Kanye West is a rapper, record producer, and fashion designer widely regarded as one of the most influential and polarizing figures in modern music. Emerging from Chicago's South Side, he first gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records before proving himself a formidable MC with his debut album The College Dropout in 2004. Over the following two decades he has consistently reinvented his sound — from soulful chipmunk-soul to orchestral hip-hop, minimalist electronic experimentation, and gospel rap — earning 24 Grammy Awards and reshaping the genre with nearly every release.
Kanye West is one of the few hip-hop artists who scores near-100% on BOTH lyricist and composer credits — he writes all his own rap verses AND produces most of his own beats. This makes him the closest equivalent in hip-hop to what Jared Leto represents in rock: total creative authorship from writing to production to performance. His production credits are among the most influential in modern music history.
Member Credit Breakdown
Percentage of all tracks (across all albums) where each member holds credit.
| Member | Period | Lyrics | Music | Production | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanye West | 1996–present |
99%
|
100%
|
100%
|
99%
|
Discography
The College Dropout
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
Late Registration
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
Graduation
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
808s & Heartbreak
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
Yeezus
Def Jam
The Life of Pablo
GOOD Music / Def Jam
ye
GOOD Music / Def Jam
Jesus Is King
GOOD Music / Def Jam
Donda
GOOD Music / Def Jam