Kanye West

== Musical career ==
=== 1996–2002: Early work and Roc-A-Fella  ===
West began his early production career in the mid-1990s, creating beats primarily for burgeoning local artists in the Chicago area. He received his first official production credits at age nineteen, when he produced eight tracks on ''Down to Earth'', the 1996 debut album of Chicago-based [[underground hip hop|underground]] rapper Grav.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Photos: Kanye West's Career Highs—and Lows 1 of 24|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/photos-kanye-wests-career-highs-and-lows-20101210|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 10, 2010|access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-date=February 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216104340/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/photos-kanye-wests-career-highs-and-lows-20101210|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1998, West was the first producer signed to the management-production company [[Hip Hop Since 1978]], founded by Gee Roberson and Kyambo "Hip-Hop" Joshua.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gee Starts Own Label |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=287384&title+Gee-Starts-Own-Label |website=Hits Daily Double |access-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203080324/https://hitsdailydouble.com/news%26id%3D308429 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |date=December 21, 2012 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |title=Gee, Is He Making Moves? |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=308429 |website=HitsDailyDouble |access-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203080324/https://hitsdailydouble.com/news%26id%3D308429 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |date=September 20, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> For a time, West acted as a ghost producer for [[D-Dot|Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie]]. Due to his association with Angelettie, West was not able to release a solo album, so he formed the Go-Getters, a hip hop group composed of him and fellow Chicago natives [[GLC (rapper)|GLC]], Timmy G, [[Really Doe (rapper)|Really Doe]], and Arrowstar.<ref name=Barber>{{cite web|author=Barber, Andrew|title=93. Go-Getters "Let Em In" (2000)|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/07/the-100-best-kanye-west-songs/let-em-in|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|date=July 23, 2012|access-date=August 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727014600/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/07/the-100-best-kanye-west-songs/let-em-in|archive-date=July 27, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Reid, Shaheem|title=Music Geek Kanye's Kast of Thousands|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/music_geek/kanyewest_100305/|publisher=MTV|date=September 30, 2005|access-date=April 23, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060415173601/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/music_geek/kanyewest_100305/|archive-date=April 15, 2006}}</ref> The Go-Getters independently released their first and only studio album, ''World Record Holders'' in 1999 through West's company, [[GOOD Music|Konman Productions]].<ref name=Barber /> West spent much of the late 1990s further producing for several musical acts.<ref name="Saddleback">{{cite book |title=Kanye West: Hip-Hop Biographies |year=2013 |publisher=Saddleback Education Publishing |isbn=978-1-62250-016-1 |page=18}}</ref> He produced the third track on [[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown]]'s second studio album ''[[Chyna Doll (album)|Chyna Doll]]'' (1999), which became the second hip-hop album by a female rapper to peak atop the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart.<ref name="Saddleback" />

[[File:Jay-Z Kanye Watch the Throne Staples Center 9 (cropped).jpg|thumb|West received early acclaim for his production work on [[Jay-Z]]'s ''[[The Blueprint]]''. The two are pictured here in 2011.]]
In 2000, West began producing for artists on [[Roc-A-Fella Records]] as an in-house producer. West is often credited with revitalizing Jay-Z's career with extensive contributions to his 2001 album ''[[The Blueprint]]'',<ref name="Mitchum" /> which ''Rolling Stone'' ranked among their list of greatest hip-hop albums.<ref name="RS500">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/jay-z-the-blueprint-20120524|title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: #464 (The Blueprint)|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=November 18, 2003|access-date=December 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715175432/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/jay-z-the-blueprint-20120524|archive-date=July 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> West produced songs for label cohorts such as [[Beanie Sigel]] and [[Freeway (rapper)|Freeway]], but also produced beats which were used by artists on other labels including [[Ludacris]], [[Alicia Keys]], and [[Janet Jackson]].<ref name="Mitchum">Mitchum, Rob. [https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8767-the-college-dropout/ Review: ''The College Dropout''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731093001/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8767-the-college-dropout/ |date=July 31, 2009 }}. [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]. Retrieved July 23, 2009.</ref><ref name=auto>Serpick, Evan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930054329/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kanye-west/biography Kanye West]. ''Rolling Stone'' Jann Wenner. Retrieved December 26, 2009.</ref> Meanwhile, West struggled to attain a record deal as a rapper.<ref name="Road">{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496766/road-grammys-kanye-west.jhtml|title=Road to the Grammys: The Making Of Kanye West's College Dropout|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=February 9, 2005|access-date=January 4, 2009|publisher=MTV|archive-date=July 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718104107/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496766/road-grammys-kanye-west.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Multiple record companies, including [[Capitol Records]],<ref name=KanplicatedPg2 /> denied or ignored him because he did not portray the [[gangsta rap|gangsta]] image prominent in mainstream hip hop at the time.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|556}} Desperate to keep West from defecting to another label, then-label head [[Damon Dash]] reluctantly signed West to Roc-A-Fella as a recording artist.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|556}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Williams, Jean A|access-date=April 27, 2008|url=http://www.blackcollegian.com/kanye-west-the-man-the-music-and-the-message/|title=Kanye West: The Man, the Music, and the Message. (Biography)|publisher=The Black Collegian|date=October 1, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125003250/http://www.blackcollegian.com/kanye-west-the-man-the-music-and-the-message/|archive-date=January 25, 2015}}</ref>

