January 22, 2018|language=en}}{{cite web|last1=Juneau|first1=Jen|title=Kanye and Kim Kardashian West Welcome a Daughter|url=https://people.com/babies/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-welcome-daughter/|website=People|access-date=January 16, 2018|date=January 16, 2018}} and Psalm West (born via surrogate in May 2019).{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/parents/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-welcome-son/|title='He's Here!' Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Welcome Son: 'He's Perfect'|magazine=People|first=Jen|last=Juneau|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=May 10, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Bloom |first1=Madison |title=Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Reveal Fourth Child's Name |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-and-kim-kardashian-reveal-fourth-childs-name/ |website=Pitchfork|date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=May 17, 2019}} In July 2020, during a presidential campaign rally of his, West revealed that he had previously considered abortion during Kardashian's first pregnancy but has since adopted anti-abortion views.{{cite news |last1=Henderson |first1=Cydney |title=Kim Kardashian West officially files for divorce from Kanye West after almost 7 years of marriage |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/02/19/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-head-divorce-after-almost-7-years/6556476002/ |access-date=February 21, 2021 |work=USA Today |date=February 19, 2021}} In April 2015, West and Kardashian traveled to Jerusalem to have North baptized in the Armenian Apostolic Church at the Cathedral of St. James.{{Cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/news/166186_kim_kardashian_posts_pics_of_north_west_baptism_on_her_second_birthday|title=Kim Kardashian Shares North West's Baptism Pics on Daughter's Birthday |website=ET Online|first=Jackie|last=Willis|date=June 15, 2015|access-date=December 29, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/kim-kardashian-baptises-north-west-on-trip-to-the-middle-east-20150414-1mkfpb.html|title=Kim Kardashian baptises North West on trip to the Middle East|first=Mary|last=Ward|date=April 13, 2015|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

In September 2018, West announced that he would be permanently moving back to Chicago to establish his Yeezy company headquarters there.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-kanye-west-moving-chicago-20180918-story.html|title=Kanye West to local high schoolers: 'I'm Moving Back to Chicago'|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|first=Morgan|last=Greene|date=September 19, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/969526/kanye-west-says-he-s-moving-back-to-chicago-permanently|title=Kanye West Says He's Moving Back to Chicago Permanently|publisher=E Online!|first=Jess|last=Cohen|date=September 19, 2018}} This did not actually occur, and West instead went on to purchase two ranches near Cody, Wyoming, where he recorded his eighth solo studio album, Ye. Kardashian resides with their children in a home that the now-divorced couple owns in California,{{cite news |last1=Melas |first1=Chloe |title=Kim Kardashian and Kanye West discussing divorce |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/06/entertainment/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-divorce-marriage/index.html|date=January 6, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=CNN}} whereas West moved into a home across the street to continue to be near their children.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/music/why-kanye-west-bought-house-across-kim-kardashian-nothing-keeps-me-from-my-children/|title=Kanye West on Why He Bought House Across from Kim Kardashian: 'Nothing Is Gonna Keep Me from My Children'|work=People|last1=Wenger|first1=Stephanie|last2=Charles|first2=Marissa}} In October 2021, West began the process of selling his Wyoming ranch.{{cite web|url=https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/kanye-era-comes-to-end-in-cody/article_04a7982e-6a1f-5c85-bcf1-81cfac04b7de.html|title=Kanye era comes to end in Cody|work=Casper Star Tribune|date=November 2, 2021|last=Wolfson|first=Leo|archive-date=January 4, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240104032354/https://trib.com/news/state-regional/kanye-era-comes-to-end-in-cody/article_04a7982e-6a1f-5c85-bcf1-81cfac04b7de.html}}

In July 2020, West acknowledged the possibility of Kardashian ending their marriage due to his adoption of anti-abortion views. Later that month, West wrote on Twitter that he had been attempting to divorce Kardashian. He also wrote that the Kardashian family was attempting "to lock [him] up". In January 2021, CNN reported that the couple were discussing divorce. A month later, Kardashian filed for divorce,{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kim-kardashian-files-divorce-kanye-west-n1258382|title=Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West|date=February 19, 2021|access-date=February 19, 2021|publisher=NBC News|first=Diana|last=Dasarth}} with the couple citing "irreconcilable differences", agreeing to joint custody of their children, and declining spousal support from each other.{{cite news |title=Kim Kardashian and Kanye West agree joint custody after divorce |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56718074 |access-date=April 13, 2021 |agency=BBC News |date=April 13, 2021}} The divorce settlement was finalized in November 2022, and West was ordered to pay $200,000 in monthly child support and be responsible for half of the children's medical, educational, and security expenses.{{cite news|url=https://people.com/tv/kim-kardashian-and-kanye-west-finalize-divorce/|title=Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Finalize Divorce, Rapper Must Pay $200K Per Month in Child Support|first=Stephanie|last=Wenger|publisher=People|date=November 29, 2022|accessdate=November 30, 2022}}

West began an on-and-off relationship with the designer Alexis Phifer in 2002, and they became engaged in August 2006. They ended their 18-month engagement in 2008.{{cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1585980/20080421/west_kanye.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423102506/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1585980/20080421/west_kanye.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2008|title=Kanye West's Ex-Fiancee Alexis Phifer Talks About Breakup|date=April 21, 2008|publisher=MTV News|access-date=September 18, 2009}} Phifer stated that the pair had split amicably and remained friends.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/tsrnkt/kanye-wests-ex-fiancee-alexis-phifer-talks-about-breakup|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124220702/https://www.mtv.com/news/tsrnkt/kanye-wests-ex-fiancee-alexis-phifer-talks-about-breakup|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 24, 2023|title=Kanye West's Ex-Fiancee Alexis Phifer Talks About Breakup|date=April 21, 2008|website=MTV News|access-date=January 24, 2023}} West dated model Amber Rose from 2008 until mid-2010.{{cite web|title=Kanye West Confirms Amber Rose Split|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/kanye-west/234050-kanye-west-confirms-amber-rose-split|work=MTV UK|access-date=December 31, 2012|date=August 13, 2010|archive-date=May 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526093736/https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/kanye-west/234050-kanye-west-confirms-amber-rose-split|url-status=dead}} In an interview following their split, West stated that he had to take "30 showers" before committing to his next relationship with Kim Kardashian.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/amber-rose-apologizes-kim-kardashian-2015-tweet-kanye-west-1235019759/|title=Amber Rose Expresses Regret Over Dissing Kim Kardashian in 2015 Tweet About Kanye West: 'Learn From My Mistakes'|date=January 17, 2022|last=Peters|first=Mitchell|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 24, 2023}} In response, Rose stated that she had been "bullied" and "slut-shamed" by West throughout their relationship.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/amber-rose-kanye-west-ex-relationship-bullied-no-jumper-b1230978.html|title=Amber Rose says Kanye West has 'bullied' her for 10 years: 'Just move on with your life'|date=October 22, 2022|last=Ritschel|first=Chelsea|website=The Independent|access-date=January 24, 2023}}

