Kanye West (pronounced CON-yay) (born June 8, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American music producer and rapper from Chicago, Illinois.

Previously best known for producing hit singles for Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, and Ludacris, Kanye himself worked on a solo album for a long period of time, having the release pushed back time and time again. A car crash in October 2002 left his jaw fractured in three places. With his mouth still wired shut and only weeks after having an encounter with death, Kanye West began recording "Through The Wire," reliving his near-fatal accident. "Through The Wire", which sampled Chaka Khan's classic track "Through The Fire", would eventually become his lead single off The College Dropout in 2004, released on Roc-a-Fella Records. The album received almost universal acclaim for its balance of mainstream commercial appeal and conscious (at times verging on Afrocentric) lyrics, along with Kanye's signature style of taking samples from sped-up classic soul and R&B tracks.

He has also collaborated with Twista on a couple of his songs, such as "Overnight Celebrity " and "Slow Jamz" (also featuring Jamie Foxx) which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. He also appears on Brandy's single, "Talk About Our Love". His other collaborations with other artists include Talib Kweli, Dilated Peoples, Mariah Carey and John Legend.

In 2004, Kanye appeared on Punk'd after being tricked by Ashton Kutcher before the Los Angeles Film Commission shuts down his music video about Jesus.

In 2004, Kanye West received ten Grammy Award nominations, making him the most nominated artist of 2004. He received two nominations in the Album of the Year category, one for The College Dropout, and one for his work on Alicia Keys's album The Diary of Alicia Keys. His work with pop icon Janet Jackson also earned a nomination for her single I Want You, produced by West, was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony held on February 13, 2005, his album The College Dropout won for Best Rap Album; and his single "Jesus Walks" won for Best Rap Song. Somewhat surprisingly, he did not go home with the Best New Artist Grammy (which instead went to Maroon 5); this snub was a repeat of the shut-out he received at the 2004 American Music Awards, where he lost to Gretchen Wilson.

West has also started his own clothing line, Pastel. He also started his own music labeled, titled GOOD Music (acronym for Getting Out Our Dreams), which has already released a platinum selling album, "Get Lifted ", by John Legend. His label roster also includes Common, Keyshia Cole, GLC, Consequence and Farnsworth Bentley.

Kanye West is currently finishing his anticipated follow-up studio album, "Late Registration", due in the spring/summer of 2005.

Discography

Studio albums

• 2004: The College Dropout

Awards

His complete Grammy nominations included:

• Album of the Year for The Diary Of Alicia Keys (as a producer)
• Album of the Year for The College Dropout
• Song of the Year for Jesus Walks
• Best New Artist
• Best R&B Song for You Don't Know My Name (as a songwriter)
• Best Rap Solo Performance for Through The Wire
• Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for All Falls Down
• Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for Slow Jamz
• Best Rap Song for Jesus Walks
• Best Rap Album for The College Dropout

Plus Janet Jackson's "I Want You" produced by West nominated in Best Female Recording (R&B).