Kanye West

Kanye West first gained attention as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, working on tracks for Jay-Z before releasing his own debut album, The College Dropout, in 2004. That record's introspective lyrics and production style stood out from conventional rap at the time. He followed it with albums like Late Registration and Graduation, then took a sharp turn with 808s & Heartbreak in 2008, which leaned heavily on Auto-Tune and electronic textures.

His music has shifted through various phases since then, from the maximalist production of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to the abrasive minimalism of Yeezus. Songs like Runaway, featuring Pusha T, and Bound 2 show his range within a single album cycle. More recently, tracks such as Praise God and Moon appeared on his 2021 album Donda, which continued his interest in gospel-inflected sounds.

West's outspoken public persona has often drawn as much attention as his music. These moments exist alongside his work in fashion and his various entrepreneurial ventures.

As a producer and collaborator, he has worked with artists ranging from Kid Cudi and Pusha T to Rihanna and Travis Scott. The track Run This Town, featuring JAY-Z and Rihanna, is one example of these cross-genre collaborations. His discography now spans more than a dozen studio albums, each marked by a distinct sonic approach and thematic concern.