THE HUSTLE
Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game
KANYE WEST The Rise and Fall of Ye By Kristen Jones Rising from middle-class Chicago, Ill., to the lap of luxury in Beverly Hills, Calif., would seem like an impossible dream for most people, but for rapper, music producer, fashion designer and influencer Kanye West, it was a reality. Although the 45-year-old star quickly rose to nearunimaginable heights, recent controversies have even more quickly brought him down, costing him heavily both socially and financially. According to Forbes magazine, West, whose previous net worth was in the billions, is a “billionaire no more.” So, what happened? What led to this giant star’s epic fall? The Beginning Born in Atlanta, Ga., in 1977, West moved to Chicago at the age of 3 with his mother, Donda West, after she divorced his father. They then briefly lived overseas when his mother taught in China. His love for the arts bloomed early, and he released his first musical endeavor in the third grade and began making musical compositions in the seventh grade, eventually selling them to other artists.
He soon achieved recognition for his
dollars in a short time. He is among the
abilities and is often credited with
top best-selling digital artists in history,
revitalizing JAY-Z's career with his
according to the Recording Industry
contributions to JAY-Z’s 2001 album
Association of America (RIAA).
The Blueprint. As his career was in full swing, however,
On Oct. 23, 2002, while he was driving
his mother passed away in 2007,
home from a California recording
possibly due to complications following
studio after working late, he fell asleep
cosmetic surgery. During this traumatic
at the wheel causing a head-on crash
time, many began to question the young
After graduating from high school, West received a scholarship to attend Chicago's American Academy of Art in 1997 and began taking painting classes. Shortly afterward, he transferred to Chicago State University to study English. He soon realized, however, that his busy class schedule was detrimental to his musical work, and at age 20, he dropped out of college to pursue his musical dreams.
with another car. The crash left him
artist’s mental health, and some say that
with a shattered jaw, which had to be
the grief and pain still affect him today.
Big Breaks West, who changed his name to Ye in 2021, got a big break in 2000 when he began to produce for artists on Roc-AFella Records.
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wired shut with reconstructive surgery. Sunday Services
While recovering from his injuries,
More than a decade later, on Jan. 6,
West recorded his debut studio album
2019, West started his weekly "Sunday
The College Dropout, which went on to
Service,” which is basically a Christian
gain critical acclaim and launch his
worship meeting that includes
career. The album won several awards,
unstructured prayer and nontraditional
including a Grammy for Best Rap Album
music. The meeting includes variations
in 2005; was certified four times
of his and others' songs and has been
platinum; and led West to continue
attended by multiple celebrities
making more studio albums, collect
including the Kardashians, Charlie
more awards, and earn billions of
Wilson and Kid Cudi.
FALL 2022