Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kanye West
How Kanye West built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is a highly influential American rapper, songwriter, and record producer, recognized as one of hip-hop's most prominent figures and greatest rappers. His music is known for its stylistic diversity and impact on opening doors for rappers outside the gangster rap mold. Ye is also known for his controversial public persona and polarizing cultural and political commentary.
1998: Inspiration from Roseland NYC Live
In 1998, Kanye West was inspired by the live album Roseland NYC Live by Portishead. This album led him to incorporate string arrangements into his hip-hop production.
1998: Signs with Hip Hop Since 1978
In 1998, Kanye West was the first producer signed to the management-production company Hip Hop Since 1978, founded by Gee Roberson and Kyambo "Hip-Hop" Joshua.
1999: "My Life" Production for Foxy Brown
In 1999, Kanye West produced "My Life" on Foxy Brown's second studio album Chyna Doll.
2000: Begins Producing for Roc-A-Fella Records
In 2000, Kanye West began producing for artists on Roc-A-Fella Records as an in-house producer.
2001: Contributions to Jay-Z's The Blueprint
In 2001, Kanye West revitalized Jay-Z's career with extensive contributions to his album The Blueprint.
December 2002: Release of "Get Well Soon..." and Announcement of "The College Dropout"
In December 2002, Kanye West released his debut mixtape Get Well Soon... and announced that he was working on an album titled The College Dropout.
August 2003: Postponement of The College Dropout Release
In August 2003, the initial release date for Kanye West's album, The College Dropout, was postponed.
2003: "Slow Jamz" Number One Hit
In 2003, Kanye West's single "Slow Jamz" became his first number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song featured Twista and Jamie Foxx.
February 2004: Release of The College Dropout
In February 2004, Kanye West released his album The College Dropout, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. His debut single, "Through the Wire" peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and his second single "Slow Jamz" became his first No. 1 hit.
2004: Release of The College Dropout
In 2004, Kanye West released his debut studio album, The College Dropout, which received widespread acclaim.
2005: Success of Late Registration
By the end of 2005, Kanye West's album Late Registration had sold over 2.3 million units in the United States. It was considered a successful major album release during a period of declining CD sales.
2005: Release of Late Registration and Gold Digger
In 2005, Kanye West released his second album, Late Registration, which became his first US Billboard 200 number-one album. Also in 2005, his single "Gold Digger" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
September 2007: Release of Graduation
In September 2007, Kanye West's third studio album, Graduation, was released, debuting at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.
2007: "Stronger" Number One Hit
In 2007, Kanye West's single "Stronger" became his third number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
November 2008: Release of 808s & Heartbreak
In November 2008, Kanye West's fourth album, 808s & Heartbreak, was released, featuring the singles "Love Lockdown" and "Heartless."
2008: Grammy Nominations and 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 Grammys.
2008: Glow in the Dark Tour
In 2008, Kanye West embarked on his Glow in the Dark Tour.
2008: Declared Himself a Voice and Connector by God
In a 2008 interview with The Fader, Kanye West stated that "I'm like a vessel, and God has chosen me to be the voice and the connector", illustrating a strong sense of divine purpose.
November 2010: Release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
In November 2010, Kanye West's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, was released to widespread critical acclaim.
December 2010: End of GOOD Fridays Program
Kanye West's GOOD Fridays free music program, which offered a free download of previously unreleased songs each Friday, concluded in December 2010.
August 2011: Watch the Throne Album Release
In August 2011, Kanye West and Jay-Z released their collaborative album "Watch the Throne". The album's digital release preceded its physical release by several weeks, successfully avoiding leaks, and "Watch the Throne" became one of the few major albums to do so.
October 2011: Watch the Throne Tour Kickoff
In October 2011, Kanye West and Jay-Z launched the "Watch the Throne Tour", a co-headlining tour that supported their collaborative album. The tour commenced in October 2011.
2011: "E.T." Number One Hit
In 2011, Kanye West was a featured artist on the song "E.T.", which became a number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
September 2012: Donation to Barack Obama's Campaign
In September 2012, Kanye West donated $1,000 to Barack Obama's re-election campaign, demonstrating his support for the Democratic candidate.
2012: Co-Directing Cruel Summer
In 2012, Kanye West co-directed the short film Cruel Summer with Alexandre Moors, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in a custom pyramid-shaped screening pavilion. The film was designed to complement the release of the compilation album of the same name later in 2012.
