History of Kanye West in Timeline
Kanye West, also known as Ye, is a highly influential American rapper, singer, and record producer recognized for his significant impact on hip-hop. Celebrated for his innovative and evolving musical style, he is often considered one of the greatest rappers ever. However, West's artistic achievements are frequently juxtaposed with his controversial public image and often polarizing commentary on cultural and political issues.
June 8, 1977: Kanye West is born
On June 8, 1977, Kanye Omari West, now known as Ye, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He would later become a prominent figure in hip-hop.
1978: Establishment of Hip Hop Since 1978
In 1978, Gee Roberson and Kyambo "Hip-Hop" Joshua founded the management-production company Hip Hop Since 1978, which Kanye West would later sign with in 1998.
1986: Release of 'Move Your Body' by Marshall Jefferson
In 1986, Marshall Jefferson released the house track "Move Your Body", which Kanye West was later accused of sampling without permission in his song "Flowers".
1997: Attends American Academy of Art
In 1997, Kanye West received a scholarship to attend Chicago's American Academy of Art and began taking painting classes before transferring to Chicago State University to study English.
1998: Signs with Hip Hop Since 1978
In 1998, Kanye West became the first producer signed to Hip Hop Since 1978, a management-production company. He also acted as a ghost producer for Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie.
1998: Roseland NYC Live Inspiration
In 1998, the live album Roseland NYC Live by Portishead inspired Kanye West to incorporate string arrangements into his hip-hop production for his second album.
1999: Releases 'World Record Holders' album
In 1999, Kanye West, as part of the hip-hop group The Go-Getters, independently released their first and only studio album, 'World Record Holders', through his company, Konman Productions. He also produced the third track on Foxy Brown's album 'Chyna Doll'.
2000: Begins producing for Roc-A-Fella Records
In 2000, Kanye West started working as an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, producing for artists on the label.
2001: Co-producing for Roc-A-Fella Records
In 2001, Kanye West began co-producing albums such as Jay-Z's 'The Blueprint' as an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records before signing with the label as a recording artist.
2001: Contribution to Jay-Z's 'The Blueprint'
In 2001, Kanye West is credited with revitalizing Jay-Z's career through his extensive contributions to the album 'The Blueprint'.
December 2002: Releases 'Get Well Soon...' mixtape and announces 'The College Dropout' album
In December 2002, two weeks after a car accident shattered his jaw, Kanye West recorded "Through the Wire" and released his debut mixtape 'Get Well Soon...'. He also announced his work on the album 'The College Dropout'.
2002: Complex names Graduation the best album released
Complex named Kanye West's "Graduation" the best album released between 2002 and 2012
2002: Relationship with Alexis Phifer Begins
In 2002, Kanye West began an on-and-off relationship with designer Alexis Phifer.
August 2003: Initial release date postponement for 'The College Dropout'
In August 2003, the initial release date for Kanye West's album 'The College Dropout' was postponed, leading to revisions and improvements before its eventual release.
February 2004: 'The College Dropout' Released
In February 2004, 'The College Dropout' was officially released, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The single "Through the Wire" peaked at No. 15, and "Slow Jamz" became a No. 1 hit.
2004: Release of 'The College Dropout'
In 2004, Kanye West's debut studio album, 'The College Dropout', was released to critical acclaim. It also featured the hit single "Slow Jamz".
2005: Late Registration Success
By the end of 2005, Kanye West's album 'Late Registration' had sold over 2.3 million units in the United States. It was also considered the only successful major album release of the fall season due to declining CD sales.
2005: "George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People"
In 2005, Kanye West criticized George Bush and the government's response to Hurricane Katrina on live television, saying "George Bush doesn't care about black people".
2005: "Gold Digger" tops the charts
In 2005, Kanye West's single "Gold Digger" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking another achievement in his music career.
2005: Time Magazine names Kanye one of the most influential people
In 2005, Time magazine recognized Kanye West as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
August 2006: Engagement to Alexis Phifer
In August 2006, Kanye West and Alexis Phifer became engaged.
November 7, 2006: Public Apology for MTV Europe Music Awards Outburst
On November 7, 2006, Kanye West publicly apologized for his outburst at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards during his performance as a support act for U2's Vertigo concert in Brisbane.
December 2006: Robert "Evel" Knievel Sues Kanye West
In December 2006, Robert "Evel" Knievel sued Kanye West for trademark infringement related to West's video for "Touch the Sky." Knievel argued that the video, where West takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevel", was vulgar, offensive, and damaged his reputation.