A 2002 car accident, which shattered his jaw,<ref name=wsws /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kanye-west-apos-2002-car-211020679.html|title=How Kanye West's 2002 Car Crash Shaped His Entire Career|publisher=Yahoo-Finance|access-date=June 6, 2018|archive-date=April 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415153441/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kanye-west-apos-2002-car-211020679.html|url-status=live}}</ref> inspired West; two weeks after being admitted to the hospital, he recorded "[[Through the Wire]]" at the [[Record Plant Studios]] with his jaw still wired shut.<ref name=wsws>Kearney, Kevin (September 30, 2005). [http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2005/09/kany-s30.html Rapper Kanye West on the cover of Time: Will rap music shed its "gangster" disguise?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401225638/http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2005/09/kany-s30.html |date=April 1, 2016 }}. World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved September 23, 2007.</ref> The song was first included on West's debut [[mixtape]] ''Get Well Soon...'', which was released in December 2002.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kamer, Foster|access-date=June 6, 2018|url=https://www.complex.com/music/the-50-best-rapper-mixtapes/kanye-west-get-well-soon|title=9. Kanye West, Get Well Soon ... (2003)—The 50 Best Rapper Mixtapes|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|date=March 11, 2013|archive-date=March 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313223732/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/the-50-best-rapper-mixtapes/kanye-west-get-well-soon|url-status=live}}</ref> At the same time, West announced that he was working on an album titled ''The College Dropout'', whose overall theme was to "make your own decisions. Don't let society tell you, 'This is what you have to do.'"<ref>Reid, Shaheem (December 10, 2002). "[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459071/kanye-west-raps-through-broken-jaw.jhtml Kanye West Raps Through His Broken Jaw, Lays Beats For Scarface, Ludacris] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228152622/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459071/kanye-west-raps-through-broken-jaw.jhtml |date=December 28, 2013 }}". MTV. Retrieved October 23, 2007.</ref>

=== 2003–2006: ''The College Dropout'' and ''Late Registration'' ===
{{Main|The College Dropout|Late Registration}}
[[File:Kanye West in Portland.jpg|thumb|right|upright|West in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] in December 2005 as a supporting act for [[U2]] on their [[Vertigo Tour]]]]

West recorded the remainder of the album in Los Angeles while recovering from the car accident. It was leaked months before its release date,<ref name="Road" /> and West used the opportunity to remix, remaster, and revise the album before its release;<ref>{{cite web|last=Patel|first=Joseph|title=Producer Kanye West's Debut LP Features Jay-Z, ODB, Mos Def|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1472302/kanye-west-readying-debut-lp.jhtml|date=June 5, 2003|publisher=MTV|access-date=April 21, 2009|archive-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026080735/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1472302/kanye-west-readying-debut-lp.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> West added new verses, [[String section|string arrangements]], [[gospel choir]]s, and improved drum programming.<ref name="Road" /> The album was postponed three times from its initial date in August 2003,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://popmatters.com/pm/review/westkanye-getwellsoon/|title=Kanye West: Get Well Soon / I'm Good|first=Hartley|last=Goldstein|date=December 5, 2003|work=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=March 21, 2013|archive-date=June 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621015704/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/westkanye-getwellsoon/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdn.best.complex.com/music/2011/09/clinton-sparks-30-favorite-mixtapes/get-well-soon|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119184429/http://cdn.best.complex.com/music/2011/09/clinton-sparks-30-favorite-mixtapes/get-well-soon|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2013|title=Kanye West × The Heavy Hitters, Get Well Soon (2003)—Clinton Sparks' 30 Favorite Mixtapes|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=December 9, 2012|author=Ahmed, Insanul}}</ref> and was eventually released in February 2004, reaching No.&nbsp;2 on the ''Billboard'' 200 as his debut single, "[[Through the Wire]]" peaked at No.&nbsp;15 while on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart for five weeks.<ref name=acharts>[http://acharts.us/song/337 Kanye West—Through the Wire—Music Charts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204917/http://acharts.us/song/337 |date=September 30, 2007 }}. aCharts.us. Retrieved July 3, 2010.</ref> "[[Slow Jamz]]", his second single, featuring [[Twista]] and [[Jamie Foxx]], became the three musicians' first No.&nbsp;1 hit. ''The College Dropout'' received critical acclaim, was nominated for the top album of the year by ''[[American Music Awards of 2004|American Music Awards]]'' and ''[[2004 Billboard Music Awards|Billboard]]'',<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=September 14, 2004 |title=32nd American Music Awards Nominees |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/32nd-american-music-awards-nominees-66500/ |access-date=February 12, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212181432/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/32nd-american-music-awards-nominees-66500/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=November 30, 2004 |title=2004 Billboard Music Awards Finalists |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/2004-billboard-music-awards-finalists-65464/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112062939/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65464/2004-billboard-music-awards-finalists |archive-date=November 12, 2015 |access-date=February 12, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> and has consistently been ranked among the great hip-hop works and debut albums by artists.<ref name=USAToday/><ref name=NYTimes/>

"[[Jesus Walks]]", the album's fourth single, reached the top 20 of the ''Billboard'' pop charts, despite industry executives' predictions that a song containing such blatant declarations of faith would never make it to the radio.<ref name=USAToday>{{Cite news|last=Jones|first=Steve|title=Kanye West runs away with 'Jesus Walks'|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-02-10-kanye-west-main_x.htm|work=[[USA Today]]|date=February 10, 2005|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025231046/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-02-10-kanye-west-main_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes>{{Cite news|last=Leland|first=John|author-link=John Leland (journalist)|title=Rappers Are Raising Their Churches' Roofs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/13/arts/music/13hiph.html?pagewanted=all&position=|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 13, 2004|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=May 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528052014/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/13/arts/music/13hiph.html?pagewanted=all&position=|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The College Dropout'' was certified [[RIAA certification|triple platinum]] in the US, and garnered West 10 Grammy nominations, including [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], and [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|Best Rap Album]] (which it received).<ref name="grammy">{{Cite news|last=Montgomery|first=James|title=Kanye Scores 10 Grammy Nominations; Usher And Alicia Keys Land Eight|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1494569/kanye-scores-10-grammy-nominations.jhtml|publisher=MTV|date=December 7, 2004|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-date=April 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411073415/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1494569/kanye-scores-10-grammy-nominations.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> During this period, West founded GOOD Music, a record label and management company that housed affiliate artists and producers, such as No I.D. and [[John Legend]],<ref name="Sheffield">Sheffield, Rob (November 22, 2010). [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-20101109 Review: ''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218061924/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-20101109 |date=December 18, 2010 }}. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. Retrieved November 11, 2010.</ref> and produced singles for [[Brandy (musician)|Brandy]], [[Common (rapper)|Common]], Legend, and [[Slum Village]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kanye-west/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930054329/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kanye-west/biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2011|title=2004–2005 production credits|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=August 19, 2016}}</ref>