In January 2022, actress Julia Fox confirmed in an Interview essay that she was dating West.{{cite web|date=January 6, 2022 |first=Glenn |last=Garner|title=Kanye West and Julia Fox Confirm Their Romance and Share Intimate Photos of Lavish Second Date|url=https://people.com/music/julia-fox-kanye-west-and-julia-fox-confirm-their-romance-share-intimate-photos-date/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=People|language=en}} West continued to say that he wanted his "family back" and publicly lashed out at Kardashian's new boyfriend, comedian Pete Davidson.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/02/kanye-west-goes-on-civil-war-themed-meme-rampage-against-kid-cudi-billie-eilish-and-pete-davidson-then-deletes-everything |title=Kanye West Goes on Civil War-Themed Meme Rampage Against Kid Cudi, Billie Eilish, and Pete Davidson, Then Deletes Everything |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=February 13, 2022|last=Hoffman|first=Jordan}} His treatment of Davidson and Kardashian has been described by commentators as harassment and abusive; the 64th Annual Grammy Awards dropped him as a performer in response to his "concerning online behavior".{{cite news|access-date=March 22, 2022|title=What's going on with Ye — and why does it matter?|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/03/20/1087783771/whats-going-on-with-ye-and-why-does-it-matter|newspaper=NPR}}{{cite web|access-date=March 22, 2022|title=Kanye West barred from Grammys over 'concerning online behavior'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/mar/19/kanye-west-grammys-performance-barred-online-behavior|date=March 19, 2022|website=The Guardian|first=Edward|last=Helmore}}{{cite web|first1=Jenna|last1=Ryu|access-date=March 22, 2022|title=Kanye West's behavior is 'triggering' for those who have been in Kim Kardashian's shoes|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2022/03/04/kanye-west-pete-davidson-video-instagram-fans/9357924002/|website=USA Today}} Less than two months after confirming their relationship, Fox said that she and West had split up but remained on good terms.{{cite web|date=February 14, 2022 |first=Benjamin |last=VanHoose|title=Julia Fox Splits from Kanye West After Whirlwind Romance: 'I Have Love for Him But I Wasn't in Love'|url=https://people.com/movies/julia-fox-splits-from-kanye-west-after-whirlwind-romance-i-have-love-for-him-but-i-wasnt-in-love/|access-date=February 15, 2022|website=People|language=en}} She later said that she dated West purely to "give people something to talk about" during the COVID-19 pandemic{{cite web|last=Soteriou|first=Stephanie|title=Julia Fox Has Revealed The Bizarre Reason Why She And Kanye West Were So Public With Their Whirlwind Romance Before Their Split|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniesoteriou/julia-fox-kanye-west-service-celebrity-pandemic|date=February 16, 2022|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=BuzzFeed News|language=en}} and to "get him off Kim's case".{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Rebecca |title=Julia Fox said she dated Kanye West so he would leave ex-wife Kim Kardashian alone |url=https://www.insider.com/julia-fox-dated-kanye-west-leave-kim-kardashian-alone-2022-11 |date=November 21, 2022 |access-date=November 21, 2022|website=Insider |language=en-US}}

In January 2023, it was reported that West had informally married Australian architect Bianca Censori, who works for West's Yeezy brand, in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/01/kanye-west-married-bianca-censori-yeezy-designer-architect-kim-kardashian-divorce|title=WEDDING BELLS Kanye West Reportedly Marries Yeezy Designer Bianca Censori|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=January 13, 2023|last=Kirkpatrick|first=Emily}}{{Cite web |last=Crock |first=Mary |title=Should Australia let Kanye West in? |url=https://theconversation.com/should-australia-let-kanye-west-in-198498 |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=The Conversation |date=January 25, 2023 |language=en}} The ceremony had no legal standing; the couple did not file for a marriage license.{{Cite web |last=Porterfield |first=Carlie |title=Kanye West Reportedly Married Again—What To Know About Bianca Censori |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2023/01/13/kanye-west-reportedly-married-again---what-to-know-about-bianca-censori/?sh=2da4e4ec4575 |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=Forbes|language=en}} In response to West's subsequent trips to Australia to visit Censori's family, Australian Minister for Education Jason Clare commented that West may be denied a visa due to his recent antisemitic remarks. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/australian-minister-says-kanye-west-could-be-denied-entry-2023-01-25/|title=Australian minister says Kanye West could be denied entry|date=January 25, 2023|last=Jackson|first=Lewis|website=Reuters|access-date=February 10, 2023}} and the Anti-Defamation Commission further argued against granting West entry.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-should-be-denied-entry-into-australia-civil-rights-group-says-1235203506/|title=Kanye West Should Be Refused Entry Into Australia, Country's Anti-Defamation Commission Says|date=January 23, 2023|last=Dalley|first=Hannah|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 27, 2023}} In April 2025, West claimed in the song "Bianca" that Censori had left him following his controversial Twitter comments, but shared a photo later that month showing that they were still together.{{cite web |last1=Santa Florentina |first1=Hayley |title=Kanye West Reunites With Bianca Censori After Claiming She Left Him |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1416445/kanye-west-reunites-with-bianca-censori |website=April 22, 2025 |publisher=E! |date=April 22, 2025}}

{{See also|List of Kanye West samples and sampling disputes}}

He has been accused of the extensive use of uncleared samples in his music, leading to numerous lawsuits.{{Cite magazine |last=Donahue |first=Bill |date=2024-08-08 |title=How Many Times Has Ye Been Sued Over Sampling? Here's Every Lawsuit |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/kanye-west-ye-sampling-lawsuits-full-list/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}} In December 2006, Robert "Evel" Knievel sued the rapper for trademark infringement of his name and likeness in West's video for "Touch the Sky". Knievel took issue with the "vulgar and offensive" and "sexually charged video" in which West takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevel" that Knievel claimed damaged his reputation. The suit sought monetary damages and an injunction to stop distribution of the video.{{cite web|url=https://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1212061evel1.html|title=Evel Knievel Sues Kanye West|access-date=June 7, 2007|website=The Smoking Gun}} West's attorneys argued that the music video amounted to satire and therefore was covered under the First Amendment. Days before his death in November 2007, Knievel amicably settled the suit after being paid a visit by West, saying, "I thought he was a wonderful guy and quite a gentleman."{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511011738/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-11-27-kanye-knievel_N.htm|archive-date=May 11, 2022|title=Evel Knievel, Kanye West settle lawsuit|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-11-27-kanye-knievel_N.htm|work=USA Today|date=November 27, 2007|access-date=November 27, 2007|url-status=live}}

In 2014, after an altercation with a paparazzo at the Los Angeles Airport, West was sentenced to serve two years' probation for a misdemeanor battery conviction, and was required to attend 24 anger management sessions, perform 250 hours of community service, and pay restitution to the photographer.{{cite news|last=Duke|first=Alan|title=Kanye West gets probation in paparazzi attack|publisher=CNN|date=March 17, 2014|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/17/showbiz/kanye-west-plea-deal/|access-date=March 17, 2015}} A separate civil lawsuit brought by the paparazzo was settled in 2015, a week before it was due for trial.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/07/kanye-west-settles-lawsuit-paparazzo|title=Kanye West settles lawsuit with paparazzo over 2013 LA airport attack|date=April 7, 2015|website=The Guardian|access-date=January 24, 2023}} According to TMZ, an appeal to have West's conviction expunged from his criminal record was granted by a judge in 2016.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-charge-paparazzi-cleared-from-record-7350471/|title=Kanye West's Charge in Paparazzi Scuffle Cleared From Record: Report|date=May 2, 2016|last=Stutz|first=Colin|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 24, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kanye-west-has-clean-criminal-record-after-judge-erases-beating-conviction|title=Kanye West has clean criminal record after judge erases beating conviction|date=December 4, 2016|website=Fox News|access-date=January 24, 2023}}