2006: Father opens Good Water Store and Café
In 2006, Kanye West's father, Ray West, opened the Good Water Store and Café in Lexington Park, Maryland, with startup capital from his son.
September 2007: Graduation Album Release
In September 2007, Kanye West released his third studio album, 'Graduation', which debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 957,000 copies in its first week. The album's lead single, "Stronger", became his third number-one hit.
September 2007: Spoofing Incident on Saturday Night Live
In September 2007, Kanye West spoofed his outburst at the MTV Europe Music Awards on the 33rd-season premiere of Saturday Night Live.
November 2007: Mother's Death
In November 2007, Kanye West's mother's death profoundly affected him.
November 2007: Settlement of Knievel Lawsuit
In November 2007, shortly before his death, Robert "Evel" Knievel amicably settled his lawsuit against Kanye West after a visit from West. Knievel stated that he found West to be a wonderful guy and a gentleman.
2007: Graduation Album Release
In 2007, Kanye West released his album 'Graduation'. It was later included on Rolling Stone's 2020 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
2007: "Stronger" hits number one
In 2007, Kanye West's single "Stronger" reached the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, solidifying his success in the music industry.
November 2008: 808s & Heartbreak Release
In November 2008, Kanye West's fourth album, '808s & Heartbreak', was released by Island Def Jam. The lead single "Love Lockdown" debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
2008: Spotify's First Ten Years
From 2008 to 2018, in Spotify's first ten years, Kanye West was the sixth most streamed artist and the fourth fastest artist to reach one billion streams.
2008: Engagement to Alexis Phifer Ends
In 2008, Kanye West and Alexis Phifer ended their 18-month engagement. Phifer stated that they had split amicably and remained friends.
2008: First Solo Artist with Album of the Year Nominations
In 2008, Kanye West became the first solo artist to have his first three albums receive nominations for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards, marking a significant achievement in his career.
2008: The Glow in the Dark Tour
In 2008, Kanye West embarked on his Glow in the Dark Tour shortly after his mother's death and the end of his engagement to Alexis Phifer.
2008: 808s & Heartbreak Album Release
In 2008, Kanye West released his album '808s & Heartbreak'. It was later included on Rolling Stone's 2020 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
2008: Declaration as a 'Vessel' of God
In a 2008 interview with The Fader, Kanye West stated, "I'm like a vessel, and God has chosen me to be the voice and the connector", expressing his spiritual beliefs and sense of divine purpose.
2009: MTV Video Music Awards Incident
In 2009, during the MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech to proclaim that Beyoncé deserved the award instead, leading to widespread criticism and his removal from the show.
2009: Belief in God, Rejection of Religion
In a 2009 interview with Bossip, Kanye West stated that he believed in God, but at the time, he felt that he "would never go into a religion."
November 2010: Release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
In November 2010, Kanye West released his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, to widespread critical acclaim. Many critics considered it his best work and a solid comeback. The album featured international hits such as "All of the Lights", as well as Billboard hits like "Power", "Monster", and "Runaway".
November 2010: Seeming Recantation of Apology
In a November 2010 interview, Kanye West seemed to recant his past apologies for the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards incident, describing his actions as "selfless".
December 2010: End of GOOD Fridays Free Music Program
In December 2010, Kanye West concluded his GOOD Fridays free music program, which he initiated in August of the same year. Through his website, West offered a free download of previously unreleased songs each Friday, some of which were later included on the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album.
2010: Relationship with Amber Rose Ends
In 2010, Kanye West and model Amber Rose ended their relationship. West later commented that he had to take "30 showers" before dating Kim Kardashian, and Rose said she had been "bullied" and "slut-shamed" by West.
2010: West Apologizes for Bush Comment
In 2010, Kanye West apologized for his 2005 comment about George Bush, stating that he "didn't have the grounds to call [Bush] a racist".
2010: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Album Release
In 2010, Kanye West released his album 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'. It was later included on Rolling Stone's 2020 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
August 2011: Release of 'Watch the Throne' with Jay-Z
In August 2011, Kanye West and Jay-Z released their collaborative album, Watch the Throne. A sales strategy was employed that released the album digitally weeks before its physical counterpart, allowing it to avoid leaks.
October 2011: Start of the Watch the Throne Tour
In October 2011, Kanye West and Jay-Z kicked off the co-headlining Watch the Throne Tour.