West invested $2&nbsp;million and took over a year to make his second album.<ref>Brown, p. 120</ref> West was inspired by ''[[Roseland NYC Live]]'', a 1998 live album by English [[trip hop]] group [[Portishead (band)|Portishead]], produced with the [[New York Philharmonic Orchestra]],<ref name=Praise>{{cite news|author=Scaggs, Austin|title=Kanye West: A Genius In Praise of Himself|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-a-genius-in-praise-of-himself-20070920|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 20, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309060656/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/16257550/kanye_west_a_genius_in_praise_of_himself/print|archive-date=March 9, 2009|access-date=August 9, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> incorporating [[string arrangement]]s into his hip-hop production. Though West had not been able to afford many live instruments around the time of his debut album, the money from his commercial success enabled him to hire a [[string orchestra]] for his second album ''[[Late Registration]]''.<ref name=Praise /> West collaborated with American [[film score]] composer [[Jon Brion]], who served as the album's co-executive producer for several tracks.<ref name=Pilot>Perez, Rodrigo (August 12, 2005). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1507538/20050812/west_kanye.jhtml "Kanye's Co-Pilot, Jon Brion, Talks About The Making Of Late Registration"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051105015432/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1507538/20050812/west_kanye.jhtml |date=November 5, 2005 }}. [[MTV]]. [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]. Retrieved March 2, 2006.</ref><ref name=Pg124>Brown, p. 124</ref> ''Late Registration'' sold over 2.3&nbsp;million units in the United States alone by the end of 2005 and was considered by industry observers as the only successful major album release of the fall season, which had been plagued by steadily declining CD sales.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Knopper, Steve|title=Kanye Couldn't Save Fall|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/8829100/kanyewest|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=RealNetworks, Inc|date=November 15, 2005|access-date=November 27, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201190546/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/8829100/kanyewest|archive-date=December 1, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref>

When his song "[[Touch the Sky (Kanye West song)|Touch the Sky]]" failed to win Best Video at the 2006 [[MTV Europe Music Awards]], West went onto the stage as the award was being presented to [[Justice (band)|Justice]] and [[Simian (band)|Simian]] for "[[We Are Your Friends (song)|We Are Your Friends]]" and argued that he should have won the award instead.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=April 24, 2008|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227304,00.html|title=Kanye West Unleashes Tirade After Losing at MTV Europe Music Awards|publisher=Fox News |date=November 3, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023223440/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227304,00.html|archive-date=October 23, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/02112006/emas_shocker_kanye_stage_invasion|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603120826/http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/02112006/emas_shocker_kanye_stage_invasion|archive-date=June 3, 2007|title=EMAs Shocker: Kanye Stage Invasion!|access-date=June 7, 2007|publisher=MTV}}</ref> Hundreds of news outlets worldwide criticized the outburst. On November 7, 2006, West apologized for this outburst publicly during his performance as support act for [[U2]] for their Vertigo concert in [[Brisbane]].<ref>{{cite news|access-date=April 24, 2008|url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Nov03/0,4670,MTVAwardsKanye,00.html|title=Kanye West Upset at MTV Video Award Loss|publisher=Fox News|first=Jan M.|last=Olsen|date=November 3, 2006|archive-date=May 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510113205/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Nov03/0,4670,MTVAwardsKanye,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He later spoofed the incident on the 33rd-season premiere of ''Saturday Night Live'' in September 2007.<ref name="snlarchives">{{cite web|url=http://snlarchives.net/Episodes/?2007092913|title=SNL Archives {{!}} Episodes {{!}} September 29, 2007 #13|work=SNL Archives|last=Navaroli|first=Joel|date=September 29, 2007|access-date=January 10, 2015|archive-date=March 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317152741/http://snlarchives.net/Episodes/?2007092913|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2007–2009: ''Graduation'', ''808s & Heartbreak'', and VMAs incident ===

{{Main|Graduation (album)|808s & Heartbreak|Kanye West MTV Video Music Awards controversy}}

