Kanye West first gained recognition for his production work for Roc-A-Fella Records, especially on rapper JAY-Z's album "Blueprint" (2001). West's skillful use of accelerated sample-based beats soon made him much in demand as a producer, but when he released his massively successful debut solo album, "The College Dropout" (2004), he also established himself as a popular, critically acclaimed solo artist whose subsequent albums continued to yield hit singles. West later ventured into the fashion world, unveiling the first "season" of his long-awaited fashion line, YEEZY, in February 2015. As a public figure, West was known for his flamboyant personality and for his sometimes provocative and polarizing public statements.