Early Life and Education of Kanye West: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Kanye West. From birth to education, explore key events.

Kanye West, professionally known as Ye, is a highly influential American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Widely regarded as one of hip-hop's greatest figures, he's celebrated for his innovative and diverse musical approach. However, Ye is also known for sparking controversy through his outspoken cultural and political views, often generating polarizing reactions.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

June 8, 1977: Kanye West's Birth

On June 8, 1977, Kanye Omari West, now known as Ye, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.

Others born on this day/year

1997: Attending American Academy of Art

In 1997, Kanye West received a scholarship to attend Chicago's American Academy of Art and began taking painting classes.

2006: Father's Business Venture

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.

November 2007: Mother's Death

In November 2007, Kanye West's mother, Donda West, passed away, profoundly affecting him.

2008: West Declares Himself God's Vessel

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".

2009: West States Belief in God

In a 2009 interview with Bossip, Kanye West stated that he believed in God, but at the time felt that he "would never go into a religion".

September 2012: West Donates to Obama Campaign

In September 2012, Kanye West donated $1,000 to Barack Obama's re-election campaign.

June 2013: Birth of North West

In June 2013, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's first child, North West, was born.

October 2014: West Donates to Democratic National Committee

In October 2014, Kanye West donated $15,000 to the Democratic National Committee.

2014: West Refers to Himself as Christian

In 2014, Kanye West referred to himself as a Christian during one of his concerts.

2014: West Sentenced to Probation for Battery

In 2014, Kanye West was sentenced to two years' probation for misdemeanor battery after an altercation with a paparazzo at the Los Angeles Airport. He was also required to attend anger management sessions, perform community service, and pay restitution.

April 2015: North West baptism

In April 2015, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian traveled to Jerusalem to have North baptized in the Armenian Apostolic Church at the Cathedral of St. James.

August 2015: West Donates to Hillary Clinton Campaign

In August 2015, Kanye West donated $2,700 to Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

December 2015: Birth of Saint West

In December 2015, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's second child, Saint West, was born.

2015: Civil Lawsuit Settled

In 2015, a separate civil lawsuit brought by the paparazzo against Kanye West, related to the 2014 altercation at the Los Angeles Airport, was settled a week before it was due for trial.

November 19, 2016: West Hospitalized After Concert Cancellation

On November 19, 2016, Kanye West abruptly ended a concert and was committed to the UCLA Medical Center with hallucinations and paranoia. The episode was initially described as "temporary psychosis" due to dehydration and sleep deprivation.

November 21, 2016: Cancellation of Saint Pablo Tour and Hospitalization

On November 21, 2016, Kanye West canceled the remaining 21 dates on the Saint Pablo Tour. He was subsequently admitted for psychiatric observation at UCLA Medical Center due to temporary psychosis from sleep deprivation and dehydration.

December 2016: West Meets with President-Elect Trump

In December 2016, Kanye West met with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago. West subsequently stated he would have voted for Trump had he voted.

2016: West Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

In 2016, Kanye West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, although the diagnosis was not made public until 2018. He later questioned the diagnosis.

2016: Conviction Expunged From Record

In 2016, Kanye West's appeal to have his 2014 misdemeanor battery conviction expunged from his criminal record was granted by a judge.

February 2017: West Deletes Tweets About Trump

In February 2017, Kanye West deleted all his tweets about Donald Trump, reportedly disliking the new president's policies, especially the travel ban.

January 2018: Birth of Chicago West

In January 2018, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's third child, Chicago West, was born via surrogate.

April 2018: West Reiterates Support for Trump

In April 2018, Kanye West reiterated his support for Donald Trump.

October 2018: West Donates to Amara Enyia Campaign

In October 2018, Kanye West donated to progressive Chicago mayoral candidate Amara Enyia.

2018: West Discusses Opioid Addiction

In a 2018 interview, Kanye West said that he had become addicted to opioids after being prescribed them following liposuction.

2018: Allusion to name change

Since 2018, Kanye West had alluded to wishing to change his name and had used Ye as a nickname for several years prior. In a 2018 interview he stated that "ye" was the most commonly used word in the Bible.