On June 29, 2022, a complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in New York claiming copyright infringement due to unauthorized use of a sample on the song "Flowers". The complaint claims that West sampled Marshall Jefferson's 1986 house track "Move Your Body" without gaining permission or providing compensation.{{Cite magazine|last=Eggertsen|first=Chris|title=Ye Sued Over Sample Used on 'Donda 2' Track 'Flowers'|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/kanye-west-sued-donda-2-sample-marshall-jefferson/|date=June 29, 2022|access-date=June 29, 2022|magazine=Billboard}} In July 2022, West was sued for $416,000 by the fashion rental company the David Casavant Archive. The lawsuit claimed that West had failed to make payments on and return 13 rented pieces.{{cite web |title=Kanye West sued for not returning 13 'rare pieces' to fashion rental company |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/426743-kanye-west-sued-for-not-returning-13-rare-pieces-to-fashion-rental-company |access-date=July 8, 2022 |website=Geo.tv |language=en}}

West was sued for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and breach of contract by a former assistant in 2024.{{cite news |last1=Madarang |first1=Charisma |title=Kanye West's Ex-Assistant Accuses Him of Sexual Harassment, Masturbating in Front of Her |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-assistant-sexual-harassment-wrongful-termination-lawsuit-1235032484/ |access-date=4 June 2024 |agency=Rolling Stone}} West denied the allegation.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-dismisses-sexual-harassment-allegations-against-him-as-baseless-announces-plans-to-countersue-for-sexual-coercion-3762636|title=Kanye West dismisses sexual harassment allegations against him as "baseless", announces plans to countersue for "sexual coercion"|date=June 5, 2024|last=Rigotti|first=Alex|website=NME|access-date=June 7, 2024}} That same year, he was sued by a former model for sexual assault and strangulation. In the lawsuit, she claims that during a music video set, West choked and gagged her in the mouth.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-23 |title=Kanye West accused of sexually assaulting and strangling model on music video set, new lawsuit says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kanye-west-accused-sexually-assaulting-strangling-model-rcna181479 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Walden |date=2024-11-23 |title=Kanye West Accused, in New Lawsuit, of Sexual Assault During 2010 Music Video Shoot |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-accused-in-new-lawsuit-of-sexual-assault-during-2010-music-video-shoot/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Pitchfork|language=en-US}}

After the success of his song "Jesus Walks" from the album The College Dropout, West was asked about his beliefs and said, "I will say that I'm spiritual. I have accepted Jesus as my Savior. And I will say that I fall short every day."{{cite news|last=Ogunnaike|first=Lola|title=A Trinity of Videos for One Religious Rap|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/arts/a-trinity-of-videos-for-one-religious-rap.html?scp=1&sq=|work=The New York Times|date=June 23, 2004|access-date=March 24, 2015}} In a 2008 interview with The Fader, West stated that "I'm like a vessel, and God has chosen me to be the voice and the connector".{{cite web|last1=Lyons|first1=Margaret|title=Does Kanye West Think He's God? Or Has He Given Up on God?|url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/06/does-kanye-west-really-think-hes-god.html|website=Vulture|date=June 19, 2013|access-date=May 1, 2016}} In a 2009 interview with online magazine Bossip, West stated that he believed in God, but at the time felt that he "would never go into a religion".{{cite web |title=Kanye Discusses Religion |url=https://bossip.com/76535/exclusive-pt-1-kanye-religion-is-like-branding/ |website=Bossip |access-date=May 1, 2016 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211144515/https://bossip.com/76535/exclusive-pt-1-kanye-religion-is-like-branding/|archive-date=February 11, 2009}} In 2014, West referred to himself as a Christian during one of his concerts.{{cite web|first1=Gabby|last1=Bess|title=Kanye West Proclaims: "I'm a Married, Christian Man!"|url=https://www.papermag.com/kanye-west-proclaims-im-a-married-christian-man-1427407473.html|website=Paper|date=September 16, 2014|access-date=November 11, 2017|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112075852/http://www.papermag.com/kanye-west-proclaims-im-a-married-christian-man-1427407473.html|url-status=dead}} Kim Kardashian stated in September 2019: "He has had an amazing evolution of being born again and being saved by Christ."{{cite web |last1=Conner |first1=Paul |title=Kanye West quits secular music, says he'll make only gospel music: report |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/kanye-west-no-more-secular-music-only-gospel |publisher=Fox Business |access-date=October 28, 2019 |language=en |date=September 30, 2019}} In October 2019, West said with respect to his past, "When I was trying to serve multiple gods it drove me crazy" in reference to the "god of ego, god of money, god of pride, the god of fame",{{cite web |last1=Gibson |first1=Charity |title=Kanye West drops album 'Jesus is King' on streaming services |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/kanye-west-drops-album-jesus-is-king-on-streaming-services.html |work=The Christian Post |date=October 25, 2019 |access-date=October 29, 2019}} and that "I didn't even know what it meant to be saved" and that now "I love Jesus Christ. I love Christianity."

{{See also|Views of Kanye West}}

In September 2012, West donated $1,000 to Barack Obama's re-election campaign; further, in August 2015, West donated $2,700 to Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign. He also donated $15,000 to the Democratic National Committee in October 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Kanye+West&two_year_transaction_period=2020&two_year_transaction_period=2018&two_year_transaction_period=2016&two_year_transaction_period=2014&two_year_transaction_period=2012&two_year_transaction_period=2010&two_year_transaction_period=2008&two_year_transaction_period=2006&two_year_transaction_period=2004&two_year_transaction_period=2002&two_year_transaction_period=2000&two_year_transaction_period=1998&two_year_transaction_period=1996&two_year_transaction_period=1994&two_year_transaction_period=1992&two_year_transaction_period=1990&two_year_transaction_period=1988&two_year_transaction_period=1986&min_date=01%2F01%2F1968&max_date=12%2F31%2F2020|title=Individual contributions

|publisher=Federal Election Commission|access-date=August 29, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/11/18/kanye-west-donated-to-hillary-clinton-democratic-party|title=Kanye West Donated Over $2,000 To Hillary Clinton's Campaign In 2015|publisher=The Fader|author=Dandridge-Lemco, Ben|date=November 18, 2016|access-date=August 29, 2020}} In December 2016, West met with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago.{{cite news|last1=Lawler|first1=Kelly|title=Kanye West visits Trump Tower|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2016/12/13/kanye-west-trump-tower-donald-trump/95368076/|access-date=December 13, 2016|work=USA Today|date=December 13, 2016}}{{cite news|title=Kanye West Says He Discussed 'Multicultural Issues' With Trump|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kanye-west-meets-donald-trump-york/story?id=44162912|access-date=December 14, 2016|publisher=ABC News|date=December 13, 2016}} West subsequently stated he would have voted for Trump had he voted.{{cite news|title=Kanye West: I didn't vote but if I did, 'I would have voted for Trump'|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/18/entertainment/kanye-west-donald-trump-trnd/|access-date=December 13, 2016|work=USA Today|date=November 18, 2016}} In February 2017, however, West deleted all his tweets about Trump in purported dislike of the new president's policies, particularly the travel ban.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/02/06/kanye_west_has_deleted_his_tweets_about_donald_trump.html|title=Kanye West Has Deleted His Pro-Trump Tweets|last=Canfield|first=David|magazine=Slate|date=February 6, 2017|access-date=February 7, 2017}} West reiterated his support for Donald Trump in April 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/04/ebro-darden-says-kanye-west-told-him-he-loves-donald-trump|title=Kanye West to Hot 97's Ebro: 'I Love Donald Trump'|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=April 23, 2018}} In October 2018, West donated to progressive Chicago mayoral candidate Amara Enyia.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/kanye-west-donates-dollar73k-to-progressive-chicago-mayoral-candidate-amara-enyia/ar-BBONUT9|title=Kanye West Donates $73K to Progressive Chicago Mayoral Candidate Amara Enyia|website=MSN |language=en-US|access-date=October 25, 2018}}