West's third studio album, ''[[Graduation (album)|Graduation]]'', garnered major publicity when its release date pitted West in a sales competition against rapper [[50 Cent]]'s ''[[Curtis (50 Cent album)|Curtis]]''.<ref name="Reid">Reid, Shaheem. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1569778/20070914/50_cent.jhtml 50 Cent Or Kanye West, Who Will Win? Nas, Timbaland, More Share Their Predictions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123192400/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1569778/20070914/50_cent.jhtml |date=November 23, 2010 }}. MTV. Viacom. Retrieved December 24, 2009.</ref> Upon their September 2007 releases, ''Graduation'' outsold ''Curtis'' by a large margin, debuting at number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 chart and selling 957,000 copies in its first week.<ref name=firstday>{{cite magazine|author=Mayfield, Geoff|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049350/kanye-well-ahead-of-50-cent-in-first-day-sales-race|title=Kanye Well Ahead of 50 Cent in First-Day Sales Race|magazine=Billboard|date=September 12, 2007|access-date=September 12, 2007|archive-date=July 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704222314/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049350/kanye-well-ahead-of-50-cent-in-first-day-sales-race|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Graduation'' continued the string of critical and commercial successes by West, and the album's lead single, "[[Stronger (Kanye West song)|Stronger]]", garnered his third number-one hit.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Cohen, Jonathan|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049151/kanye-caps-banner-week-with-hot-100-chart-topper|title=Kanye Caps Banner Week With Hot 100 Chart-Topper|magazine=Billboard|date=September 20, 2007|access-date=September 28, 2007|archive-date=June 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628050924/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049151/kanye-caps-banner-week-with-hot-100-chart-topper|url-status=live}}</ref> "Stronger", which samples French house duo [[Daft Punk]], has been accredited to not only encouraging other hip-hop artists to incorporate [[house (music)|house]] and [[electronica]] elements into their music, but also for playing a part in the revival of [[disco]] and [[Electro music|electro]]-infused music in the late 2000s.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Frere-Jones, Sasha|title=Dance Revolution|url=https://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/notebook/2009/03/30/090330gonb_GOAT_notebook_frerejones|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=March 30, 2009|access-date=April 16, 2009|author-link=Sasha Frere-Jones|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326014159/http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/notebook/2009/03/30/090330gonb_GOAT_notebook_frerejones|archive-date=March 26, 2009}}</ref> His mother's death in November 2007<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7090287.stm|title=Entertainment &#124; Kanye's mother dies after surgery|publisher=BBC News|date=November 12, 2007|access-date=September 2, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927113810/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7090287.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and the end of his engagement to Alexis Phifer<ref>{{cite web|last=McGee|first=Tiffany|title=Kanye West's Fiancée 'Sad' Over Breakup|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20193726,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=November 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207093204/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20193726%2C00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines|archive-date=December 7, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> profoundly affected West, who set off for his 2008 [[Glow in the Dark Tour]] shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thorogood|first=Tom|title=Kanye West Opens Up His Heart|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/460118-kanye-west-opens-his-heart|publisher=[[MTV UK]]. [[Viacom International Media Networks (Europe)|Viacom International Media Networks]]|access-date=November 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217114954/http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/460118-kanye-west-opens-his-heart|archive-date=December 17, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Kanyewestdec2008.jpg|thumb|right|upright|West performing in 2008]]
Recorded mostly in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]] in three weeks,<ref name="TheFader">{{cite magazine|last=Macia|first=Peter|title=FADER 58: Kanye West Cover Story and Interview|magazine=[[The Fader]]|url=http://www.thefader.com/features/2008/11/25/fader-58-kanye-west-cover-story-and-interview|access-date=November 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202233800/http://www.thefader.com/features/2008/11/25/fader-58-kanye-west-cover-story-and-interview|archive-date=December 2, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> West announced his fourth album, ''[[808s & Heartbreak]]'', at the [[2008 MTV Video Music Awards]], where he performed its lead single, "[[Love Lockdown]]". Music audiences were taken aback by the uncharacteristic production style and the presence of Auto-Tune, which typified the pre-release response to the record.<ref name=Observer>{{cite news|title=Urban Review: Kanye West, ''808s and Heartbreak''|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/nov/09/kanye-west-hip-hop-808s-heartbreak|work=[[The Observer]]|date=November 9, 2008|access-date=November 24, 2008|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201103614/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/09/kanye-west-hip-hop-808s-heartbreak|archive-date=December 1, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> ''808s & Heartbreak'' was released by [[Island Def Jam]] in November 2008.<ref name=Question>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Kanye West Inspires The Question: Should Rappers Sing?|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599993/20081121/west_kanye.jhtml|publisher=MTV. [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]|access-date=November 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204032313/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599993/20081121/west_kanye.jhtml|archive-date=December 4, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Sales">{{cite web|author=Montgomery, James|title=New Albums From Kanye West, Ludacris, Killers To Get Rare Monday Release on November 24|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598986/20081110/west_kanye.jhtml|date=November 10, 2008|publisher=MTV|access-date=August 12, 2008|archive-date=November 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103181659/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598986/new-lps-from-ludacris-kanye-west-killers-get-monday-release-date.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon its release, the lead single "[[Love Lockdown]]" debuted at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref>{{cite magazine|date=July 2, 2009|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043977/ti-back-atop-hot-100-kanye-debuts-high|title=T.I. Back Atop Hot 100, Kanye Debuts High|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=July 11, 2012|archive-date=May 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502013852/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043977/ti-back-atop-hot-100-kanye-debuts-high|url-status=live}}</ref> while follow-up single "[[Heartless (Kanye West song)|Heartless]]" debuted at number four.<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?exp=y&Ne=4&inert=25&Ntt=Heartless+Kanye+West&Ntk=Keyword&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&nor=10&an=bbcom&Ns=FORMATTED_DATE|0&N=37+4294126188#pos25 Heartless: Hot 100 Charts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505231714/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?exp=y&Ne=4&inert=25&Ntt=Heartless+Kanye+West&Ntk=Keyword&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&nor=10&an=bbcom&Ns=FORMATTED_DATE%7C0&N=37+4294126188#pos25 |date=May 5, 2009 }}. ''Billboard''. Retrieved April 20, 2009.</ref> While it was criticized prior to release, ''808s & Heartbreak'' is considered to have had a significant effect on hip-hop music, encouraging other rappers to take more creative risks with their productions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carmichael|first=Emma|url=http://www.theawl.com/2011/09/kanye%E2%80%99s-808s-how-a-machine-brought-heartbreak-to-hip-hop|title=Kanye's '808s': How A Machine Brought Heartbreak To Hip Hop|publisher=[[The Awl]]|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=March 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229125050/http://www.theawl.com/2011/09/kanye%E2%80%99s-808s-how-a-machine-brought-heartbreak-to-hip-hop|archive-date=December 29, 2011}}</ref>

