The only blemish on Kanye West’s career is his affinity for his controversial outburst and celebrity antics. From Graduation’s “Stronger,” which featured French House duo Daft Punk, to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’s “Monster,” which featured the up-and-coming artist Nicki Minaj, West has always had a skill for being ahead of trends, often being criticized for it after the fact.Īpart from West’s own success as a musician, his music label GOOD Music has signed and managed artists like Common, John Legend, Pusha T, and Kid Cudi. West’s need to innovate in music helped shape what hip-hop is today. A feat only bested by Eminem with 10, who was tied with Kanye prior to his release of Music to Be Murdered By in 2020. Currently, West has consecutively released 9 number-one debut albums across his career. In the years that would follow, West’s albums would continue to impress and inspire. The single was released on his debut album College Dropout, which debuted at number 1 selling 2.6 million copies and solidifying West as a star.
After receiving reconstructive surgery, West went to the studio to record “Through the Wire” while his jaw was still wired shut from the operation. Later that same year West was involved in a head-on car collision that shattered his jaw. In 2002 Damon Dash would then sing West to Roc-a-fella records to keep the talented producer as a part of the label. After producing for Chicago’s local artists, West moved to New York where he got his big break producing tracks for Roc-a-fella rapper Jay-Z on Dynasty: Roc-a-Fella and The Blueprint the following year. Early on West developed his own style of production that would be labeled as “chipmunk soul,” which utilized sped up samples from soul records. Prior to graduation, West had become friends and apprentice to producer No I.D, to whom West credits as a huge help to him early on in his career. After graduating high school, West planned to attend Chicago’s American Academy of Art on a scholarship but dropped out to pursue his music career. West was raised by his mother in a middle-class neighborhood of the south-side Chicago and would visit his father during the summer. His father, Ray, divorced his mother Donda when Kanye was three. Kanye Omari West was born on June 8th, 1977.
When compared to each other both artists from a glance seem completely unalike, but with a closer look, you’ll see just how much their feats resonate with each other. Their dedication to the music helped hip-hop grow into a successful business leading up to the ’90s when it finally broke mainstream appeal.Īmong the artists who would carry the mainstream torch into the 2000s, Kanye West and Eminem pioneered their way to the status of hip-hop legends while becoming inspirations to young artists and fans. Revolutionaries like Grandmaster Flash, Rick Rubin, and Run DMC paved way for the future artist who would eventually turn Rap into the #1 musical genre in entertainment. Since the early days of hip-hop on the streets of New York, the age-old question of “who is the best?” has been fought over and debated incessantly throughout the history of the music industry.