Kanye
West

Kanye West might be the perfect pop star for this cultural moment of mash-ups, surprise album drops, and social-media marketing, never straying far from the spotlight with his outsized ego and headline-grabbing antics. A shape-shifting artist who continues to redefine himself musically, West has earned a reputation as his generation’s most daring and innovative rapper, while extending his cultural footprint through his Yeezy clothing line.

Proving his doubters wrong with each transformation in his remarkable career, West has shown an uncanny ability to push and blur boundaries. In 2016 he live-streamed the release of his seventh studio album, “The Life of Pablo,” at a sold-out concert in Madison Square Garden that doubled as a Yeezy runway show. A famous perfectionist, he’s weathered countless controversies to become one of the world’s most influential entertainers. His summer feud with Jay Z over pulling out of the hip-hop mogul’s Tidal venture will no doubt play out in the headlines for months to come.

Born in Atlanta, GA, and raised in Chicago, West broke into hip-hop producing beats for the likes of Jay Z, before establishing his own rap credentials with 2004’s “The College Dropout.” He followed with a string of critical and commercial hits, including his 2010 epic “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” He has had seven albums certified platinum and won 21 Grammy Awards. West launched the Adidas-collaboration Yeezy clothing line in 2015. He is married to the reality TV star Kim Kardashian.