2011: Watch the Throne Album Release
In 2011, Kanye West released the collaborative album 'Watch the Throne' with Jay-Z.
2011: "E.T." tops Billboard
In 2011, Kanye West was a featured artist on the song "E.T.", which reached the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
April 2012: West Begins Dating Kim Kardashian
In April 2012, Kanye West began dating reality television star Kim Kardashian, with whom he had already been long-time friends.
June 2012: Conclusion of the Watch the Throne Tour
In June 2012, the Watch the Throne Tour, co-headlined by Kanye West and Jay-Z, came to a conclusion.
September 2012: Donation to Barack Obama's Re-election Campaign
In September 2012, Kanye West donated $1,000 to Barack Obama's re-election campaign, indicating his political alignment at the time.
2012: Complex names Graduation the best album released
Complex named Kanye West's "Graduation" the best album released between 2002 and 2012
2012: Co-Directs 'Cruel Summer' Short Film
In 2012, Kanye West co-directed the short film "Cruel Summer" with Alexandre Moors. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in a custom pyramid-shaped pavilion with seven screens. The film was intended to complement the compilation album of the same name.
June 2013: North West Born
In June 2013, North West, the first child of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, was born.
June 18, 2013: Release of Yeezus
On June 18, 2013, Kanye West released his sixth album, Yeezus, to rave reviews from critics. The album marked his sixth consecutive number one debut, although it also had his lowest solo opening week sales.
September 2013: Announcement of Yeezus Tour
In September 2013, Kanye West announced his first solo tour in five years to support Yeezus. Kendrick Lamar was chosen as the supporting act. The tour received rave reviews.
October 2013: West and Kardashian Get Engaged
In October 2013, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian became engaged.
November 2013: Beginning Work on Next Album
In November 2013, Kanye West stated he was beginning work on his next studio album, aiming for a mid-2014 release, with production by Rick Rubin and Q-Tip.
2013: Cameo Appearance in 'Anchorman 2'
In 2013, Kanye West made a cameo appearance in the comedy film "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" as an MTV News representative during a fight scene.
2013: Yeezus Album Release
In 2013, Kanye West released his album 'Yeezus'. It was later included on Rolling Stone's 2020 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
2013: West Voices Opposition to Abortion
In 2013, Kanye West voiced his opposition to abortion, citing his belief in the Sixth Commandment.
May 2014: West and Kardashian Get Married
In May 2014, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian married at Fort di Belvedere in Florence. Their private ceremony was subject to widespread mainstream coverage.
October 2014: Donation to the Democratic National Committee
In October 2014, Kanye West donated $15,000 to the Democratic National Committee, furthering his financial support for the Democratic Party.
2014: Named Third Most Influential Artist in Music by NME
In 2014, NME named Kanye West the third most influential artist in music, recognizing his significant impact on the industry.
2014: Sentenced to Probation After Altercation with Paparazzo
In 2014, after an altercation with a paparazzo at the Los Angeles Airport, Kanye West was sentenced to two years' probation for misdemeanor battery. He was also required to attend anger management sessions, perform community service, and pay restitution to the photographer.
2014: Referring to Himself as a Christian
In 2014, during one of his concerts, Kanye West referred to himself as a Christian, further demonstrating his evolving spiritual identity.
March 2015: Album Title Change to So Help Me God
In March 2015, Kanye West announced that his upcoming album, initially called Yeezus II slated for a 2014 release, would tentatively be titled So Help Me God.
April 2015: North West Baptized in Jerusalem
In April 2015, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian traveled to Jerusalem to have their daughter, North West, baptized in the Armenian Apostolic Church at the Cathedral of St. James.
May 2015: Honorary Doctorate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
In May 2015, Kanye West was awarded an honorary doctorate by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for his contributions to music, fashion, and popular culture.
August 2015: Donation to Hillary Clinton's 2016 Campaign
In August 2015, Kanye West donated $2,700 to Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, continuing his support for Democratic political figures.
December 2015: Saint West Born
In December 2015, Saint West, the second child of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, was born.
2015: Winner of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
In 2015, Kanye West became the third rap act to win the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, recognizing his impact and contributions to music videos.
2015: Time Magazine includes Kanye in the 100 most influential list again.
In 2015, Time magazine again named Kanye West as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, solidifying his continued impact.