June 18, 2013: Yeezus Album Release
On June 18, 2013, Kanye West's sixth album, "Yeezus", was released and received rave reviews from critics. Despite being his sixth consecutive number one debut, it marked West's lowest solo opening week sales.
September 2013: Yeezus Tour Announcement
In September 2013, Kanye West announced his first solo tour in five years to support "Yeezus", with Kendrick Lamar as the supporting act. This tour was highly praised by critics.
November 2013: Plans for new studio album
In November 2013, Kanye West announced he was beginning work on his next studio album, hoping to release it by mid-2014, with production by Rick Rubin and Q-Tip.
2013: Cameo in Anchorman 2
In 2013, Kanye West made a cameo appearance in the comedy film Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, portraying an MTV News representative during a fight scene.
2013: Rant on Artistry
In a 2013 interview, Kanye West claimed that his artistry was comparable to William Shakespeare's, sparking discussions about his self-perception and public persona.
October 2014: Donation to Democratic National Committee
In October 2014, Kanye West donated $15,000 to the Democratic National Committee, contributing financially to the Democratic party.
March 2015: Album Title Change Announcement
In March 2015, Kanye West announced that his new album, initially announced as Yeezus II for a 2014 release, would be tentatively called So Help Me God instead.
August 2015: Donation to Hillary Clinton's Campaign
In August 2015, Kanye West donated $2,700 to Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, showing his support for the Democratic presidential candidate.
2015: Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
In 2015, Kanye West became the third rap act to win the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
January 2016: Swish Album Announcement and New Song Releases
In January 2016, Kanye West announced that his album "Swish" would be released on February 11. Also in January, he released new songs "Real Friends" and a snippet of "No More Parties in LA" with Kendrick Lamar.
January 26, 2016: Swish Album Renamed to Waves
On January 26, 2016, Kanye West announced that he had renamed his upcoming album from "Swish" to "Waves".
February 14, 2016: The Life of Pablo Exclusive Release on Tidal
On February 14, 2016, following a performance on Saturday Night Live, Kanye West exclusively released "The Life of Pablo" on Tidal. West continued to modify tracks after the release, describing the work as a "living breathing changing creative expression".
February 2016: Turbo Grafx 16 Album Announcement
In February 2016, Kanye West announced on Twitter his plans to release another album in the summer of 2016, tentatively called "Turbo Grafx 16", referencing the 1990s video game console.
June 2016: Champions Single Release and Controversial Famous Video
In June 2016, Kanye West released "Champions", the lead single from the GOOD Music album Cruel Winter. Also in June, he released a controversial music video for "Famous" depicting wax figures of celebrities sleeping nude.
August 2016: Saint Pablo Tour Launch
In August 2016, Kanye West commenced the Saint Pablo Tour to promote "The Life of Pablo". The tour featured a distinctive mobile stage suspended from the ceiling.
2016: "I Love Kanye" Song
In 2016, Kanye West released the song "I Love Kanye", which references internet memes about his self-love.
May 2017: Recording New Music in Wyoming
In May 2017, it was reported that Kanye West was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, recording new music with a wide range of collaborators.
April 2018: Book Announcement and New Album Plans
In April 2018, Kanye West announced plans to write a philosophy book entitled "Break the Simulation", and shared content on Twitter likened to "life coaching". He also announced two new albums, a solo album and a collaboration with Kid Cudi as Kids See Ghosts, set for release in June.
June 2018: Releases and Production Work
In June 2018, Kanye West was involved in multiple releases, including his eighth studio album, "Ye", and a collaborative album with Kid Cudi titled "Kids See Ghosts". He also completed production work on Nas' "Nasir" and Teyana Taylor's "K.T.S.E.", marking a prolific month for the artist. West had suggested scrapping and re-recording 'Ye' within a month prior to release.
September 2018: Album Announcement and Name Change
In September 2018, Kanye West announced his ninth studio album "Yandhi", slated for release by the end of the month, along with a collaborative album with Chance the Rapper titled "Good Ass Job". West also announced plans to change his stage name to "Ye" in September 2018.
September 2018: Yeezy Headquarters Announcement
In September 2018, Kanye West announced plans to permanently move back to Chicago to establish his Yeezy company headquarters. However, this move did not occur.
September 2018: Announcing Half Beast, LLC
In September 2018, Kanye West announced the establishment of his film production company, named 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, supporting her political aspirations.