While [[Taylor Swift]] was accepting her award for Best Female Video at the [[Kanye West MTV Video Music Awards controversy|2009 MTV Video Music Awards]], West went on stage and grabbed the microphone from her to proclaim that [[Beyoncé Knowles|Beyoncé]] deserved the award instead. He was subsequently removed from the remainder of the show for his actions.<ref name="Cnn.com">{{cite news|first=Lisa|last=Respers|title=Anger over West's disruption at MTV awards|date=September 14, 2009|access-date=September 15, 2009|website=[[CNN]]|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/09/14/kanye.west.reaction/index.html|archive-date=October 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017080013/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/09/14/kanye.west.reaction/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite magazine|title=Kanye West Storms the VMAs Stage During Taylor Swift's Speech|date=September 13, 2009|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 13, 2009|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-storms-the-vmas-stage-during-taylor-swifts-speech-20090913?rand=84857|archive-date=January 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119133749/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-storms-the-vmas-stage-during-taylor-swifts-speech-20090913?rand=84857|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Vozick|first=Simon|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/13/kanye-west-taylor-swift/|title=Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift's VMAs moment: What was he thinking? by Simon Vozick-Levinson|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=September 13, 2009|access-date=September 5, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118015021/http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/13/kanye-west-taylor-swift/|archive-date=November 18, 2010}}</ref> West was criticized by various celebrities for the outburst,<ref name="Cnn.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2009/best-female-video/|title=2009 MTV Video Music Awards—Best Female Video|publisher=MTV|access-date=September 15, 2009|archive-date=March 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303052537/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2009/best-female-video/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="latfallout">{{cite news|url=https://latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-kanye-fallout15-2009sep15,0,4346169.story|title=Kanye West expresses Swift regret on blog and 'The Jay Leno Show'|date=September 15, 2009|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=September 15, 2009|first1=Todd|last1=Martens|first2=Yvonne|last2=Villarreal|archive-date=September 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923114807/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-kanye-fallout15-2009sep15,0,4346169.story|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MTV">{{cite web|title=Adam Lambert, Donald Trump, Joe Jackson Slam Kanye West's VMA Stunt|website=[[MTV]]|date=September 13, 2009|access-date=September 13, 2009|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1621475/adam-lambert-donald-trump-joe-jackson-slam-kanye-wests-vma-stunt/|archive-date=February 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207040009/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621475/.../swift__taylor.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and by President [[Barack Obama]], who called West a "jackass".<ref name="BBCquote">{{cite news|title=Obama calls Kanye West a jackass|publisher=BBC News|date=September 16, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8258330.stm|archive-date=September 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903115121/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8258330.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="politico.com">{{cite web|first=Patrick|last=Gavin|title=Obama calls Kanye 'jackass'|publisher=[[The Politico]]|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=September 15, 2009|url=http://www.politico.com/click/stories/0909/did_obama_call_kanye_a_jackass.html|archive-date=February 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209044435/http://www.politico.com/click/stories/0909/did_obama_call_kanye_a_jackass.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="people.com">{{cite web|title=Audio: President Obama Calls Kanye West a 'Jackass'|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|url=http://www.people.com/package/article/0,,20302940_20304704,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205110150/http://www.people.com/package/article/0,,20302940_20304704,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name="www.foxnews.com">{{cite news|title=Obama Calls Kanye West a 'Jackass'|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/15/obama-calls-kanye-west-jackass/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916180832/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/15/obama-calls-kanye-west-jackass/|archive-date=September 16, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The incident sparked a large influx of Internet photo [[meme]]s.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=October 3, 2009|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/09/16/kanye-wests-vma-interruption-photos/|title=Kanye West's VMA Interruption Gives Birth To Internet Photo Meme|website=[[MTV]]|date=September 16, 2009|author=Anderson, Kyle|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001234936/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/09/16/kanye-wests-vma-interruption-photos|archive-date=October 1, 2009}}</ref> West subsequently apologized,<ref name=latfallout /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6833664.ece|date=September 14, 2009|title=Kanye West spoils the show at MTV awards|last=Booth|first=Jenny|work=[[The Times]]|access-date=September 14, 2009|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615184732/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6833664.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> including personally to Swift.<ref name="MTV.com">{{cite web|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|title=Taylor Swift Tells 'The View' Kanye West Hasn't Contacted Her. The country star discusses her reaction to the VMA incident.|date=September 15, 2009|website=[[MTV]]|access-date=September 15, 2009|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621550/2009915/swift__taylor.jhtml|archive-date=March 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328130534/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621550/2009915/swift__taylor.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="msnbc.msn.com">{{cite web|title=Kanye calls Taylor Swift after 'View' appearance|work=Today|date=September 15, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2009|url=http://www.today.com/id/32861800|archive-date=October 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006213404/http://www.today.com/id/32861800|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in a November 2010 interview, he seemed to recant his past apologies, describing the act at the 2009 awards show as "selfless".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/11/video-kanye-west-backtracks-taylor-swift-apology/|title=VIDEO: Kanye West Backtracks On Taylor Swift Apology &#124; Radar Online|date=November 8, 2010|access-date=July 27, 2019|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331091030/https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/11/video-kanye-west-backtracks-taylor-swift-apology/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Kanye West Backtracks on Taylor Swift Apology|url=http://dimewars.com/Blog/ViewBlogArticle.aspx?vn=Kanye+West+Backtracks+On+Taylor+Swift+Apology&BlogID=487b238f-9fac-4228-b9ba-7c29bdfe8528|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814162021/http://dimewars.com/Blog/ViewBlogArticle.aspx?vn=Kanye%2BWest%2BBacktracks%2BOn%2BTaylor%2BSwift%2BApology&BlogID=487b238f-9fac-4228-b9ba-7c29bdfe8528|archive-date=August 14, 2011}}</ref>

=== 2010–2012: ''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'', ''Watch the Throne'', and ''Cruel Summer'' ===

{{Main|My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy|Watch the Throne|Cruel Summer (GOOD Music album)}}

Following the highly publicized incident, West took a brief break from music and threw himself into fashion, only to hole up in Hawaii for the next few months writing and recording his next album.<ref name="Bever" /> Importing his favorite producers and artists to work on and inspire his recording, West kept engineers behind the boards 24 hours a day and slept only in increments. Noah Callahan-Bever, a writer for ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'', was present during the sessions and described the "communal" atmosphere as thus: "With the right songs and the right album, he can overcome any and all controversy, and we are here to contribute, challenge, and inspire."<ref name="Bever">{{cite web|first=Noah|last=Callahan-Bever|date=November 2010|url=http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway|title=Kanye West: Project Runaway|website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|accessdate=November 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228123251/http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/Cover-Story/kanye-west-project-runaway |archive-date=December 28, 2010 }}</ref> A variety of artists contributed to the project, including close friends Jay-Z, Kid Cudi and [[Pusha T]], as well as collaborations with artists including [[Justin Vernon]] of [[Bon Iver]] and [[Gil Scott Heron]].<ref>Hermes, Will (October 25, 2010). [https://web.archive.org/web/20101228174246/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/lost-in-the-world-20101025 Lost in the World by Kanye West feat. Bon Iver and Gil Scott-Heron | Rolling Stone Music]. ''Rolling Stone''. Retrieved May 2, 2011.</ref>
[[File:Kanye West SWU Music & Arts Festival 2011 (crop).jpg|thumb|right|upright|West at the [[SWU Music & Arts]] Festival in Brazil in 2011]]

