Claim: Kanye West was a music producer.

Kanye Omari West -LRB- -LSB- ˈkɑːnjeɪ -RSB- born June 8 , 1977 -RRB- is an American rapper , songwriter , record producer , fashion designer , and entrepreneur . Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago , West briefly attended art school before becoming known as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the early 2000s , producing hit singles for artists such as Jay Z and Alicia Keys . Intent on pursuing a solo career as a rapper , West released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004 to widespread critical and commercial success , and founded the record label GOOD Music . He went on to pursue a variety of different styles on subsequent albums Late Registration -LRB- 2005 -RRB- , Graduation -LRB- 2007 -RRB- , and 808s & Heartbreak -LRB- 2008 -RRB- . In 2010 , he released his fifth album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to rave reviews from critics , and the following year he collaborated with Jay Z on the joint LP Watch the Throne -LRB- 2011 -RRB- . West released his abrasive sixth album , Yeezus , to further critical praise in 2013 . His seventh album , The Life of Pablo , was released in 2016 .   West 's outspoken views and life outside of music have received significant mainstream attention . He has been a frequent source of controversy for his conduct at award shows , on social media , and in other public settings . His more scrutinized comments include his off-script denunciation of President George W. Bush during a live 2005 television broadcast for Hurricane Katrina relief and his interruption of singer Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards . West 's efforts as a fashion designer include collaborations with Nike , Louis Vuitton , and A.P.C. on both clothing and footwear , and have most prominently resulted in the YEEZY collaboration with Adidas beginning in 2013 . He is the founder and head of the creative content company DONDA . His 2014 marriage to television personality Kim Kardashian has also been subject to widespread media coverage .   West is among the most acclaimed musicians of the 21st century , and is one of the best-selling artists of all time , having sold more than 32 million albums and 100 million digital downloads worldwide . He has won a total of 21 Grammy Awards , making him one of the most awarded artists of all time and the most Grammy-awarded artist to have debuted in the 21st century . Three of his albums have been included and ranked on Rolling Stone 's 2012 update of the `` 500 Greatest Albums of All Time '' list . He has also been included in a number of Forbes annual lists . Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005 and 2015 .