Ye Biography

Fast Facts

• Formed The Dr․ Donda West Foundation with his mother in 2005, which strives to reduce dropout and illiteracy rates among underprivileged youth and provide access to music education
• In 2014, he got married to celebrity socialite Kim Kardashian
• While attending school, he produced tracks for local artists, soon moving on to bigger names
• Quote: "[On not allowing himself to have quiet moments] "I'm too busy writing history to read it․""
• Quote: "[On not letting others control him] "I want the world to be better! All I want is positive! All I want is dopeness!""
• Is credited with ushering in a new wave of hip hop artists who broke away from the subject matter covered by gangsta rap, explored more introspective topics and utilized digital processing like Auto-Tune
• Incorporates string arrangements into his songs, moving up from using violin riffs in his debut album to touring with an 11-piece string orchestra
• In 2015, he premiered his fashion line Yeezy, inc collaboration with the show company Adidas
• When he's not working, he likes to listen to rock more than he does hip-hop and has stated that The Killers and Coldplay are some of his favorite musical groups
• A fan of the indie movement, he promotes indie rock bands online and sometimes collaborates with them on songs
• Lived in China for a year when he was 10 while his mother taught English there