''[[My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]]'', West's fifth studio album, was released in November 2010 to widespread acclaim from critics, many of whom considered it his best work and said it solidified his comeback.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fastenberg|first=Dan|date=December 9, 2010|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2035313_2035394,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212233453/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2035313_2035394,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 12, 2010|title=Kanye's Beautiful, Dark Twittered Fantasy—The Top 10 Everything of 2010|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|location=New York|access-date=September 18, 2012}}</ref> In stark contrast to his previous effort, which featured a minimalist sound, ''Dark Fantasy'' adopts a maximalist philosophy and deals with themes of celebrity and excess.<ref name="Sheffield" /> The record included the international hit "[[All of the Lights]]", and ''Billboard'' hits "[[Power (Kanye West song)|Power]]", "[[Monster (Kanye West song)|Monster]]", and "[[Runaway (Kanye West song)|Runaway]]",<ref name="Hot100">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kanye west|chart=all}} Kanye West Album & Song Chart History—Hot 100]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Retrieved November 30, 2010.</ref> the latter of which accompanied a [[Runaway (2010 film)|35-minute film of the same name]] directed by and starring West.<ref name="BillboardPremiere">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/954875/kanye-west-premieres-35-minute-long-runaway-video-in-london|title=Kanye West Premieres 35-Minute-Long 'Runaway' Video in London|date=October 7, 2010|first=Mariel|last=Concepcion|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]], Inc|access-date=January 16, 2018|archive-date=July 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713200936/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/954875/kanye-west-premieres-35-minute-long-runaway-video-in-london|url-status=live}}</ref> During this time, West initiated the free music program [[GOOD Fridays]] through his website, offering a free download of previously unreleased songs each Friday, a portion of which were included on the album. This promotion ran from August to December 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reiff|first=Corbin|url=https://www.avclub.com/cataloging-g-o-o-d-fridays-kanye-west-s-beautiful-dar-1798286945|title=Cataloging G.O.O.D. Fridays: Kanye West's beautiful dark twisted promotional campaign|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=November 22, 2015|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228084021/https://www.avclub.com/cataloging-g-o-o-d-fridays-kanye-west-s-beautiful-dar-1798286945|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Dark Fantasy'' went on to go platinum in the United States,<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=KANYE+WEST&ti=MY+BEAUTIFUL+DARK+TWISTED+FANTASY|title=Searchable Database|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA)|at=Search: Kanye West|access-date=February 18, 2012|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819013927/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=KANYE+WEST&ti=MY+BEAUTIFUL+DARK+TWISTED+FANTASY|url-status=live}}</ref> but its omission as a contender for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] at the [[54th Grammy Awards]] was viewed as a "snub" by several media outlets.<ref>{{cite web|last=Abebe|first=Nitsuh|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/12/grammy-nominations-breakdown.html|title=Explaining the Kanye Snub, and Other Thoughts on the Grammy Nominations|work=New York|date=December 1, 2011|access-date=January 31, 2012|archive-date=January 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122085427/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/12/grammy-nominations-breakdown.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

2011 saw West embark on a festival tour to commemorate the release of ''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'' performing and headlining numerous festivals including; [[SWU Music & Arts]], [[Austin City Limits Music Festival]], [[Øyafestivalen|Oya Festival]], [[Flow Festival#2011|Flow Festival]], [[Live Music Festival#2011|Live Music Festival]],
[[The Big Chill (music festival)#Past line-ups|The Big Chill]], [[Essence Music Festival#2011|Essence Music Festival]], [[List of Lollapalooza lineups by year#2011|Lollapalooza]] and [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella]] which was described by ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' as "one of greatest hip-hop sets of all time",<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Jeff|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-delivers-one-greatest-179408|title=Kanye West Delivers One of Greatest Hip-Hop Sets of All Time at Coachella|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=April 18, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2013|archive-date=February 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227030143/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-delivers-one-greatest-179408|url-status=live}}</ref> West released the collaborative album ''[[Watch the Throne]]'' with Jay-Z in August 2011. By employing a sales strategy that released the album digitally weeks before its physical counterpart, ''Watch the Throne'' became one of the few major label albums in the [[Internet age]] to avoid a [[Music leak|leak]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Gissen|first=Jesse|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/08/jay-z-kanye-west-miraculously-manage-to-keep-watch-the-throne-leak-free/|title=Jay-Z & Kanye West Miraculously Manage to Keep Watch the Throne Leak-Free|work=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]|publisher=Harris Publications|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=August 12, 2011|archive-date=August 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816204001/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/08/jay-z-kanye-west-miraculously-manage-to-keep-watch-the-throne-leak-free/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Perpetua|first=Matthew|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jay-z-and-kanye-west-avoid-watch-the-throne-leak-20110808|title=Jay-Z and Kanye West Avoid 'Watch the Throne' Leak|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=August 12, 2011|archive-date=September 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919061629/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jay-z-and-kanye-west-avoid-watch-the-throne-leak-20110808|url-status=dead}}</ref> "[[Niggas in Paris]]" became the record's highest-charting single, peaking at number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="Hot100" /> The co-headlining [[Watch the Throne Tour]] kicked off in October 2011 and concluded in June 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Doherty|first1=Maggie|title=Jay-Z & Kanye West Tease 'Watch The Throne' Tour Set List: Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/465433/jay-z-kanye-west-tease-watch-the-throne-tour-set-list-watch|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 16, 2018|date=October 28, 2011|archive-date=May 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510051151/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/465433/jay-z-kanye-west-tease-watch-the-throne-tour-set-list-watch|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, West released the [[compilation album]] ''[[Cruel Summer (GOOD Music album)|Cruel Summer]]'', a collection of tracks by artists from West's record label GOOD Music.