On June 29, 2024, he arrived in Moscow, Russia, to celebrate the 40th birthday of Russian fashion designer Gosha Rubchinskiy.{{cite news|last=Ferrigine|first=Gabriella|title=Did Kanye West visit Russia? Here's what we know |url=https://www.salon.com/2024/07/01/did-kanye-west-visit-russia-heres-what-we-know/ |work=Salon|date=July 1, 2024}} West was labeled an "enemy of Ukraine" after his trip to Moscow.{{cite news|last=Sadler|first=Armon|title=Kanye West Labeled "Enemy Of Ukraine" Following Moscow Visit Amid Ongoing War |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/kanye-west-enemy-ukraine-moscow-visit-ongoing-war-1234891156/ |work=Vibe |date=July 2, 2024}}

On November 19, 2016, West abruptly ended a concert{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2016/11/kanye-west-says-jay-z-has-hitmen-please-dont-send-them-at-my-head/|title=Kanye West says Jay Z has hitmen: "Please don't send them at my head"|date=November 20, 2016|work=Consequence of Sound|access-date=November 26, 2016}} before being committed at the recommendation of authorities to the UCLA Medical Center with hallucinations and paranoia.{{cite news|url=https://latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-kanye-west-police-20161123-story.html|title=Authorities spent 2 hours persuading West to be hospitalized, sources say|last=Winton|first=Richard|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 24, 2016|access-date=November 24, 2016}} While the episode was first described as one of "temporary psychosis" caused by dehydration and sleep deprivation, West's mental state was abnormal enough for his 21 cancelled concerts to be covered by his insurance policy.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/11/kanye-west-remain-hospital/|title=Kanye West Will Remain in the Hospital for Now|last=Weinstein|first=Max|magazine=XXL|date=November 24, 2016|access-date=November 24, 2016}} He was reportedly paranoid and depressed throughout the hospitalization,{{cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kanye-west-paranoid-depressed-amid-hospitalization-report-w452420|title=Kanye West Is Paranoid and Depressed as He Remains Hospitalized: Report|last=Hautman|first=Nicholas|work=Us Weekly|date=November 26, 2015|access-date=November 27, 2016}} but remained formally undiagnosed.{{cite news |url=https://www.etonline.com/news/203716_kanye_west_remains_hospitalized_and_undiagnosed_kim_kardashian_supportive/ |title=Kanye West Still Hospitalized and Undiagnosed, Kim Kardashian Remains 'by His Side 24/7' |last=Bueno |first=Antoinette |work=Entertainment Tonight |date=November 28, 2016 |access-date=November 29, 2016}} Some have speculated that the Paris robbery of his wife may have triggered the paranoia.{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/exclusive-kanye-west-suffered-paranoia-before-hospitalization-was-unsettled-by-kim-kardashian-robbery/ar-AAkRPq8?ocid=ansmsnnews11 |title=Kanye West Suffered 'Paranoia' Before Hospitalization, Was 'Unsettled' by Kim Kardashian Robbery |last=Schillaci |first=Sophie |work=Entertainment Tonight |date=November 29, 2016 |access-date=November 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201080359/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/exclusive-kanye-west-suffered-paranoia-before-hospitalization-was-unsettled-by-kim-kardashian-robbery/ar-AAkRPq8?ocid=ansmsnnews11 |archive-date=December 1, 2016}} On November 30, West was released from the hospital.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/30/entertainment/kanye-west-released-from-hospital/|title=Kanye West released from the hospital|last=Melas|first=Chloe|work=CNN|date=November 30, 2016|access-date=November 30, 2016}}

In his song "FML" and his featured verse on Vic Mensa's song "U Mad", he refers to using the antidepressant medication Lexapro, and in his unreleased song "I Feel Like That", he mentions feeling many common symptoms of depression and anxiety.{{cite web|first=Ryan |last=Bassil|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/one-of-the-most-powerful-kanye-west-songs-is-one-youve-probably-not-heard/|title=One of the Most Powerful Kanye West Songs is One You've Probably Not Heard|work=Vice|date=October 20, 2016}} In a 2018 interview, West said that he had become addicted to opioids when they were prescribed to him after liposuction. The addiction may have contributed to his nervous breakdown in 2016.{{Cite news |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1994280/kanye-tells-tmz-he-got-liposuction/video/ |title=Kanye Tells TMZ He Got Addicted To Opioids After Liposuction |last=Claymore |first=Gabriela Tully |date=May 1, 2018 |work=Stereogum |access-date=May 1, 2018}} In addition to his opioid addiction,{{Cite web |title=Kanye West sounds off on slavery, his opioid addiction and Trump |website=Reuters |date=May 2, 2018 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-people-kanye-west-idUKKBN1I24JE/}} West has stated that he has had addictions to alcohol,{{Cite web |date=April 15, 2020 |title=Kanye West says he was a 'functioning alcoholic' and drank vodka in the morning |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kanye-west-alcoholic-addiction-vodka-trump-interview-a9467531.html |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=The Independent|language=en}} sex,{{Cite news |date=October 25, 2019 |title=Kanye West: 'I'm the greatest artist of all time' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-50178788 |access-date=December 16, 2023}} and pornography.{{Cite magazine |last=Ogunnaike |first=Lola |date=February 9, 2006 |title=The Passion of Kanye West |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-passion-of-kanye-west-71551/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last1=Roundtree |first1=Matt Sullivan, Cheyenne |last2=Sullivan |first2=Matt |last3=Roundtree |first3=Cheyenne |date=November 24, 2022 |title=Kanye West Used Porn, Bullying, 'Mind Games' to Control Staff |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-yeezy-porn-bullying-kim-kardashian-1234635221/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} West said that he often has suicidal ideation.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/26/entertainment/kanye-west-new-york-times-interview/index.html|title=Kanye West: 'I've thought about killing myself all the time'|first=Lisa |last=Respers France|website=CNN|date=June 26, 2018|access-date=June 26, 2018}} West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016,{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2020 |title=Kim Kardashian West Is Right. We Need To Confront The Stigma Around Bipolar Disorder |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/bipolar-disorder-kanye-west |access-date=October 26, 2022 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}} though his diagnosis was not made public until his 2018 album Ye.{{Cite web |last=Millard |first=Anna |title=Kanye West Opens Up About Being Bipolar & Mental Health In The U.S. |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/06/200784/kanye-west-bipolar-diagnosis-ye |access-date=October 26, 2022 |website=Refinery29.com |language=en}} He told President Donald Trump that it was a misdiagnosis.{{Cite web |first=Abby|last=Haglage|title=Kanye West says he was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder: 'I had sleep deprivation' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/kanye-west-says-misdiagnosed-bipolar-disorder-sleep-deprivation-000405518.html |date=October 11, 2018|access-date=October 26, 2022 |website=Yahoo! |language=en-US}} He had reportedly accepted the diagnosis again by 2019,{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2019 |title=The Awakening of Kim Kardashian West |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/kim-kardashian-west-cover-may-2019 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}{{cite web |first=Helen|last=Murphy|date=May 28, 2019|title=Kanye West Gets Candid About His Bipolar Diagnosis, Says at One Point He Had to Be Handcuffed |url=https://people.com/music/kanye-west-opens-up-about-bipolar-diagnosis-episode-handcuffed/ |work=People}} but again suggested that it had been a misdiagnosis in 2022.{{Cite magazine |last1=Kaufman |first1=Gil |date=October 25, 2022 |title=Kanye West Claims '50% of Black People' Die Due to Abortion, Blames 'Jewish Record Labels' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-false-abortion-claims-jewish-record-labels-1235160708/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} In December 2022, he suggested that he may be autistic,{{cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/kanye-west-says-hes-not-bipolar-but-might-be-slightly-autistic/news-story/26fa43a462aff5874baddf7e4a641897 |title=Kanye West says he's not 'bipolar' but might be 'slightly autistic' |date=December 13, 2022 |work=News.com.au |first=Belinda |last=Palmada}} and later said in February 2025 that he had received a professional diagnosis.{{cite web|first=Tionah|last=Lee|date=February 5, 2025|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1413017/kanye-west-shares-how-wife-bianca-censori-helped-him-with-autism-diagnosis|title=Kanye West Shares How Wife Bianca Censori Helped Him With Autism Diagnosis|website=E! News|access-date=February 5, 2025}}{{Cite web |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=2025-02-06 |title=Kanye West says he has been diagnosed with autism |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/06/entertainment/kanye-west-autism/index.html |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=CNN|language=en}}

