| Human Profile | |
| Name: | Ye |
| Birthday: | June 8, 1977 (age 49 years), Born in Atlanta, Georgia |
| Height: | 5'8" (173 cm) |
| Education: | Polaris School for Individual Education (Diploma) American Academy of Art (Dropped Out), Painting Chicago State University (Dropped Out), English School of the Art Institute of Chicago (PhD), Fine Arts |
| Subscribers: | 12.5M |
| Views: | 9,871,626,301 |
| YouTube Revenue: | $29.6M - $98.7M |
| Videos: | 41 |
| Channel Created: | January 2006 |
Overview
Ye is an American music producer, rapper, and fashion designer, recognized for his pioneering use of pitched-up vocal samples, a prolific and critically acclaimed musical career, the influential Yeezy brand, and frequently controversial public statements.
Latest News (Jun 14, 2026): Kanye West recently performed a sold-out concert at Dinamo Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, even as he faces ongoing legal challenges regarding a sexual assault lawsuit where his defense has cited artistic expression. Additionally, several of his scheduled European tour dates have faced recent cancellations due to public opposition and venue contract disputes.
Early Life and Education
Ye was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, Ray West, was a photojournalist and former Black Panther, and his mother, Dr. Donda West, was a college professor. Following his parents’ divorce when he was three, Ye was raised by his mother in Chicago, Illinois.
At the age of ten, Ye moved with his mother to Nanjing, China, for a year where she was teaching as a Fulbright Scholar. After returning to the United States, he attended Polaris High School in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois. Ye showed an early affinity for the arts, beginning to write poetry at age five and composing music by the seventh grade. After high school, he received a scholarship to attend Chicago’s American Academy of Art in 1997 and later transferred to Chicago State University to study English. He would ultimately drop out of college to pursue his music career.
Beginnings as a Producer
In the mid-1990s, Ye began his career by creating beats for local Chicago artists. His first official production credits came at the age of nineteen. He gained significant recognition for his production style, often featuring pitched-up vocal samples from soul records, a technique that would become his trademark.
His career gained considerable momentum after he began producing for artists at Roc-A-Fella Records, most notably for Jay-Z. Ye was a key producer on Jay-Z’s critically acclaimed 2001 album, The Blueprint. His work during this period established him as an in-demand producer, creating hits for artists like Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson.
Breakthrough as a Solo Artist
Despite his success as a producer, Ye aspired to be a rapper but initially struggled to be taken seriously by record labels. In 2002, he was signed to Roc-A-Fella Records. A pivotal moment in his career came in October 2002, when he was involved in a near-fatal car accident that left him with a shattered jaw. This experience inspired the song “Through the Wire,” which he recorded with his jaw wired shut.
“Through the Wire” became the lead single for his debut album, The College Dropout, released in 2004. The album was a critical and commercial success, showcasing his clever wordplay and blending themes of humor, faith, and social commentary. The album received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. It featured the hit single “Jesus Walks,” which, despite initial predictions, gained significant radio play.
Prolific Musical and Design Career
Following his debut, Ye released a string of successful and sonically diverse albums. Late Registration (2005) and Graduation (2007) continued his commercial success. He shifted his style with 808s & Heartbreak (2008), an album characterized by its use of Auto-Tune and themes of loss, which had a significant influence on subsequent hip-hop. His 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, is widely regarded as one of his masterpieces. He has continued to release music, including collaborative albums such as Watch the Throne with Jay-Z and Kids See Ghosts with Kid Cudi. His later solo works include Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016), Ye (2018), Jesus Is King (2019), and Donda (2021).
In addition to his music, Ye has made a significant impact on fashion. He has collaborated with numerous high-fashion brands, including Louis Vuitton, and launched his own clothing lines. His most prominent fashion venture is the Yeezy brand, which started with a sneaker collaboration with Adidas and has since expanded into a full clothing line known for its minimalist aesthetic. He also entered into a partnership with Gap. Beyond music and fashion, Ye founded a creative content company named DONDA and a private school, Donda Academy. The school, which was unaccredited, abruptly closed.
Personal Life and Public Profile
Ye was married to television personality Kim Kardashian from 2014 to 2022. They have four children: North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm.
Ye is known for his outspoken and often controversial public statements on a range of social and political issues. Throughout his career, he has been a subject of significant media attention for his conduct at award shows and his social media presence. In later years, his public remarks, including antisemitic comments, led to widespread condemnation and the loss of numerous brand partnerships and sponsorships. He later issued a public apology for these remarks.
