KANYE WEST BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Kanye West — legally Ye since 2021 — is hip-hop's most awarded and most controversial figure. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has repeatedly reinvented the sound of rap: first as the soul-sampling producer behind some of the genre's defining records, then as a solo artist whose albums have regularly topped critics' year-end lists. With 24 Grammy Awards to his name, he stands among the most decorated musicians of his generation.

Beyond music, West built a fashion empire that reshaped sneaker culture around the world, while his outspoken public persona has kept him in the headlines as often as his records. His legal name change to Ye in 2021 opened a new chapter in his public identity, and in 2026 he returned to the spotlight with Bully, his thirteenth solo studio album. Here is the full story of his age, career, biggest songs, business ventures, family and controversies.

Image: Cosmopolitan UK via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).

Kanye West Age & Early Life

Kanye Omari West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia — making him 49 years old as of 2026. His legal name change to Ye was granted on October 18, 2021. His parents divorced when he was three years old, and he was raised in Chicago by his mother, Donda West, an English professor who died in 2007. His father, Ray West, was a former Black Panther and one of the first Black photojournalists at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Kanye attended the American Academy of Art and Chicago State University but dropped out of both before his music career took off.

Career & Music

West first made his name as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where his soul-sampling style defined the sound of Jay-Z's landmark album The Blueprint (2001). He then launched a solo career that produced a string of era-defining albums: The College Dropout (2004), Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016), ye (2018), Jesus Is King (2019), Donda (2021), Donda 2 (2022) and Bully (2026). His collaborative projects include Watch the Throne (2011) with Jay-Z, Kids See Ghosts (2018) with Kid Cudi, and Vultures 1 & 2 (2024) with Ty Dolla $ign.

He has scored five No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 — "Slow Jamz", "Gold Digger", "Stronger", his featured turn on "E.T." and 2024's "Carnival" — becoming the first rapper to top the chart across three different decades. He has sold more than 160 million records worldwide. West has won 24 Grammy Awards, the joint-most by any rapper alongside Jay-Z, and holds a joint record of three Brit Awards. He received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and his 2022 Grammy wins included "Hurricane" and "Jail". His influence stretches across hip-hop's biggest names — see our Drake biography and Beyoncé biography for more on fellow chart-toppers.

Fashion & Business

West's influence extends far beyond music. He collaborated with Nike, Louis Vuitton, Gap and A.P.C., before his Yeezy partnership with Adidas turned him into one of fashion's most powerful figures. Adidas ended the partnership in October 2022 following his antisemitic statements, and Gap and Balenciaga also cut ties with him. He founded the record label GOOD Music and the creative company Donda, named after his late mother.

Personal Life

West married Kim Kardashian in 2014, and the couple divorced in 2022. They have four children: North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm. In 2023, he reportedly held a private ceremony with Bianca Censori. He also ran for President of the United States in the 2020 election.

Controversies

Between 2022 and 2025, West made a series of antisemitic statements that cost him major sponsorships and business partnerships. In January 2026, he published a full-page apology in The Wall Street Journal, writing "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite" and attributing his behaviour to bipolar disorder and a manic episode, as reported by Algemeiner and Reuters. Earlier in his career, his onstage interruption of Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards became one of pop culture's most replayed moments — read about her latest era in Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl release.

2026 Update

West released Bully on March 27–28, 2026, through YZY and Gamma — his thirteenth solo studio album. The record features guest appearances from Travis Scott, CeeLo Green, Peso Pluma, Don Toliver and André Troutman, with a deluxe edition adding Lauryn Hill — read our full Travis Scott biography for more on the Houston rapper. His concerts scheduled for October 10–11, 2026 in St. Petersburg were cancelled on September 30 by the organiser, Say Agency, according to Reuters (October 1). Days later, on October 4, 2026, he appeared at ComplexCon in Los Angeles alongside his daughter North and Bianca Censori.

FAQs

What is his real name?
He was born Kanye Omari West. Since October 18, 2021, his legal name is Ye.

How old is he?
Born on June 8, 1977, Kanye West is 49 years old as of 2026.

How many Grammys has he won?
He has won 24 Grammy Awards — the joint-most by any rapper, shared with Jay-Z.

Is he married?
He was married to Kim Kardashian from 2014 until their divorce in 2022. In 2023, he reportedly held a private ceremony with Bianca Censori.