In August 2024, West's former Chief of Staff Milo Yiannopoulos stated in an affidavit filed to the California Dental Board that West was addicted to nitrous oxide.{{Cite news |last=Lavine |first=Owen |date=2024-08-08 |title=Celebrity Dentist Got Kanye Hooked on Laughing Gas, Milo Yiannopoulos Claims |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/milo-yiannopoulos-celebrity-dentist-gave-ye-brain-damage |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=William Cowen |first=Trace |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Who Is the Muscular Celebrity Dentist Accused of Getting Ye 'Hooked' on Laughing Gas? |url=https://www.complex.com/style/a/tracewilliamcowen/kanye-celeb-dentist-laughing-gas |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Complex |language=en}} He alleged that dentist Thomas Connelly, who installed permanent titanium prosthodontics for West in January 2024, had moved into West's apartment building and was charging him $50,000 a month to supply the drugs.{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Marc |date=2024-08-08 |title=Kanye West's Ex-Chief Of Staff Alleges The Rapper Is Addicted To Nitrous Oxide |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/kanye-west-chief-of-staff-nitrous-oxide-1234903939/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Vibe |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Norton |first=Taylor |date=2024-08-15 |title=Exposed: Kanye West's Former Staffer Unveils Texts in Which Rapper Requests Recreational Nitrous Gas From Celebrity Dentist |url=https://okmagazine.com/p/kanye-west-staffer-texts-requests-recreational-nitrous-gas-dentist/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=OK Magazine |language=en-US}} In May 2025, West and Censori sued Connelly for "medical malpractice, professional negligence, and related tortious and contractual violations". Their lawyer, Andrew Cherkasky, said that West "experienced increased confusion, mood instability, anxiety, and depression" as a result of Connelly's alleged role in facilitating the addiction.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-dentist-bianca-censori-nitrous-oxide-lawsuit-1235329719/ |last1=Dillon |first1=Nancy |last2=Roundtree |first2=Cheyenne |title=Kanye West to Sue Dentist for Allegedly 'Fostering' Nitrous Gas 'Dependency' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 1, 2025|access-date=May 8, 2025}}

West is among the most critically acclaimed popular music artists of the 21st century, earning praise from music critics, industry peers, and cultural figures.{{cite web|author=Bisnoff, Jason|date=November 19, 2018|title=The Perfectionism of Kanye West|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbisnoff/2018/11/19/the-perfectionism-of-kanye-west/|access-date=November 25, 2018|website=Forbes}}{{cite news|last=Westhoff|first=Ben|date=June 25, 2015|title=The enigma of Kanye West—and how the world's biggest pop star ended up being its most reviled, too|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/25/kanye-west-glastonbury-festival-2015-worlds-biggest-pop-star|access-date=February 13, 2016}} In 2014, NME named him the third most influential artist in music.{{cite magazine|title=NME's 100 Most Influential Artists: 50—1|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/nme-s-100-most-influential-artists-50-1-1411863|magazine=NME|access-date=June 30, 2014}} Billboard senior editor Alex Gale declared West "absolutely one of the best, and you could make the argument for the best artist of the 21st century." Sharing similar sentiments, Dave Bry of Complex Magazine called West the twenty-first century's "most important artist of any art form, of any genre."{{cite web|last1=Bry|first1=Dave|title=Kanye West Is the Most Important Artist of the 21st Century|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/06/kanye-west-is-the-most-important-artist-of-the-21st-century|website=Complex Magazine|access-date=June 26, 2016}} The Atlantic writer David Samuels commented, "Kanye's power resides in his wild creativity and expressiveness, his mastery of form, and his deep and uncompromising attachment to a self-made aesthetic that he expresses through means that are entirely of the moment: rap music, digital downloads, fashion, Twitter, blogs, live streaming video."{{cite web|title=Kanye West, American Mozart|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/american-mozart/308931/|website=The Atlantic|date=April 2, 2012|access-date=June 26, 2016}} Joe Muggs of The Guardian argued that "there is nobody else who can sell as many records as West does [...] while remaining so resolutely experimental and capable of stirring things up culturally and politically."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/jan/19/kanye-west-david-bowie-covers-album|title=Kanye West wants to cover David Bowie—and there is no one more fitting|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Joe|last=Muggs|date=January 19, 2016|access-date=February 15, 2016}}

