Ye

Making his name as producer for Lil' Kim, Janet Jackson and, most notably, Jay-Z's 'Blueprint' album, Kanye West's middle-class upbringing made him different to most rappers. His debut album 'The College Dropout' (2004) mixed rap beats with socially-conscious soul while singles 'Jesus Walks' and 'All Falls Down' showcased a strutting flamboyance. Chart-topping second album 'Late Registration' (2007) won mass acclaim with worldwide hits 'Gold Digger' and 'Touch the Sky' before the more introspective 'Graduation' (2007). West's next album '808s & Heartbreak' (2008) featured contributions from Mr Hudson, Lil Wayne and Kid Cudi. However, the following year, he caused outrage in the media after he stormed the stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. After cancelling his tour with Lady Gaga and taking a break to regroup after the controversy, he released his fifth album 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' in 2010. Noted as a comeback record, the album won West a Grammy for Best Rap Album and was named Best Album of 2010 by Billboard, Time and Rolling Stone magazines. He followed this with 'Yeezus' in 2013 which gave him his fifth consecutive number one on the Billboard 200. 'The Life of Pablo', his seventh record, was released in 2016 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. He announced a tour to accompany the album but after his wife Kim Kardashian was robbed in Paris mid-tour, he cancelled the remainder of his dates. He was also later admitted for psychiatric observation after suffering from sleep deprivation and dehydration. He took a break away from the public eye for almost a year, returning in 2017 with news of new music. He released 'Ye' in 2018 to mixed reviews though the album gave him another number one on the Billboard 200.In 2019, he returned with his ninth studio album, 'Jesus Is King' which coincided with a short concert film of the same name. Follow-up album 'Jesus Is Born' arrived on Christmas Day in the same year with his gospel group Sunday Service Choir. © ©Copyright Music Story 2020