2015: Settlement of Civil Lawsuit with Paparazzo
In 2015, a separate civil lawsuit brought by the paparazzo involved in the 2014 altercation with Kanye West was settled a week before it was due for trial.
January 2016: Announcement of Swish Release and New Song Releases
In January 2016, Kanye West announced that his album Swish would be released on February 11. Later that month, he released new songs "Real Friends" and a snippet of "No More Parties in LA" with Kendrick Lamar.
January 26, 2016: Album Renamed Waves
On January 26, 2016, Kanye West revealed that he had renamed his upcoming album from Swish to Waves.
February 14, 2016: Exclusive Release of The Life of Pablo on Tidal
On February 14, 2016, Kanye West released his album The Life of Pablo exclusively on Tidal following a performance on SNL.
February 2016: Plans for Turbo Grafx 16 Album
In February 2016, Kanye West stated on Twitter his plans to release another album in the summer of 2016, tentatively titled Turbo Grafx 16, referencing the 1990s video game console.
June 2016: Release of 'Champions' and 'Famous' Video
In June 2016, Kanye West released the collaborative lead single "Champions" from the GOOD Music album Cruel Winter. He also released a controversial video for "Famous", depicting wax figures of celebrities sleeping nude in a shared bed.
August 2016: Start of the Saint Pablo Tour
In August 2016, Kanye West began the Saint Pablo Tour in support of The Life of Pablo. The performances featured a mobile stage suspended from the ceiling.
November 19, 2016: Abrupt End to Concert and Commitment to UCLA Medical Center
On November 19, 2016, Kanye West abruptly ended a concert before being committed to the UCLA Medical Center due to hallucinations and paranoia. The episode was initially described as "temporary psychosis" caused by dehydration and sleep deprivation.
November 21, 2016: Cancellation of Saint Pablo Tour and Hospitalization
On November 21, 2016, Kanye West cancelled the remaining dates of the Saint Pablo Tour after a week of erratic behavior. He was then admitted for psychiatric observation at UCLA Medical Center due to temporary psychosis stemming from sleep deprivation and dehydration.
December 2016: Meeting with President-elect Donald Trump
In December 2016, Kanye West met with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago. Subsequently, West stated he would have voted for Trump had he voted.
2016: The Life of Pablo Album Release
In 2016, Kanye West released his album 'The Life of Pablo', which continued his series of consecutive number one debuts on the US Billboard 200.
2016: Diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder
In 2016, Kanye West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, although this diagnosis was not publicly revealed until his 2018 album, Ye. He later questioned the accuracy of the diagnosis.
2016: Conviction Expunged from Criminal Record
In 2016, Kanye West's conviction related to the 2014 altercation with a paparazzo was expunged from his criminal record following an appeal.
February 2017: Deletion of Pro-Trump Tweets
In February 2017, Kanye West deleted all his tweets about Donald Trump in purported dislike of the new president's policies, particularly the travel ban, signaling a shift in his political stance.
January 2018: Chicago West Born
In January 2018, Chicago West, the third child of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, was born via surrogate.
April 2018: Announcement of New Albums and Philosophy Book
In April 2018, Kanye West announced plans to write a philosophy book entitled Break the Simulation and began sharing content on Twitter. He also announced two new albums: a solo album and a collaboration with Kid Cudi under the name Kids See Ghosts. Additionally, he revealed his plans to produce albums for Pusha T, Teyana Taylor, and Nas.
April 2018: Reiteration of Support for Donald Trump
In April 2018, Kanye West reiterated his support for Donald Trump, despite previously deleting pro-Trump tweets, indicating a complex and evolving political viewpoint.
June 2018: Release of Nasir and K.T.S.E.
In June 2018, Kanye West completed production work on Nas' album Nasir and Teyana Taylor's K.T.S.E., and both albums were released.
September 2018: Announcement of New Album Yandhi and Name Change to Ye
In September 2018, Kanye West announced his ninth studio album, Yandhi, and a collaborative album with Chance the Rapper titled Good Ass Job. He also announced that he would be changing his stage name to "Ye".
September 2018: Announcement of Move to Chicago
In September 2018, Kanye West announced that he would be permanently moving back to Chicago to establish his Yeezy company headquarters there, but this did not occur.
September 2018: West Announces Film Production Company
In September 2018, Kanye West announced the launch of his film production company, Half Beast, LLC.