Rolling Stone credited West with transforming hip-hop's mainstream, "establishing a style of introspective yet glossy rap" while deeming him "a producer who created a signature sound and then abandoned it to his imitators, a flashy, free-spending sybarite with insightful things to say about college, culture, and economics, an egomaniac with more than enough artistic firepower to back it up."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kanye-west/albumguide|title=Kanye West: Album Guide|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=August 5, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205044352/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kanye-west/albumguide|archive-date=December 5, 2011}} Writing for Highsnobiety, Shahzaib Hussain stated that West's first three albums "cemented his role as a progressive rap progenitor".{{cite web|last=Hussain|first=Shahzaib|date=November 23, 2008|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/kanye-west-808s-heartbreak-10th-anniversary/|title=Renegade Man: The Legacy of Kanye West's '808s & Heartbreak'|website=Highsnobiety|access-date=July 16, 2021}} AllMusic editor Jason Birchmeier described West as "[shattering] certain stereotypes about rappers, becoming a superstar on his own terms without adapting his appearance, his rhetoric, or his music to fit any one musical mold". Lawrence Burney of Noisey has credited West with the commercial decline of the gangsta rap genre that once dominated mainstream hip-hop.{{cite news |author=Burney, Lawrence|title=Kanye West's 'Graduation' Gave Birth to Rap's First Real Rock Star|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/kanye-wests-graduation-gave-birth-to-raps-first-real-rock-star/|work=Noisey |publisher=Vice Media|date=September 11, 2017 |access-date=September 12, 2017}} The release of his third studio album has been described as a turning point in the music industry,{{cite web |author=Callahan-Bever, Noah |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2015/09/the-day-kanye-west-killed-gangsta-rap |title=The Day Kanye West Killed Gangsta Rap |work=Complex |date=September 11, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219210754/https://www.complex.com/music/2015/09/the-day-kanye-west-killed-gangsta-rap |archive-date=February 19, 2016}} and is considered to have helped pave the way for new rappers who did not follow the hardcore-gangster mold to find wider mainstream acceptance.{{cite magazine |author=Lamarre, Carl|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7957970/kanye-west-graduation-10-year-anniversary-vic-mensa-kyle| title=Vic Mensa, KYLE, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie & More Reflect on Their Fondest Memories of Kanye's 'Graduation' Album|magazine=Billboard|date=September 11, 2017|access-date=June 24, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cg2007-10.php|title=Consumer Guide|work=MSN Music|date=October 2007|access-date=October 6, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104031415/https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cg2007-10.php|archive-date=November 4, 2008}}{{cite news|author=Theisen, Adam|title=Rap's Latest Heavyweight Championship|url=https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/02adam-theisen-kanye-west-kendrick-lamar19|work=The Michigan Daily|publisher=The Michigan Daily|date=February 18, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713031219/https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/02adam-theisen-kanye-west-kendrick-lamar19|archive-date=July 13, 2015}}

Hip-hop artists like Drake,{{cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1612262/drake-kanye-west-shaped-lot-what-i-do.jhtml|title=Drake Says Kanye West Is 'The Most Influential Person' On His Sound|publisher=MTV News|date=May 28, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131001203439/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1612262/drake-kanye-west-shaped-lot-what-i-do.jhtml#selection-2549.108-2549.127|archive-date=October 1, 2013}} Nicki Minaj,{{cite web |last=Banks |first=Thembi |url=https://www.essence.com/2010/12/03/nicki-minaj-pink-friday-criticism-image-success/ |title=Nicki Minaj on Image, Criticism, and Success|work=Essence|date=December 3, 2010|access-date=February 23, 2016}} Travis Scott,{{cite web |date=August 1, 2018 |title=Op-Ed {{!}} How Did Travis Scott Become One of Music's Most Divisive Artists? |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/travis-scott-divisive-artist/ |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=Highsnobiety |language=en}} Playboi Carti,{{Cite web |last=F |first=Matt |date=2017-06-27 |title=Playboi Carti Talks Influences, Advice For Aspiring Rappers |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/476793-playboi-carti-talks-influences-advice-for-aspiring-rappers-in-new-interview-news |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} Lil Uzi Vert,{{cite web |last1=Diep |first1=Eric |title=Next Wave: Meet Lil Uzi Vert, the Next Phenom in Rap |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2016/01/next-wave-meet-lil-uzi-vert-the-next-phenom-in-rap |work=Complex |date=January 20, 2016 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602032044/https://www.complex.com/music/2016/01/next-wave-meet-lil-uzi-vert-the-next-phenom-in-rap |url-status=dead }} and Chance the Rapper{{cite web |date=August 9, 2017 |title=Chance The Rapper Discusses Kanye West Influence With Stretch & Bobbito |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/chance-the-rapper-discusses-kanye-west-influence-with-stretch-and-bobbito-news.36082.html |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} have acknowledged being influenced by West. Several other artists and music groups of various genres have named West as an influence on their work.{{refn|group=lower-alpha|Musical artists and groups naming West as an influence:

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• Casey Veggies{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16384/title.casey-veggies-speaks-on-influences-names-kanye-west-nas|title=Casey Veggies Speaks on Influences, Names Kanye West & Nas|magazine=HipHopDX|date=August 10, 2011}}
• Adele{{cite web|url=https://www.adele.tv/blog/160/i-m-very-excited-nervous-eager-anxious-but-chuffed-to-announce-my-new-album|title=Adele: I'm very excited, nervous, eager, anxious but chuffed to announce my new album!|last1=Adkins|first1=Adele|date=November 1, 2010|publisher=Adele.tv. XL Recordings|access-date=April 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424094802/https://www.adele.tv/blog/160/i-m-very-excited-nervous-eager-anxious-but-chuffed-to-announce-my-new-album|archive-date=April 24, 2011|url-status=dead}}
• Lily Allen{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/lily-allen/77326|title=Lily Allen: 'Kanye West amused by 'Sheezus' album title'|date=May 15, 2014|work=NME|access-date=November 22, 2016}}
• Daniel Caesar{{cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/feature/get-to-know-daniel-caesar-the-toronto-born-artist-baring-his-soul-on-gospel-tinged-rnb|title=Get to know Daniel Caesar, the artist baring his soul on gospel-tinged r'n'b|website=Mixmag}}
• Lorde{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6304100/lorde-billboard-cover-story|title=Billboard Cover: Lorde on Her 'Hero' Kanye West, the 'Hunger Games' Soundtrack and Hype-Proofing Her Career|magazine=Billboard|date=October 31, 2014|access-date=November 22, 2016}}
• Rosalía{{Cite magazine |date=March 18, 2022 |title=Rosalía Levels Up as a Global Pop Superstar |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/rosalia-levels-up-as-a-global-pop-superstar |access-date=April 8, 2022 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}
• Halsey{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Pais|title=Honesty is the best policy for rising star Halsey|url=https://www.redeyechicago.com/music/redeye-halsey-interview-20150320-story.html|work=RedEye|date=March 24, 2015|access-date=February 11, 2016}}
• Arctic Monkeys{{cite web|url=https://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/007478.html|title=k-punk: Their own musical hero|work=abstractdynamics.org|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=January 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110142115/http://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/007478.html|url-status=dead}}
• Kasabian{{cite web|url=https://www.gigwise.com/news/87320/kasabian-our-new-albums-influenced-by-nirvana-+-kanye-west|title=Kasabian: 'Our new album's influenced by Nirvana + Kanye West'|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|publisher=gigwise.com}}
• MGMT{{cite magazine|first=Chino|last=Moreno|url=https://www.nme.com/news/mgmt/49400|title=MGMT's new album influenced by Lady Gaga and Kanye West|date=January 25, 2010|magazine=NME|access-date=July 6, 2015}}
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs{{cite magazine|first=Insanul|last=Ahmed|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/04/even-the-yeah-yeah-yeahs-love-kanye-west|title=Even The Yeah Yeah Yeahs Love Kanye West|date=April 4, 2013|magazine=Complex|access-date=March 23, 2016}}
• Fall Out Boy{{cite magazine| url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fall-out-boy-new-album-interview-extreme-politics-donald-trump-2061897| last=Trendell| first=Andrew| title=Fall Out Boy discuss 'extreme' new single 'Young And Menace' and their 'political' new album 'M A N I A'| magazine=NME| date=April 28, 2017| access-date=June 16, 2018}}
• James Blake{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-wants-james-blake-for-next-album-20140221|title=Kanye Wants James Blake for Next Album|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 21, 2014|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413022435/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-wants-james-blake-for-next-album-20140221|url-status=dead}}
• Daniel Lopatin{{cite web|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/17341/1/oneohtrix-point-never|title=Oneohtrix Point Never|last=Dazed|date=September 25, 2013|work=dazeddigital.com|access-date=November 22, 2016}}
• Tim Hecker{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/62672-tim-hecker-announces-new-album-love-streams/|title=Tim Hecker Announces New Album Love Streams |work=Pitchfork|date=January 27, 2016 |access-date=November 22, 2016}}
• Rakim{{Cite web |title=Rakim Speaks On Kanye West's Influence On Hip-Hop |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2012/04/rakim-speaks-on-kanye-wests-influence-in-hip-hop |access-date=December 14, 2022 |website=Complex |language=en}}
• John Legend{{Cite web |date=March 2, 2021 |title=John Legend details Kanye West's influence in popularizing his stage name |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/john_legend_details_kanye_wests_influence_in_popularizing_his_stage_name/s1_13132_34245608 |access-date=December 14, 2022 |website=Yardbarker |language=en}}
• Liv.e{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Shahzaib |date=2023-02-13 |title=Astral Realm: An Alternative Roundup #12 {{!}} Features |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/astral-realm-an-alternative-roundup-12/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}