=== 2013–2015: ''Yeezus'' and the ''Yeezus Tour'' ===

{{Main|Yeezus|The Yeezus Tour}}

Sessions for West's sixth solo effort begin to take shape in early 2013 in his own personal loft's living room at a Paris hotel.<ref name="NewYorkTimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/arts/music/kanye-west-talks-about-his-career-and-album-yeezus.html?pagewanted=all|title=Behind Kanye's Mask|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 11, 2013|access-date=June 13, 2013|author=Caramanica, Jon|archive-date=June 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612162353/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/arts/music/kanye-west-talks-about-his-career-and-album-yeezus.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref> Determined to "undermine the commercial",<ref name="sessions">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/articles/9157-the-yeezus-sessions/|title=The ''Yeezus'' Sessions|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=June 24, 2013|access-date=June 26, 2013|author=Dombal, Ryan|archive-date=June 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626203159/http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/9157-the-yeezus-sessions/|url-status=dead}}</ref> he once again brought together close collaborators and attempted to incorporate Chicago [[Drill (music genre)|drill]], [[dancehall]], [[acid house]], and [[industrial music]].<ref name="chicagotribune">{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-kanye-west-yeezus-review-20130616,0,6122329.column|title=Kanye West's 'Yeezus' an uneasy listen|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=June 16, 2013|access-date=June 17, 2013|author=Kot, Greg|archive-date=June 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616222316/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-kanye-west-yeezus-review-20130616,0,6122329.column|url-status=live}}</ref> Primarily inspired by architecture,<ref name="NewYorkTimes" /> West's perfectionist tendencies led him to contact producer [[Rick Rubin]] fifteen days shy of its due date to strip down the record's sound in favor of a more minimalist approach.<ref name="Rstonerubin">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rick-rubin-finishing-kanye-wests-yeezus-seemed-impossible-20130627|title=Rick Rubin: Finishing Kanye West's ''Yeezus'' Seemed Impossible|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2013|author=Blistein, Jon|archive-date=June 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630092456/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rick-rubin-finishing-kanye-wests-yeezus-seemed-impossible-20130627|url-status=dead}}</ref> Initial promotion of his sixth album included worldwide video projections of the album's music and live television performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/50579-watch-kanye-west-projects-new-video-new-slaves-on-buildings-around-the-world/|title=Watch: Kanye West Projects New Video "New Slaves" on Buildings Around the World|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=May 17, 2013|access-date=June 6, 2018|author=Battan, Carrie|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143650/https://pitchfork.com/news/50579-watch-kanye-west-projects-new-video-new-slaves-on-buildings-around-the-world/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=snl>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/kanye-west-unleashes-the-fury-of-black-skinhead-on-snl-20130519|title=Kanye West Unleashes the Fury of 'Black Skinhead' on 'SNL'|magazine=Rolling Stone|location=New York|date=May 19, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2013|author=Coleman, Miriam|archive-date=June 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605083844/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/kanye-west-unleashes-the-fury-of-black-skinhead-on-snl-20130519|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Yeezus]]'', West's sixth album, was released June 18, 2013, to rave reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/480410/20130619/kanye-west-yeezus-kim-kardashian.htm|access-date=June 22, 2013|last=Torrente|first=Ria Kristina|date=June 19, 2013|title=Kanye West's Yeezus Gets Rave Reviews|newspaper=[[International Business Times]]|location=New York|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925064429/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/480410/20130619/kanye-west-yeezus-kim-kardashian.htm|archive-date=September 25, 2013}}</ref> It became his sixth consecutive number one debut, but also marked his lowest solo opening week sales.<ref name="billboard123">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1568153/official-kanye-wests-yeezus-sells-327000-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-chart|title=Official: Kanye West's 'Yeezus' Sells 327,000; Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 25, 2013|access-date=June 29, 2013|archive-date=June 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629000131/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1568153/official-kanye-wests-yeezus-sells-327000-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-chart|url-status=live}}</ref> 
[[File:Yeezus tour.jpg|thumb|West on the [[Yeezus Tour]] in 2013]]

