Kanye West

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June 8, 1977

Kanye Omari West

The College Dropout (2004)

Late Registration (2005)

Graduation (2007)

808s & Heartbreak (2008)

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

Watch the Throne (2011) – with Jay-Z

G.O.O.D. Music (2012) – with GOOD Music artists

Actor

2011 The Black Mamba (short)

2010 Runaway (short) (uncredited)

2010 The Brotherly Love Table Read (video short)

2010 The Cleveland Show (TV series) (voice)

2008 The Love Guru

2008 Untitled Kanye West HBO Project (TV movie)

2007 Entourage (TV series)

2005 State Property: Blood on the Streets

2004 Notarized: Year End Video Countdown (TV movie)

Producer

2009 We Were Once a Fairytale (short) (executive producer)

2009 Alligator Boots (TV movie) (executive producer)

2008 Kanye West Homecoming Special (TV documentary) (executive producer)

2008 Untitled Kanye West HBO Project (TV movie) (executive producer)

2005 Kanye West: College Dropout - Video Anthology (video documentary) (executive producer)

Director

2010 Runaway (short)

2005 Kanye West: College Dropout - Video Anthology (video documentary) (segments "Through the Wire", "Jesus Walks: Street Version" and "The New Workout Plan")

Writer

2010 Runaway (short) (story)

2005 Kanye West: College Dropout - Video Anthology (video documentary) (idea / segment "All Falls Down")

Appearances

2011 Mr Rager (video short)

2011 MTV Video Music Awards 2011 (TV special)

2011 Business as Usual: The Exploitation of Hip Hop (documentary)

2011 Pop Profiles (TV series)

2011 Kourtney & Kim Take New York (TV series)

2010 Beyoncé's I Am... World Tour (TV documentary)

2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (TV movie)

2005-2010 Saturday Night Live (TV series)

Himself - Musical Guest / Himself
2010 MTV Video Music Awards 2010 (TV special)

2010 BET Awards 2010 (TV special)

2010 We Are the World 25 for Haiti (TV movie) (singing voice)

2010 The Best of the World Music Awards (TV special)

2009 Check It Out! Video (TV series)

2009 VMA 09: What You Didn't Know (TV documentary)

2009 The Jay Leno Show (TV series)

2009 MTV Video Music Awards 2009 (TV special)

2009 Access Granted (TV series)

2009 Michael Jackson: The Trial and Triumph of the King of Pop (video documentary)

2009 Stage 5 (TV series)

2009 Alan Carr: Chatty Man (TV series)

2009 Fuse Presents Kanye West: Live from the Chicago Theater (TV movie)

2009 BET Awards 2009 (TV special)

2009 Ellen's Bigger, Longer & Wider Show (TV movie)

2009 We Were Once a Fairytale (short)

2006-2009 Late Show with David Letterman (TV series)

2009 American Idol (TV series)

2009 VH1 Storytellers (TV series documentary)

2007-2009 Entertainment Tonight (TV series)

2009 The 51st Annual Grammy Awards (TV special)

2009 Shooting Star(s): The Rise of Hip Hop Photographer Johnny Nunez (documentary)

2009 Alligator Boots (TV movie)

2008 2008 American Music Awards (TV special)

2008 Better Than Therapy (video)

2008 MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 (TV special)

2004-2008 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV series)

2005-2008 Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV series)

2008 MTV Video Music Awards 2008 (TV special)

2008 Kanye West Homecoming Special (TV documentary)

2008 BET Awards 2008 (TV special)

2008 The 50th Annual Grammy Awards (TV special)

2008 A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the Brave (TV special)

2007 Larry King Live (TV series)

2007 BET Hip-Hop Awards (TV special)

2007 Beef 4 (video documentary)

2007 The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)

2007 The Education of Kanye West: Part I (TV movie)

2007 The Education of Kanye West: Part 2 (TV movie)

2007 Bling: A Planet Rock (documentary)

2005-2007 106 & Park Top 10 Live (TV series)

2007 MTV Video Music Awards 2007 (TV special)

2007 MTV VMA Pre Show Royale (TV special)

2007 Vodafone TBA (TV series)

2007 The Friday Night Project (TV series)

2006-2007 Total Request Live (TV series)

2007 Dilated Peoples: The Release Party (video documentary) (segment "This Way")

2007 Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate Crisis (TV special)

2007 Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis (TV documentary)

2007 Concert for Diana (TV special documentary)

2007 Fusion: Kanye West, Gnarls Barkley, Lupe Fiasco (TV special)

2007 This Is the N (TV documentary)

2007 Super Bowl XLI Pre-Game Show (TV special)

2007 Pepsi Smash Superbowl Bash (TV special)

2006 We Are Together (Thina Simunye) (documentary)

2006 E! True Hollywood Story (TV series documentary)

2006 MTV Europe Music Awards 2006 (TV special)

2006 2006 NFL Opening Kickoff (TV special)

2006 MTV Video Music Awards 2006 (TV special)
2006 When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (TV mini-series documentary)