October 2018: Donation to Amara Enyia's Mayoral Campaign
In October 2018, Kanye West donated to progressive Chicago mayoral candidate Amara Enyia, showing support for local political figures.
2018: Spotify's First Ten Years
From 2008 to 2018, in Spotify's first ten years, Kanye West was the sixth most streamed artist and the fourth fastest artist to reach one billion streams.
2018: Ye and Kids See Ghosts Albums Release
In 2018, Kanye West released his album 'Ye', which continued his series of consecutive number one debuts on the US Billboard 200. He also released the collaborative album 'Kids See Ghosts' with Kid Cudi.
2018: 400-Year Enslavement Comment
In 2018, Kanye West stated that the 400-year enslavement of Africans "sounds like a choice", later clarifying it was about mental enslavement. He later apologized for the comment.
2018: Addiction to Opioids and Other Substances
In a 2018 interview, Kanye West revealed that he had become addicted to opioids after they were prescribed to him following liposuction. He also mentioned addictions to alcohol, sex, and pornography. West said that he often experiences suicidal ideation.
2018: Allusion to Name Change
Kanye West 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" (/jiː/) was the most commonly used word in the Bible: "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."
January 6, 2019: Start of Sunday Service Events
On January 6, 2019, Kanye West started his weekly "Sunday Service" events, featuring soul variations of his songs and others, attended by multiple celebrities.
January 2019: Pulling Out of Coachella Festival
In January 2019, Kanye West pulled out of headlining that year's Coachella festival due to discord regarding stage design negotiations.
May 2019: Psalm West Born
In May 2019, Psalm West, the fourth child of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, was born via surrogate.
September 2019: Kim Kardashian's Statement on West's Spiritual Evolution
In September 2019, Kim Kardashian stated about Kanye West: "He has had an amazing evolution of being born again and being saved by Christ," highlighting a significant transformation in his spiritual life.
October 2019: West's Reflections on Serving Multiple Gods and Embracing Christianity
In October 2019, Kanye West reflected on his past, saying, "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", and that "I didn't even know what it meant to be saved" and that now "I love Jesus Christ. I love Christianity."
October 25, 2019: Release of Jesus Is King
On October 25, 2019, Kanye West released his album Jesus Is King. It topped multiple Billboard charts simultaneously.
November 2019: West Announces Intention to Run for President in 2024
At an event in November 2019, Kanye West stated his intention to run for president in the 2024 presidential election, saying he would have created so many jobs that he would "walk" instead of run.
December 25, 2019: Release of Jesus Is Born with Sunday Service
On December 25, 2019, Kanye West and Sunday Service released Jesus Is Born, containing 19 songs, including reworkings of older West songs.
2019: Acceptance of Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis
By 2019, Kanye West had reportedly accepted his diagnosis of bipolar disorder, though he later suggested it might have been a misdiagnosis.
2019: Jesus Is King Album Release
In 2019, Kanye West released his album 'Jesus Is King', which continued his series of consecutive number one debuts on the US Billboard 200.
June 30, 2020: Release of 'Wash Us in the Blood'
On June 30, 2020, Kanye West released the single "Wash Us in the Blood" featuring Travis Scott, which was set to be the lead single from his upcoming album Donda.
July 4, 2020: West Announces Presidential Run
On July 4, 2020, Kanye West announced via Twitter that he would be running in the 2020 presidential election.
July 15, 2020: Paperwork Filed for West's Presidential Campaign
On July 15, 2020, official paperwork was filed with the Federal Election Commission for Kanye West under the "BDY" Party affiliation.
July 2020: Potential Divorce Acknowledged
In July 2020, Kanye West acknowledged the possibility of Kim 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 and that the Kardashian family was attempting "to lock [him] up".
July 2020: West Discusses Political Ignorance
In July 2020, Kanye West admitted to Forbes that he was not knowledgeable on topics such as taxes and foreign policy during his presidential campaign.
July 2020: West Reveals Consideration of Abortion
In July 2020, Kanye West revealed that he had previously considered abortion during Kim Kardashian's first pregnancy, but has since adopted anti-abortion views.
September 2020: Statement on Not Releasing Music
In September 2020, Kanye West stated that he would not release any further music until he was "done with [his] contract with Sony and Universal".
November 4, 2020: West Concedes Presidential Election
On November 4, 2020, Kanye West conceded the presidential election on Twitter. He received 66,365 votes across 12 states where he was on the ballot, averaging 0.32% of the vote. He also got 3,931 write-in votes across 5 states, and the Roque De La Fuente / Kanye West ticket won 60,160 votes in California.