}} }}

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Kanye West}}

West is the fourth-highest certified artist in the U.S. by digital singles (69 million).{{cite web|title=Top Artists (Digital Singles)|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=top_tallies&ttt=TAS#search_section|access-date=November 22, 2019|publisher=RIAA}} He had the most RIAA digital song certifications by a male artist in the 2000s (19),{{cite web|date=February 17, 2010|title=RIAA Tallies The Decade's Top Gold & Platinum Award Winners|url=https://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?id=C91C40E1-A65A-0F81-EBB3-8FE3B7C0ECEA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221175541/https://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?id=C91C40E1-A65A-0F81-EBB3-8FE3B7C0ECEA|archive-date=February 21, 2010|access-date=November 23, 2019|publisher=RIAA}} and was the fourth best-selling digital songs artist of the 2000s in the U.S.{{cite web |title=2009 U.S. Music Purchases up 2.1% over 2008; Music Sales Exceed 1.5 Billion for Second Consecutive Year |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100106007077/en/2009-U.S.-Music-Purchases-2.1-2008-Music |website=Business Wire |access-date=November 26, 2019 |date=January 6, 2010}} In Spotify's first ten years from 2008 to 2018, West was the sixth most streamed artist, and the fourth fastest artist to reach one billion streams.{{cite web |title=Celebrating a Decade of Discovery on Spotify |url=https://newsroom.spotify.com/2018-10-10/celebrating-a-decade-of-discovery-on-spotify/ |website=Spotify |access-date=November 23, 2019 |date=October 10, 2018}} West has the joint-most consecutive studio album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 (9){{cite web |author1=Elizabeth Wolfe and Braden Goyette |title=Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' just became his ninth consecutive No. 1 album, tying Eminem's record |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/03/entertainment/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-billboard-number-1-trnd/index.html |publisher=CNN|access-date=November 23, 2019 |date=November 4, 2019}} and was the first rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100 in three distinct decades (2000s, 2010s, 2020s).{{cite web |author1=Gary Trust |title=Ye & Ty Dolla $ign's 'Carnival' Hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-carnival-number-one-hot-100/ |publisher=Billboard|access-date=February 24, 2025 |date=March 11, 2024}} He ranked third on Billboard{{'}}s 2000s decade-end list of top producers{{cite magazine |title=Decade End Charts—Hot 100 Producers |url=https://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/decadeendcharts/chart_display.jsp?&f=Hot+100+Producers&g=Decade-end+Producers |magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213153733/https://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/decadeendcharts/chart_display.jsp?&f=Hot+100+Producers&g=Decade-end+Producers |archive-date=February 13, 2010}} and has topped the annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll the joint-most times (four albums) with Bob Dylan.{{cite web |last1=McManus |first1=Brian |title=For the Fourth Time in Six Albums, Kanye West Takes the Top Pazz & Jop Prize |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/music/for-the-fourth-time-in-six-albums-kanye-west-takes-the-top-pazz-and-jop-prize-6640110 |website=Village Voice |access-date=November 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211013232/https://www.villagevoice.com/music/for-the-fourth-time-in-six-albums-kanye-west-takes-the-top-pazz-and-jop-prize-6640110 |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |date=January 15, 2014}}

West has been nominated for 75 Grammys, out of which he has won 24.{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/rappers-most-grammy-nominations-never-won/|title=These Rappers Have The Most Grammy Nominations But Never Won|date=April 3, 2022|last=Coleman II|first=C. Vernon|website=XXL|access-date=March 7, 2023}} He has been the most nominated act at five ceremonies,{{cite news|title=Kanye West Leads Grammy Nominees|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65368/kanye-west-leads-grammy-nominees|access-date=December 7, 2004|magazine=Billboard}}
{{cite news|title=Mariah Carey, Kanye West, John Legend Lead Grammy Nominees|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1517699/mariah-carey-kanye-west-john-legend-lead-grammy-nominees/|access-date=December 8, 2004|publisher=MTV|archive-date=October 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027224100/https://www.mtv.com/news/1517699/mariah-carey-kanye-west-john-legend-lead-grammy-nominees/|url-status=dead}}
{{cite news|title=Kanye West Leads 50th GRAMMY Nominees|url=https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/news/kanye-west-leads-50th-grammy-nominees|access-date=May 15, 2017|publisher=Grammy}}
{{cite news|title=Grammys 2011: Kanye, Adele, Foo Fighters Lead Nominations|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/grammys-2011-kanye-adele-foo-fighters-lead-nominations/story?id=15062166|access-date=December 1, 2011|publisher=ABC News}}
{{cite news|title=Frank Ocean, fun. Lead 2013 Grammy Nominations With Album of the Year Nods|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/12/frank-ocean-fun-2013-grammy-nominations/|access-date=December 6, 2012|publisher=Spin}} and has received the fourth-most wins overall in the 2000s.{{cite web|title=Beyoncé to U2: The top 4 GRAMMY winners of the 2000s|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/beyoncé-u2-top-4-grammy-winners-2000s|website=Grammy|access-date=November 13, 2017}} In 2008, West became the first solo artist to have his first three albums receive nominations for Album of the Year.{{cite news |last1=Montgomery |first1=Daniel |title=Will Lady Gaga ('A Star is Born') win her first Album of the Year Grammy on her 4th try? |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2019/lady-gaga-a-star-is-born-grammys-album-of-the-year-news/ |website=Goldderby |access-date=November 23, 2019 |date=June 21, 2019}} West has won a Webby Award for Artist of the Year,{{cite web|title=Artist of the Year—Kanye West|url=https://webbyawards.com:80/winners/2016/special-achievement/artist-of-the-year/kanye-west/|access-date=December 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120180244/https://webbyawards.com/winners/2016/special-achievement/artist-of-the-year/kanye-west/|archive-date=November 20, 2016|url-status=dead}} an Accessories Council Excellence Award for being a stylemaker,{{cite web |title=2010 ACE Awards Presented By The Accessories Council—Red Carpet |url=https://www.zimbio.com/photos/Kanye+West/2010+ACE+Awards+Presented+Accessories+Council/TyUHWms6pZB |website=Zimbio |access-date=November 26, 2019 |date=October 31, 2010}} International Man of the Year at the GQ Awards,{{cite web |title=Kanye West Named International Man of the Year at GQ Awards |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2007/09/kanye-west-named-international-man-of-the-year-at-gq-awards/ |website=XXL |access-date=November 26, 2019 |date=September 4, 2007}} a Clio Award for The Life of Pablo Album Experience,{{cite news |title=Kanye West—The Life Of Pablo Album Experience |url=https://clios.com/music/winner/integrated-campaign/kanye-west/kanye-west-the-life-of-pablo-album-experience-31291 |website=Clios |access-date=November 26, 2019}} and an honour by The Recording Academy.{{cite web |date=October 11, 2007 |title=The Recording Academy Honors 2007 |url=https://www.unratedmagazine.com/articles/Archive/2007/NARAS_071111.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126033444/https://www.unratedmagazine.com/articles/Archive/2007/NARAS_071111.cfm |archive-date=November 26, 2019 |access-date=November 26, 2019 |website=Unrated Magazine}} West is one of eight acts to have won the Billboard Artist Achievement Award.{{cite web |title=Who Has Won the Artist Achievement Award? |url=https://www.billboardmusicawards.com/2016/04/won-artist-achievement-award/ |website=Billboard Music Awards |access-date=November 26, 2019 |date=April 12, 2016 |archive-date=November 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126023622/https://www.billboardmusicawards.com/2016/04/won-artist-achievement-award/ |url-status=dead }}
{{cite magazine |title=West To Receive Billboard Artist Achievement Award |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/60642/west-to-receive-billboard-artist-achievement-award |magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 26, 2019 |date=November 17, 2005 }} In 2015, he became the third rap act to win the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.{{cite magazine |last1=Grein |first1=Paul |title=Missy Elliott to Become First Female Rapper to Receive MTV's Video Vanguard Award |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8527170/missy-elliott-video-vanguard-first-female-rapper |magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 27, 2019 |date=August 12, 2018}}