2006 DJ Khaled Makes a Video: Grammy Family (TV special)

2006 September in Brooklyn: The Making of 'Block Party' (video documentary short)

2006 Ohio Players (video documentary short)

2006 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV series)

2006 Tribeca Film Festival Presents: Live from the Red Carpet (TV special)

2004-2006 Top of the Pops (TV series)

2006 Brit Awards 2006 (TV special)

2006 The 48th Annual Grammy Awards (TV special)

2006 The VIP (TV series)

2006 MTV New Year of Music: New Years Eve 2006 (TV special)

2006 Gangster with a Heart of Gold: The Noonie G. Story (documentary) (voice)

2006 BET Awards 2006 (TV special)

2006 Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops (documentary)

2005 MTVU Stand In (TV series)

2005 Making the Video (TV series documentary)

2005 John Legend: Live at the House of Blues (video short)

2005 The 2005 Billboard Music Awards (TV special)

2005 The Barbara Walters Special (TV series)

2005 The Life & Rhymes of... (TV series)

2005 $2 Bill (TV series documentary)

2005 Boost Mobile RockCorps Concert (TV documentary short)

2005 2nd Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors (TV special)

2005 Driven (TV series documentary)

2005 CD:UK (TV series)

2005 Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (TV series)

2005 Dave Chappelle's Block Party (documentary)

2005 React Now: Music & Relief (TV movie)

2005 Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast (TV movie)

2005 The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV series)

2005 A Concert for Hurricane Relief (TV special)

2005 MTV Video Music Awards 2005 (TV special)

2005 Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (TV series)

2005 Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out (TV series)

2003-2005 Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry (TV series documentary)

2005 John Legend: Get Lifted (video short)

2005 Cribs (TV series)

2005 Be (video documentary short)

2005 36th NAACP Image Awards (TV special)

2005 Kanye West: College Dropout - Video Anthology (video documentary)

2005 American Express Jam Sessions (TV movie)

2005 The 47th Annual Grammy Awards (TV special)

2005 The Charlie Rose Show (TV series)

2005 The MC: Why We Do It (video documentary)

2005 VH1 Big in 05 (TV movie)

2005 The Art of 16 Bars: Get Ya' Bars Up (video documentary)

2005 Behind the Scenes at the Michael Jackson Trial (video documentary)

2004 The 2004 Billboard Music Awards (TV special)

2004 The Industry (video documentary)

2004 Fade to Black (documentary)

2004 Live with Regis and Kelly (TV series)

2004 MOBO Awards 2004 (TV special)

2004 World Music Awards 2004 (TV special)

2004 MTV Video Music Awards 2004 (TV special)

2004 Pepsi Smash (TV series documentary)

2004 4th Annual BET Awards (TV movie)

2004 Punk'd (TV series)

2004 Later with Jools Holland (TV series)

2004 Total Request Live (TV series)

2004 Raymann is laat (TV series)

2004 Fuse 100% (TV series)

2004 Direct Effect Presents: Straight Up Hip Hop All Week (TV movie)

2004 The Sharon Osbourne Show (TV series)

2004 Chappelle's Show (TV series)

2004 Strong Arm Steady (video)

2004 Tavis Smiley (TV series)

2003 9th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards (TV special)

1997 MuchOnDemand (TV series)

American Music Awards

2004 Favorite Breakthrough Artist Nominated

2004 Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist Nominated

2004 The College Dropout Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album Nominated

2006 Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist Nominated

2006 Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist Nominated

2008 Graduation Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album Won

2008 Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist Won

2011 Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist Nominated

2011 Watch The Throne Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album Nominated

BET Awards

2004 "All Falls Down" (featuring Syleena Johnson) Viewer's Choice Nominated

2004 Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Nominated

2004 Best New Artist Nominated

2004 "Slow Jamz" (with Twista & Jamie Foxx) Best Collaboration Nominated

2005 "Jesus Walks" Video of the Year Nominated

2005 Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Won

2005 "Jesus Walks" Best Gospel Artist Nominated

2006 "Gold Digger" (featuring Jamie Foxx) Video of the Year Nominated

2006 Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Nominated

2006 "Gold Digger" (featuring Jamie Foxx) Best Collaboration Nominated

2008 Kanye West Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Won

2008 "Good Life" (featuring T-Pain) Best Collaboration Won

2008 "Good Life" (featuring T-Pain) Video of the Year Nominated

2009 Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Nominated

2009 "Heartless" Video of the Year Nominated

2011 Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Won

2011 "Runaway" Video of the Year Nominated

2011 Video Director of the Year Nominated

2011 "All of the Lights" (feat. Rihanna) Best Collaboration Nominated

BRIT Awards

2005 International Breakthrough Act Nominated

2005 International Male Solo Artist Nominated

2006 Late Registration International Album Nominated

2006 International Male Solo Artist Won

2008 International Male Solo Artist Won

2009 International Male Solo Artist Won

2011 International Male Solo Artist Nominated

Grammy Awards

2005 "All Falls Down" Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Nominated