2020: Unsuccessful presidential campaign
In 2020, Kanye West ran an unsuccessful independent presidential campaign.
2020: Rolling Stone includes several of West's albums on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list
In 2020, Rolling Stone included 'The College Dropout', 'Late Registration', 'Graduation', '808s & Heartbreak', and 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
2020: Albums Included on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums List
In 2020, Rolling Stone included Kanye West's first six solo studio albums on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, recognizing their critical acclaim and cultural impact.
January 4, 2021: Publicist Pressured Election Worker
According to reports from Reuters, on January 4, 2021, a publicist linked to Kanye West pressured a Georgia election worker to confess to false allegations of election tampering to support Donald Trump's claims.
January 2021: Divorce Discussions Reported
In January 2021, CNN reported that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were discussing divorce.
August 2021: West Applies to Change Name to 'Ye'
In August 2021, Kanye West applied to court to have his legal name changed from "Kanye Omari West" to "Ye", citing "personal reasons" for the change.
August 29, 2021: Release of Donda
On August 29, 2021, after multiple delays and listening parties, Kanye West's album Donda was released. West claimed the album was released early without his approval and that Universal altered the tracklist.
October 2021: Selling Wyoming Ranch
In October 2021, Kanye West began the process of selling his Wyoming ranch.
October 2021: Name Change to 'Ye' Granted
In October 2021, Kanye West's request to legally change his name to "Ye" was granted by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.
November 14, 2021: Release of Donda (Deluxe)
On November 14, 2021, Kanye West released a deluxe edition of Donda, featuring five new songs, to streaming services.
December 2021: Campaign Finance Irregularities Reported
In December 2021, The Daily Beast reported that Kanye West's presidential campaign received millions of dollars in services from a secret network of Republican operatives, with payments not properly reported, potentially concealing a connection.
2021: Donda Album Release
In 2021, Kanye West released his album 'Donda', which continued his series of consecutive number one debuts on the US Billboard 200.
2021: West's Net Worth Reaches $1.8 Billion
In 2021, Kanye West's net worth was as high as $1.8 billion, making him one of the wealthiest musical artists.
2021: Netflix Acquires Jeen-Yuhs Documentary
In 2021, Netflix acquired the documentary "Jeen-Yuhs", which featured footage of Kanye West's life from his early days in Chicago through his mother's death and his presidential run, for $30 million.
January 5, 2022: Announcement as Coachella Headliner
On January 5, 2022, Kanye West was announced as one of the 2022 headliners of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
January 2022: Dating Julia Fox and Public Criticism of Pete Davidson
In January 2022, Julia Fox confirmed she was dating Kanye West. During this time, West publicly expressed his desire to reconcile with his family and criticized Kim Kardashian's new relationship with Pete Davidson. His behavior towards Davidson and Kardashian was widely condemned, leading to the 64th Annual Grammy Awards dropping him as a performer.
June 29, 2022: Copyright Infringement Complaint for "Flowers"
On June 29, 2022, a complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in New York alleging copyright infringement due to unauthorized use of a sample on Kanye West's song "Flowers". The complaint claimed that West sampled Marshall Jefferson's 1986 house track "Move Your Body" without permission or compensation.
July 2022: Lawsuit by David Casavant Archive for Unreturned Rentals
In July 2022, Kanye West was sued for $416,000 by the fashion rental company, the David Casavant Archive. The lawsuit alleged that West failed to make payments and return 13 rented pieces of clothing.
October 2022: West's Net Worth Drops
In October 2022, Forbes estimated Kanye West's net worth to have dropped to $400 million, largely due to Adidas's termination of their partnership following a series of public antisemitic statements.
November 2022: West Officially Launched His Presidential Campaign
In November 2022, Kanye West officially launched his presidential campaign.
November 2022: Divorce Settlement Finalized
In November 2022, the divorce settlement between Kanye West and Kim Kardashian was finalized. 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.
December 2022: Suggestion of Being Autistic
In December 2022, Kanye West suggested that he might be autistic, raising questions about his neurodevelopmental condition.
December 2022: Release of 'Someday We'll All Be Free'
In December 2022, after weeks of controversial antisemitic statements, Kanye West released a new song, "Someday We'll All Be Free", on his Instagram.
