- 2005
Hurricane of Controversy
"George Bush doesn't care about black people." Those seven words become a national headline when West strays from his scripted monologue at the live televised Concert for Hurricane Relief. He criticizes the government's response in helping Katrina victims. With a shocked looking Mike Myers at his side, West's comments air live on NBC on the East Coast but are edited out of the West Coast version later that night. "People have lost their lives, lost their families," he says a week later on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "It's the least I could do to go up there and say something from my heart."
- 2006
Diamonds from...
West proposes to Alexis Phifer on the island of Capri. West split with model Brooke Crittenden earlier this year and has dated Phifer off and on for years. In 2008, they call off their engagement. "It's always sad when things like this end, and we remain friends," Phifer tells PEOPLE. "I wish him the best in his future and all of his endeavors. He's one of the most talented people I've ever met."
Ugly American
Even after being named Best Hip-Hop Artist at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Copenhagen, a fuming West storms on stage as the award for Best Video is being given to Parisian duo Justice vs. Simian. In a profanity-laced tirade, West says he should have won the prize for "Touch the Sky," because his video "cost a million dollars, Pamela Anderson was in it." He adds, "If I don't win, the awards show loses credibility."
- 2007
50 Cent Challenges Kanye
Rapper 50 Cent, who is releasing his Curtis album on the same day (Sept. 11) as West's Graduation album, challenges West. 50 Cent, 31, tells hip-hop Web site SOHH.com, "Let's raise the stakes. If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11...I won't put out anymore solo albums." Weeks later, West, 29, tells XXL magazine, "My biggest inspiration and biggest competition is Justin Timberlake...We push each other." Although the two rappers make peace, West widely outsells 50 Cent in first week sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan: 957,000 copies to 691,000 copies.
Kanye West's Mother Dies
West's mother, Donda West, dies of heart disease after undergoing plastic surgery. Donda, 58, a retired professor and former chairwoman of the Chicago State University English department, was a tireless supporter of her son as he both earned success and stirred up controversy. "He came out of the womb looking like he had that attitude," Donda, who released her memoir Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar, told InStyle earlier this year.
- 2008
Kanye Pays Tribute to Mother
West delivers an emotional tribute to his late mother at the 2008 Grammy Awards, performing "Hey Mama," a song from his second album. He also goes home with his third Best Rap Album Grammy for Graduation. During his acceptance speech, West says, "I know you wouldn't want me to stop and you want me to be the No. 1 artist in the world, and Mama, all I'm going to do is keep making you proud. We run this!"
Photo Credits
BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): Matt Peyton/NBC; FAME; Jon Super/AP; Tony Barson/WireImage, Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; Kevin Winter/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty
- Name
- Kanye West
- Birth Date
- June 08, 1977
- Birth Place
- Atlanta, Ga.
- Heart Monitor
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Alexis Phifer, ex-girlfriend (2002 to 2008; on & off, engaged)
Brooke Crittenden, ex-girlfriend (2005 to 2006)