October 25, 2019: Jesus Is King Album Release
On October 25, 2019, Kanye West released his album "Jesus Is King". It achieved unprecedented success by topping the Billboard 200, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Top Rap Albums, Top Christian Albums, and Top Gospel Albums simultaneously.
November 2019: Intention to Run in 2024
At an event in November 2019, Kanye West stated his intention to run for president again in the 2024 election, humorously suggesting he would 'walk' instead of 'run' due to job creation.
December 25, 2019: Jesus Is Born Album Release
On December 25, 2019, Kanye West and Sunday Service released "Jesus Is Born", featuring 19 songs with re-worked versions of older West tracks.
June 30, 2020: Wash Us in the Blood Single Release
On June 30, 2020, Kanye West released "Wash Us in the Blood" featuring Travis Scott, along with its music video, intended as the lead single for his tenth studio album, "Donda".
July 4, 2020: Presidential Election Announcement
On July 4, 2020, Kanye West announced via Twitter his intention to run in the 2020 presidential election.
July 15, 2020: Filing with the Federal Election Commission
On July 15, 2020, official paperwork was filed with the Federal Election Commission for Kanye West, under the "BDY" Party affiliation.
July 2020: Statements on Taxes and Foreign Policy
In July 2020, Kanye West admitted to Forbes that he lacked knowledge on issues such as taxes and foreign policy.
September 2020: Stance on Music Release
In September 2020, Kanye West declared that he would not release any more music until he fulfilled his contract with Sony and Universal.
November 4, 2020: Presidential Concession
On November 4, 2020, Kanye West conceded the presidential election via Twitter after receiving 66,365 votes across 12 states, averaging 0.32%.
2020: Independent Presidential Campaign
In 2020, Kanye West ran an unsuccessful independent presidential campaign.
August 29, 2021: Donda Album Release
After multiple delays and listening parties, Kanye West's album "Donda" was released on August 29, 2021. West claimed it was released early without his approval and that Universal altered the tracklist.
November 14, 2021: Donda Deluxe Edition Release
On November 14, 2021, Kanye West released a deluxe edition of "Donda" with five new songs to streaming services, adding to the album's evolving form.
2021: Peak Net Worth of $1.8 Billion
In 2021, Kanye West's net worth reached as high as $1.8 billion, establishing him as one of the wealthiest musical artists.
2021: Announcement of Jeen-Yuhs Documentary
In 2021, it was announced that a documentary titled Jeen-Yuhs, which was filmed over 21 years and covered Kanye West's early life in Chicago, the death of his mother, and his presidential run, would debut. Netflix acquired the documentary for $30 million.
January 5, 2022: Coachella Headliner Announcement
On January 5, 2022, Kanye West was announced as one of the headliners for the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
January 2022: Dating Julia Fox and Public Outbursts
In January 2022, Julia Fox confirmed she was dating Kanye West. During this time, West publicly stated he wanted his "family back" and lashed out at Kim Kardashian's new boyfriend, Pete Davidson, leading to criticism and his removal as a performer from the 64th Annual Grammy Awards due to "concerning online behavior".
November 2022: Official Launch of Presidential Campaign
In November 2022, Kanye West officially launched his presidential campaign. He also claimed to have asked Donald Trump to be his running mate.
2022: Release of Jeen-Yuhs on Netflix
In 2022, the documentary Jeen-Yuhs, acquired by Netflix, was released. It covers Kanye West's life from his early days in Chicago through significant events like his mother's death and his presidential run.
August 25, 2023: Recording Eleventh Studio Album
On August 25, 2023, it was reported that Kanye West was recording his eleventh studio album, with sources indicating new music was "imminent".
October 2023: West 'is not a candidate for office in 2024'
In October 2023, an attorney representing Kanye West stated that he "is not a candidate for office in 2024".
November 22, 2023: Vultures Single Release
On November 22, 2023, Kanye West released "Vultures" featuring Bump J. This served as the lead single for his collaborative studio album with Ty Dolla Sign.
2024: "Carnival" Number One Hit
In 2024, Kanye West's single "Carnival" became a number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2024: Announcement of 'In Whose Name?' Documentary
In 2024, it was announced that a documentary titled In Whose Name?, directed by Nico Ballesteros with a billion-dollar budget and filmed over six years, was slated for release.
2024: Future Presidential Run
Kanye West expressed his intention to run for president again in the 2024 presidential election at an event in November 2019.
September 19, 2025: Release of "In Whose Name?" Documentary
On September 19, 2025, the documentary film In Whose Name?, directed by Nico Ballesteros, was released.
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