2005 The College Dropout Album of the Year Nominated

2005 The College Dropout Best Rap Album Won

2005 "Jesus Walks" Song of the Year Nominated

2005 "Jesus Walks" Best Rap Song Won

2005 Best New Artist Nominated

2005 "Slow Jamz" Best Rap/Song Collaboration Nominated

2005 "Through the Wire" Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated

2005 "You Don't Know My Name" (Alicia Keys) Best R&B Song Won

2006 "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" Best Rap Song Won

2006 "Gold Digger" Record of the Year Nominated

2006 "Gold Digger" Best Rap Solo Performance Won

2006 Late Registration Album of the Year Nominated

2006 Late Registration Best Rap Album Won

2006 "They Say" (with John Legend & Common) Best Rap/Song Collaboration Nominated

2006 "Unbreakable" (Alicia Keys) Best R&B Song Nominated

2008 "Can't Tell Me Nothing" Best Rap Song Nominated

2008 "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" (with Nas, Rakim & KRS-One) Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Nominated

2008 "Good Life" Best Rap/Song Collaboration Nominated

2008 "Good Life" Best Rap Song Won

2008 Graduation Album of the Year Nominated

2008 Graduation Best Rap Album Won

2008 "Southside" (with Common) Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Won

2008 "Stronger" Best Rap Solo Performance Won

2009 "American Boy" (Estelle featuring Kanye West) Song of the Year Nominated

2009 "American Boy" Best Rap/Song Collaboration Won

2009 "Put On" (with Young Jeezy) Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Nominated

2009 "Swagga Like Us" (with T.I., Jay-Z, & Lil Wayne) Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Won

2009 "Swagga Like Us" Best Rap Song Nominated

2010 "Amazing" (with Young Jeezy) Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group Nominated

2010 "Ego" (with Beyoncé) Best Rap/Song Collaboration Nominated

2010 "Knock You Down" (with Keri Hilson & Ne-Yo) Best Rap/Song Collaboration Nominated

2010 "Make Her Say" (with Kid Cudi & Common) Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group Nominated

2010 "Run This Town" (Jay-Z featuring Kanye West & Rihanna) Best Rap/Song Collaboration Won

2010 "Run This Town" Best Rap Song Won

2011 "Power" Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards

2004 "All Falls Down" Best Male Video Nominated

2004 "All Falls Down" Best New Artist in a Video Nominated

2004 "All Falls Down" Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated

2004 "All Falls Down" Breakthrough Video Nominated

2004 "Talk About Our Love" Best R&B Video Nominated

2004 "Slow Jamz" MTV2 Award Nominated

2005 "Jesus Walks" Video of the Year Nominated

2005 "Jesus Walks" Best Male Video Won

2005 "Jesus Walks" Best Hip Hop Video Nominated

2006 "Gold Digger" Best Male Video Nominated

2006 "Gold Digger" Best Hip Hop Video Nominated

2006 "Gold Digger" Ringtone of the Year Nominated

2007 "Stronger" Video of the Year Nominated

2007 Male Artist of the Year Nominated

2007 Quadruple Threat of the Year Nominated

2008 "Homecoming" Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated

2008 "Good Life" Best Special Effects in a Video Won

2009 "Love Lockdown" Video of the Year Nominated

2009 "Love Lockdown" Best Male Video Nominated

2009 "Love Lockdown" Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated

2009 "Love Lockdown" Best Art Direction in a Video Nominated

2010 "Forever" Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated

2011 "All of The Lights" Best Male Video Nominated

2011 "All of The Lights" Best Collaboration Nominated

2011 "All of The Lights" Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated

2011 "All of The Lights" Best Editing in a Video Nominated

2011 E.T. Best Direction in a Video Nominated

2011 E.T. Best Collaboration Won

2011 E.T. Best Special Effects in a Video Won

2011 E.T. Best Editing in a Video Nominated

2011 E.T. Best Art Direction in a Video Nominated

2011 Power Best Art Direction in a Video Nominated

2011 Power Best Special Effects in a Video Nominated

People's Choice Awards

2012 E.T (shared with Katy Perry) Favorite Song of the Year Nominated

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Kanye West (born June 8, 1977) is an American rap artist and hip hop producer. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, and his third album Graduation in 2007. His first three albums have received numerous awards (including nine Grammys), critical acclaim, and commercial success. West also runs his own record label GOOD Music. West's mascot and trademark is "Dropout Bear," a teddy bear, which has appeared on the covers of his three albums as well as the singles cover for his songs "Stronger" and "Homecoming."


West's parents divorced when he was three years old, and he and his mother moved to Chicago, Illinois. He enrolled at Chicago State University but later dropped out to continue pursuing his music career. He later gained fame by producing hit singles for musical artists including Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. West's style of production often utilizes pitched-up vocal samples, usually from soul songs, with his own drums and instruments. Some controversy has also surrounded West, such as an incident during a live telecast of a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina relief, when he deviated from the script and told the audience, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

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