May 2019: Birth of Psalm West

In May 2019, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's fourth child, Psalm West, was born via surrogate.

September 2019: Kim Kardashian Comments on West's Religious Evolution

In September 2019, Kim Kardashian stated that Kanye West had an "amazing evolution of being born again and being saved by Christ."

October 2019: West Speaks on Religious Beliefs

In October 2019, Kanye West said that he loves Jesus Christ and Christianity, stating that he was driven crazy by trying to serve multiple "gods of ego, money, pride, and fame" in the past.

November 2019: Intention to run for president in 2024

At an event in November 2019, Kanye West stated his intention to run for president again in the 2024 presidential election, saying he would "walk" instead of run due to job creation.

2019: West Accepts Bipolar Diagnosis

By 2019, Kanye West had reportedly accepted his bipolar disorder diagnosis.

July 4, 2020: Presidential announcement on Twitter

On July 4, 2020, Kanye West announced on 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, amidst claims that he was preparing to drop out of the presidential race.

July 2020: Statements to Forbes on taxes and foreign policy

In July 2020, Kanye West told Forbes that he is ignorant on issues such as taxes and foreign policy during his presidential run.

July 2020: Anti-abortion views

In July 2020, during a presidential campaign rally, Kanye West revealed that he had previously considered abortion during Kim Kardashian's first pregnancy but has since adopted anti-abortion views.

November 4, 2020: Concession on Twitter

On November 4, 2020, Kanye West conceded the presidential election on Twitter, having received 66,365 votes across 12 states and an additional 3,931 write-in votes across 5 states.

2020: Presidential Campaign

In 2020, Kanye West ran an unsuccessful independent presidential campaign.

August 2021: Application to change legal name to "Ye"

In August 2021, Kanye West applied to court to have his legal name changed from "Kanye Omari West" to "Ye", with no middle or last name, citing "personal reasons" for the change.

October 2021: Selling Wyoming ranch

In October 2021, Kanye West began the process of selling his Wyoming ranch.

October 2021: Legal name change granted

In October 2021, Kanye West's request to legally change his name from "Kanye Omari West" to "Ye" was granted by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.

2021: Peak net worth

In 2021, Kanye West's net worth was as high as $1.8 billion, making him one of the wealthiest musical artists.

October 2022: Forbes estimates net worth drop

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 public antisemitic statements.

November 2022: Official launch of presidential campaign

In November 2022, Kanye West officially launched his presidential campaign.

December 2022: West Suggests He May Be Autistic

In December 2022, Kanye West suggested that he may be autistic.

January 2023: Kanye West Marries Bianca Censori

In January 2023, it was reported that Kanye West and Bianca Censori, an architect working for Yeezy, had an informal private marriage ceremony in Beverly Hills, though they did not file for a marriage license. Following West's antisemitic remarks, concerns were raised about him being denied a visa to visit Censori's family in Australia.

October 2023: Attorney states West is not a candidate

In October 2023, an attorney for Kanye West stated that he "is not a candidate for office in 2024".

January 2024: Titanium Prosthodontics Installation

In January 2024, dentist Thomas Connelly installed titanium prosthodontics for Kanye West.

June 29, 2024: West Travels to Russia for Designer's Birthday

On June 29, 2024, Kanye West traveled to Moscow, Russia, to celebrate the 40th birthday of Russian fashion designer Gosha Rubchinskiy, drawing criticism and being labeled an "enemy of Ukraine" by Ukrainian politician George Tuka.

August 2024: Affidavit Alleges Nitrous Oxide Addiction

In August 2024, Milo Yiannopoulos stated in an affidavit that Kanye West was addicted to nitrous oxide, supplied by his dentist.

2024: Intention to run for president again in 2024

In 2024 Kanye West stated his intention to run for president again.

February 2025: West Reports Professional Autism Diagnosis

In February 2025, Kanye West stated that he had received a professional autism diagnosis.

May 2025: West and Censori Sue Dentist

In May 2025, Kanye West and Bianca Censori sued dentist Thomas Connelly for "medical malpractice, professional negligence, and related tortious and contractual violations" due to his alleged role in facilitating West's nitrous oxide addiction.