Kanye West performs onstage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2015.
West, at center in red, hangs out with some famous friends in the music industry, including John Legend, Mos Def, Consequence and Damon Dash, after a performance in New York in 2003. West’s first studio album, “The College Dropout,” released in February 2004.
West gives a peace sign as he performs at an event in New York in 2003.
West is presented with his first platinum album for “The College Dropout” in 2004. The critically acclaimed album included hits such as “Through the Wire,” “Jesus Walks” and “Slow Jamz.”
West signs autographs for a group of students in 2004.
West and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs party together in 2004.
West performs “Jesus Walks” on stage during the Grammy Awards in 2005. It won Best Rap Song that year, and “The College Dropout” won Best Rap Album.
West takes a break at a recording studio in Los Angeles in 2005.
Jay-Z joins West during the Hot 97 Summer Jam at New Jersey’s Giants Stadium in 2005.
Basketball star Kobe Bryant talks with West on the court following a charity game in 2005.
West poses with his awards at the 2006 Grammys. His second album, “Late Registration,” won Best Rap Album. “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” won Best Rap Song, and “Gold Digger” won Best Rap Solo Performance.
West performs with his mother, Donda, during a taping of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2006.
Designer Stella McCartney greets West as he attends her fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in 2006.
West performs on stage at Wembley Stadium in London in 2007. It was part of a concert held in memory of Princess Diana.
West shares a joke with Prince Harry and Prince William while in London in 2007.
West hits Chung King Studios in Manhattan to record his third album, “Graduation,” in 2007.
The funeral for West’s mother, Donda, is held in Spencer, Oklahoma, in 2007. She died at the age of 58.
West takes the microphone from Taylor Swift, interrupting her as she accepts an award at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009. “Taylor, I’m really happy for you, and I’m gonna let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time,” said West, who was heavily criticized for stealing Swift’s moment. He later apologized on his blog.
West performs his new song “Power” to open the BET Awards in 2010.
West and Kim Kardashian talk from their courtside seats at an NBA playoff game in 2012. They married in 2014.
West performs for the “Saturday Night Live” anniversary special in 2015.
West and other musicians appear at the announcement of Jay-Z’s Tidal music service in 2015.
West holds his daughter, North, as he and his wife, Kim, visit a cathedral in Jerusalem in 2015.
West is escorted by police after he performed an impromptu gig near Swan Lake in Yerevan, Armenia, in 2015.
West embraces Swift after presenting him with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in 2015.
West appears at a Yeezy fashion show in New York in 2015. He released his first Yeezy sneakers that year.
West performs at a Yeezy fashion show in 2016 along with Kid Cudi.
Kardashian West takes a selfie as she rides in a classic car with her husband in Havana, Cuba, in 2016.
West is surrounded by friends and fans at an album-listening party in Moran, Wyoming, in 2018.
West and Kardashian West attend a Travis Scott concert in California in 2018.
West performs atop a miniature mountain made specifically for his set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2019.
DaBaby, West and Marilyn Manson perform at a listening event for West’s “Donda” album in 2021.