2022: Abortion as 'Genocide and Population Control'
In 2022, Kanye West deemed abortion "genocide and population control" of black people.
2022: Release of Jeen-Yuhs Documentary
In 2022, the documentary "Jeen-Yuhs", acquired by Netflix the previous year, was released.
2022: Antisemitic Statements and Fallout
In late 2022, Kanye West made a series of antisemitic statements, resulting in the termination of collaborations, sponsorships, and partnerships with Vogue, Universal Music Group, CAA, Balenciaga, Gap, and Adidas.
2022: Condemnation for antisemitic views
Starting in 2022, Kanye West faced widespread condemnation and lost sponsorships and partnerships due to his antisemitic views.
January 2023: Informal Marriage to Bianca Censori
In January 2023, it was reported that Kanye West had an informal marriage ceremony with Bianca Censori, an architect working for Yeezy. The ceremony, held in Beverly Hills, was not legally binding. In response to West's trips to Australia, concerns were raised about his potential visa denial due to his antisemitic remarks.
July 2023: Twitter Reinstates West's Account
In July 2023, Twitter reversed the ban on Kanye West's account, citing assurances that he would not post harmful content.
October 2023: West's Attorney States He Is Not a Candidate
In October 2023, an attorney for Kanye West stated that he "is not a candidate for office in 2024".
December 2023: West Apologizes for Antisemitic Remarks
In December 2023, Kanye West apologized for his antisemitic remarks in a written statement on Instagram, but in a subsequent interview, he said "[s]ome of the stuff I was saying was true" and that Black people cannot be antisemitic because they "are Jew".
January 2024: Titanium Prosthodontics Installation
In January 2024, dentist Thomas Connelly installed permanent titanium prosthodontics for Kanye West.
August 2024: Allegations of Nitrous Oxide Addiction
In August 2024, Kanye West's former Chief of Staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, stated in an affidavit that West was addicted to nitrous oxide and that dentist Thomas Connelly was allegedly supplying the drugs for $50,000 a month.
2024: Lawsuits for Wrongful Termination and Sexual Assault
In 2024, Kanye West faced multiple lawsuits. He was sued for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and breach of contract by a former assistant, allegations he denied. Additionally, he was sued by a former model for sexual assault and strangulation, where she claimed he choked and gagged her during a music video set.
2024: Vultures Albums Release
In 2024, Kanye West released two 'Vultures' albums with Ty Dolla Sign.
2024: "Carnival" tops the charts
In 2024, Kanye West's single "Carnival" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2024: Documentary Announcement
In 2024, a documentary titled "In Whose Name?" with a billion-dollar budget was announced to debut.
2024: Intention to Run for President
Kanye West had stated his intention to run for president again in the 2024 presidential election.
February 2025: Professional Diagnosis Suggesting Autism
In February 2025, Kanye West said that he had received a professional diagnosis suggesting that he is autistic.
February 2025: Antisemitic Rant on X and Super Bowl Ad
In February 2025, Kanye West 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. He also defended Sean Combs from sexual abuse allegations.
April 2025: West Describes Incestuous Relationship
In April 2025, Kanye West said that he and a male cousin had an incestuous relationship as children, beginning when they attempted reenacting what they saw in gay pornography magazines. West said that he performed oral sex on his cousin until he was 14, when he ended the relationship.
April 2025: Claimed Separation and Reconciliation with Bianca Censori
In April 2025, West claimed in his song "Bianca" that Censori had left him following his controversial Twitter comments. However, later that month, West shared a photo indicating that they were still together, contradicting the earlier claim.
May 2025: Lawsuit Against Thomas Connelly
In May 2025, Kanye West and Bianca Censori sued Thomas Connelly for "medical malpractice, professional negligence, and related tortious and contractual violations" related to Connelly's alleged role in facilitating West's nitrous oxide addiction.
May 2025: West Becomes 'Cultural and Business Pariah'
In May 2025, Rolling Stone wrote that Kanye West's social media tirades had turned him into "a cultural and business pariah".
2025: Effort to Change Social Media Handles
In 2025, Kanye West began releasing music under the name Ye and made an effort to change his social media handles from @kanyewest to @ye.
2025: Bully and Donda 2 Release
In 2025, Kanye West released his first visual album, 'Bully', and his eleventh studio album, 'Donda 2'.
2025: Release of "In Whose Name?" Documentary
In 2025, the Nico Ballesteros-directed documentary "In Whose Name?" is slated for release.
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