West's first six solo studio albums were included on Rolling Stone{{'}}s 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.{{cite magazine|date=September 22, 2020|title=Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923210922/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|archive-date=September 23, 2020|access-date=September 24, 2020}} Entertainment Weekly named The College Dropout the best album of the 2000s,{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/gallery/10-best-albums-decade/|title=10 Best Albums of Decade|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=December 3, 2009|access-date=August 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324162359/https://ew.com/gallery/10-best-albums-decade|archive-date=March 24, 2018}} Complex named Graduation the best album released between 2002 and 2012,{{cite web |title=The 100 Best Albums of the Complex Decade |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2012/04/the-100-best-albums-of-the-complex-era/kanye-west-graduation |website=Complex |access-date=November 1, 2019 |date=April 2, 2012}} 808s & Heartbreak was named by Rolling Stone as one of the 40 most groundbreaking albums of all time,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/most-groundbreaking-albums-of-all-time |title=The 40 Most Groundbreaking Albums Of All Times |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=August 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521051406/https://www.rollingstone.com/most-groundbreaking-albums-of-all-time |archive-date=May 21, 2017 }} The A.V. Club named My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy the best album of the 2010s,{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-50-best-albums-of-the-2010s-1839776060|title=The 50 Best of the 2010s|work=The A.V. Club|access-date=November 21, 2019 |date=November 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120012449/https://music.avclub.com/the-50-best-albums-of-the-2010s-1839776060 |archive-date=November 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} Yeezus was the most critically acclaimed album of 2013 according to Metacritic,{{cite web |last1=Dietz |first1=Jason |title=Critics Pick Best Albums of 2013 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/critics-pick-top-ten-albums-of-2013 |website=Metacritic |access-date=November 26, 2019 |date=December 4, 2013 |archive-date=January 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123055052/https://www.metacritic.com/feature/critics-pick-top-ten-albums-of-2013 |url-status=dead }} and The Life of Pablo was the first album to top the Billboard 200, go platinum in the U.S., and go gold in the UK, via streaming alone.{{cite web |last1=Yoo |first1=Noah |title=Kanye's Life of Pablo Becomes First Streaming-Only Album to Go Platinum |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/67861-kanyes-life-of-pablo-becomes-first-streaming-only-album-to-go-platinum/ |website=Pitchfork|access-date=November 26, 2019 |date=April 4, 2017}}{{cite web |title=Kanye West's The Life of Pablo becomes the UK's first album to be certified Gold on streams only |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/kanye-wests-the-life-of-pablo-becomes-the-uks-first-album-to-be-certified-gold-on-streams-only__20640/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=November 26, 2019 |date=October 3, 2017}}

{{Main|Kanye West albums discography|Kanye West singles discography|List of songs recorded by Kanye West|Kanye West production discography|List of unreleased projects by Kanye West}}

Solo studio albums

{{div col}}

• The College Dropout (2004)
• Late Registration (2005)
• Graduation (2007)
• 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
• My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
• Yeezus (2013)
• The Life of Pablo (2016)
• Ye (2018)
• Jesus Is King (2019)
• Donda (2021)
• Donda 2 (2022)
• Cuck (TBA)

{{div col end}}

Collaborative studio albums

• Watch the Throne (2011) (with Jay-Z)
• Kids See Ghosts (2018) (with Kid Cudi, as Kids See Ghosts)
• Vultures 1 (2024) (with Ty Dolla Sign, as ¥$)
• Vultures 2 (2024) (with Ty Dolla Sign, as ¥$)

Compilation albums

• Cruel Summer (2012) (with GOOD Music)

Visual albums

• Bully (2025)

{{Main|Kanye West videography}}

• The College Dropout Video Anthology (2004)
• Late Orchestration (2006)
• VH1 Storytellers (2010)
• Runaway (2010)
• Jesus Is King (2019)
• Jeen-Yuhs (2022)

{{Main|List of Kanye West live performances}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Headlining tours

• School Spirit Tour (2004)
• Touch the Sky Tour (2005–2006)
• Glow in the Dark Tour (2008)
• Watch the Throne Tour (with Jay-Z) (2011–2012)
• The Yeezus Tour (2013–2014)
• Saint Pablo Tour (2016)

{{col-2}}

Supporting tours

• Truth Tour (with Usher) (2004)
• Vertigo Tour (with U2) (2005–2006)
• A Bigger Bang (with The Rolling Stones) (2006)

{{col-end}}

• Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar (2007)
• Thank You and You're Welcome (2009)
• Through the Wire: Lyrics & Illuminations (2009)
• Glow in the Dark (2009)

• Black conservatism in the United States
• List of people with bipolar disorder
• List of Christian hip-hop artists

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150504222524/https://oxford.tab.co.uk/2015/03/02/kanye-oxford-yeezox-highlights/ Kanye in Oxford: The #YeezOx highlights]. Retrieved April 27, 2015.

{{Commons category|Kanye West}}

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