PLEASE CALL OFFICE FOR AVAILABILITY: 08447 707 788
11th & 12th November 2008
Kanye Omari West (born June 8, 1977) is an American record producer and rapper who rose to widespread fame in the mid '00s. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, and release on September 11, 2007 his third album, called Graduation. His first two albums, The College Dropout and Late Registration, received numerous awards (including six Grammys), critical acclaim and high commercial success. Kanye West also runs his own record label, GOOD Music. West's mascot and trademark is a teddy bear, which has appeared on the covers of his three albums as well as the single cover for his song "Stronger." It is believed the teddy bear is a main character in his albums and songs.
Kanye West was born in Atlanta, Georgia, where he lived with both of his parents. When he was three years old (as mentioned in "Homecoming") his parents divorced, and he and his mother moved to Chicago, Illinois. His father was Ray West, a former Black Panther who was one of the first black photojournalists at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and is now a Christian counselor. Kanye's mother, Dr. Donda West, worked as the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to serve as Kanye's manager. He was raised in an upper middle class background, attending Polaris High School in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois After attending The American Academy of Art, a Chicago art school, West attended Chicago State University but eventually dropped out in order to continue working on his music career. While attending school, West produced for local artists. He later gained fame by producing hit singles for major hip hop/R&B artists, including Jay-Z, Common, Mobb Deep, Jermaine Dupri, The Game, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Eminem and John Legend just to name a few. He also "ghost-produced" for his once mentor Deric Angelettie according to his song "Last Call" and the credits of Nas' "Poppa Was a Playa."
West's style of production often utilizes pitched-up vocal samples, usually from soul songs, with his own drums and instruments. The first major label song he produced featuring vocal samples was "This Can't Be Life," a track from Jay-Z's The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. Kanye admitted that Wu-Tang Clan producer RZA influenced him in his style, and has said on numerous occasions that Wu-Tang rappers Ghostface and Ol' Dirty Bastard were some of his all-time favorites. Said by Kanye West: "Wu-Tang? Me and my friends talk about this all the time… We think Wu-Tang had one of the biggest impacts as far as a movement. From slang to style of dress, skits, the samples. Similar to the [production] style I use, RZA has been doing that." He has also admitted that he sped up the drum beat of Dr. Dre's "Xxplosive" to use as a replacement for his original drums on "This Can't Be Life."
In 2007, it was announced that West would be starring in a series directed by Larry Charles. He has been working on the pilot episode for the past two years with Larry Charles and Rick Rubin. He also had this to say on January 14: "I wouldn't do something as cliché as a reality show. At least give me the credit for being more creative than that. It's a situational half-hour comedy. It's fictional, and loosely based on my life." West recently collaborated with Japanese hip hop group Teriyaki Boyz to produce the single "I Still Love H.E.R.," a reference to Common's 1994 single "I Used to Love H.E.R.." It is rumored that West's introductory lines preceding his verse are a thinly-veiled jab at producer and rapper Danny!, who was mercilessly compared to West in the beginning of his career.
Further to this, during a radio appearance in early 2007, West, like many of his peers, recorded an impromptu freestyle to the popular song "Throw Some D's." West's version became extremely popular because of the different stance he took. The song that to all other rappers was about automobile rims, was used by West to comically refer to D-cup breasts. Because of the unexpected success of the song, West went on to make a video for the freestyle, in which he is seen playing his 'Old Ass Cousin.'
Kanye was also featured in a new song called "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)." It was believed to be a single from his upcoming album, Graduation, because he is featured on the track, but Nike quickly explained that it was for the Nike Air Force 1's anniversary. It was meant only to be an exclusive track for the company.
On March 25, 2007, Kanye and his father Ray West supported World Water Day by having a "Walk for Water" rally.
After a two-year break, Kanye has returned back to being a fashion columnist on lifestyle magazine Complex.
On July 7, 2007 West performed with the British band The Police at the American leg of Live Earth.
Kanye West hosted the August 17 edition of British comedy-variety show The Friday Night Project.
In July 2007, West changed the release date of Graduation, his third album, from September 18, 2007, to the same release date as 50 Cent's album Curtis, September 11, 2007. This means that the albums will go head-to-head and compete for better sales against each other. 50 Cent later claimed that if Graduation were to sell more records than Curtis, he would stop releasing solo albums. However, 50 Cent would later dispel his comments.
When I heard that thing about the debate, I thought that was the stupidest thing. When my albums drops and 50's album drops, you're gonna get a lot of good music at the same time.
Kanye West performed at this years V Festival, entertaining crowds at Hylands Park on Saturday, (August 18) and Weston Park on Sunday, (August 19). He performed his latest single Stronger, along with many of his classics: Diamonds From Sierra Leone, Through the Wire, All Falls Down and Jesus Walks.West also played tribute to some of his favourite artists, singing Amy Winehouse's Rehab, The Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony and Timbaland's The Way I Are.
On August 26, West appeared as himself on the HBO television show Entourage which he used as a platform to premier his new single "Good Life" during the end credits. In September 2007, West was overlooked for opening the MTV Video Music Awards in favour of Britney Spears; he claimed "maybe my skin's not right.
