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Kanye West is a highly influential and controversial American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Renowned for his artistic innovation and cultural impact, he is one of the best-selling and most awarded musicians of the 21st century. Kanye West (born June 8, 1977) rose to prominence as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the late 1990s, crafting hits for artists like Jay-Z. He launched his solo career in 2004 with the critically acclaimed album 'The College Dropout,' defying hip-hop norms. Subsequent albums like 'Late Registration,' 'Graduation,' '808s & Heartbreak,' 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' and 'Yeezus' cemented his reputation for musical innovation and boundary-pushing. He founded the record label GOOD Music and achieved massive success in fashion with his Yeezy brand partnership with Adidas. West has won 24 Grammy Awards. His career has been marked by significant controversies, including public incidents, political statements, and antisemitic remarks leading to severed business ties. He has openly discussed his diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

• Kanye West's career was nearly derailed before it began when he suffered a near-fatal car accident in 2002; he recorded his breakthrough single 'Through the Wire' with his jaw wired shut.
• He caused a major controversy at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards by interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video to declare Beyoncé should have won.
• West married reality TV star Kim Kardashian in 2014; their relationship and subsequent divorce (finalized 2022) were highly publicized and often featured in his music.
• He has been open about his struggles with bipolar disorder, discussing how it impacts his creativity and public behavior.
• West ran an independent campaign for President of the United States in 2020.
• In late 2022, West made a series of antisemitic remarks online and in interviews, leading to widespread condemnation and the termination of major business deals, including with Adidas (Yeezy), Balenciaga, and his talent agency CAA. He later apologized in Hebrew on Instagram in December 2023.
• His album 'The Life of Pablo' (2016) was famously updated multiple times after its initial release on streaming services, challenging traditional notions of a finished album.