In September 2013, West announced he would be headlining [[the Yeezus Tour|his first solo tour in five years]], to support ''Yeezus'', with fellow American rapper [[Kendrick Lamar]] accompanying him as a supporting act.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/52170-kanye-west-announces-tour-with-kendrick-lamar/|title=Kanye West Announces Tour With Kendrick Lamar|work=Pitchfork Media|date=September 6, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2014|archive-date=October 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015155108/http://pitchfork.com/news/52170-kanye-west-announces-tour-with-kendrick-lamar/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glidemagazine.com/39618/kanye-west-announces-fall-arena-tour-kendrick-lamar-opening/|title=Kanye West Announces Fall Arena Tour—Kendrick Lamar Opening|work=Glide Magazine|date=September 6, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2014|archive-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010002939/http://www.glidemagazine.com/39618/kanye-west-announces-fall-arena-tour-kendrick-lamar-opening/|url-status=live}}</ref> The tour was met with rave reviews from critics.<ref name="rsyeezus">{{cite magazine|last1=Ringen|first1=Jonathan|title=11 Reasons Kanye West's 'Yeezus' Tour Is Actually Incredible|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/11-reasons-kanye-wests-yeezus-tour-is-actually-incredible-20131122|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=November 22, 2013|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819090854/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/11-reasons-kanye-wests-yeezus-tour-is-actually-incredible-20131122|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' described it as "crazily entertaining, hugely ambitious, emotionally affecting (really!) and, most importantly, totally bonkers".<ref name="rsyeezus" /> Writing for ''Forbes'', Zack O'Malley Greenburg praised West for "taking risks that few pop stars, if any, are willing to take in today's hyper-exposed world of pop", describing the show as "overwrought and uncomfortable at times, but [it] excels at challenging norms and provoking thought in a way that just isn't common for mainstream musical acts of late".<ref name="Greenburg">{{cite web|last1=Greenburg|first1=Zack O'Malley|title=Kanye West Makes His Own Artpop on Yeezus Tour|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/11/25/kanye-west-makes-his-own-artpop-on-yeezus-tour/#7ac1db4f18f2|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=July 25, 2016|archive-date=August 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824110602/http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/11/25/kanye-west-makes-his-own-artpop-on-yeezus-tour/#7ac1db4f18f2|url-status=live}}</ref> West subsequently released a number of singles featuring [[Paul McCartney]], including "[[Only One (Kanye West song)|Only One]]"<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Young|first1=Alex|title=Kanye West premieres 'Only One' featuring Paul McCartney—listen|url=https://consequence.net/2014/12/kanye-west-premieres-only-one-featuring-paul-mccartney-listen/|magazine=Consequence of Sound|access-date=January 1, 2015|archive-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423172637/https://consequence.net/2014/12/kanye-west-premieres-only-one-featuring-paul-mccartney-listen/|url-status=live}}</ref> and "[[FourFiveSeconds]]", also featuring [[Rihanna]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Sam|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-kanye-west-songwriting-fourfiveseconds-rihanna-kim-kardashian-2341934|title=Paul McCartney on writing with Kanye West: "I was tootling around on guitar, and Kanye spent a lot of time looking at pictures of Kim"|work=[[NME]]|date=June 21, 2018|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228084516/https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-kanye-west-songwriting-fourfiveseconds-rihanna-kim-kardashian-2341934|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2013, West stated that he was beginning work on his next studio album, hoping to release it by mid-2014,<ref>Jackson, Reed (November 25, 2013). [http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/11/kanye-west-hopes-new-album-summer/ "Kanye West Hopes To Have New Album Out By Summer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012215802/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/11/kanye-west-hopes-new-album-summer/ |date=October 12, 2018 }}. ''XXL''.</ref> with production by Rick Rubin and [[Q-Tip (musician)|Q-Tip]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rys|first=Dan|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/12/q-tip-will-produce-kanye-wests-next-album-rick-rubin/|title=Q-Tip Will Produce Kanye West's Next Album With Rick Rubin—XXL|publisher=Xxlmag.com|date=December 3, 2013|access-date=June 9, 2014|archive-date=May 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527030656/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/12/q-tip-will-produce-kanye-wests-next-album-rick-rubin/|url-status=live}}</ref> Having initially announced a new album entitled ''Yeezus II'' slated for a 2014 release, West announced in March 2015 that the album would instead be tentatively called ''So Help Me God''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Peters|first1=Mitchell|title=Kanye West Announces Name Change of His New Album on Twitter|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6553812/kanye-west-announces-name-change-of-his-new-album-on-twitter-swish-so-help-me-god|access-date=May 31, 2015|magazine=Billboard|date=May 3, 2015|archive-date=June 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607163951/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6553812/kanye-west-announces-name-change-of-his-new-album-on-twitter-swish-so-help-me-god?|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2015, West was awarded an [[honorary doctorate]] by the [[School of the Art Institute of Chicago]] for his contributions to music, fashion, and popular culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/11/kanye-west-receives-honorary-doctorate-chicago|title=Kanye West receives honorary doctorate in Chicago|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=May 11, 2015|website=The Guardian|access-date=June 19, 2018|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623170101/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/11/kanye-west-receives-honorary-doctorate-chicago|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/59535-kanye-west-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-saic-listen/|title=Kanye West Receives Honorary Doctorate From SAIC: Listen|work=Pitchfork Media|date=May 11, 2015|access-date=May 12, 2015|archive-date=May 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513205756/http://pitchfork.com/news/59535-kanye-west-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-saic-listen/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|The school rescinded the honorary degree in late 2022 in light of West's public antisemitic statements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Kanye West's honorary degree rescinded by School of the Art Institute of Chicago |url=https://abc7chicago.com/kanye-west-new-name-school-of-the-art-institute-chicago-ye-honorary-degree/12545134/ |access-date=December 8, 2022 |website=ABC7 Chicago |language=en |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208183749/https://abc7chicago.com/kanye-west-new-name-school-of-the-art-institute-chicago-ye-honorary-degree/12545134/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} The next month, West headlined at the [[Glastonbury Festival]] in the UK, despite a petition signed by almost 135,000 people against his appearance.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Renshaw|first1=David|title=Kanye West Glastonbury petition crosses 100,000 signature mark|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-304-1224342|access-date=September 9, 2020|work=NME|date=March 22, 2015|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204092837/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-304-1224342|url-status=live}}</ref> Another petition aimed to block West from headlining the [[2015 Pan American Games]], garnering 50,000 supporters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/kanye-west/86979 |title=NME News 50,000 people sign petition to stop Kanye West from playing Pan Am Games closing ceremony |work=NME |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721145307/http://www.nme.com/news/kanye-west/86979 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2016–2017: ''The Life of Pablo'' and tour cancellation ===
{{Main|The Life of Pablo}}

West announced in January 2016 that ''SWISH'' would be released on February 11, and later that month, released new songs "[[Real Friends (Kanye West song)|Real Friends]]" and a snippet of "[[No More Parties in LA]]" with Kendrick Lamar. On January 26, 2016, West revealed he had renamed the album from ''SWISH'' to ''Waves''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/63468-kanye-west-announces-new-album-title-shares-final-tracklist/|title=Kanye West Announces New Album Title, Shares Final Tracklist—Pitchfork|work=pitchfork.com|date=February 10, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629202953/http://pitchfork.com/news/63468-kanye-west-announces-new-album-title-shares-final-tracklist/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the weeks leading up to the album's release, West became embroiled in several [[Twitter]] controversies.<ref name="dailybeast">{{cite news|last1=Wilstein|first1=Dave|title=Kanye West Declares Bill Cosby 'Innocent'|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/09/kanye-west-bill-cosby-is-innocent.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=February 10, 2016|access-date=April 2, 2016|archive-date=April 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408133122/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/09/kanye-west-bill-cosby-is-innocent.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Several days ahead of its release, West again changed the title, this time to ''[[The Life of Pablo]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=McHenry|first=Jackson|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/02/kanye-shares-final-track-list-for-new-album.html|title=Kanye Shares the 'Final' Track List for His New Album, Which Is Now Called ''The Life of Pablo''|work=[[New York (magazine)#Vulture|Vulture]]|date=February 10, 2016|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228085447/https://www.vulture.com/2016/02/kanye-shares-final-track-list-for-new-album.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Britton|first=Luke Morgan|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/wiz-khalifa-2-4-1200573|title=Wiz Khalifa opens up about Kanye West beef and reconciliation|work=[[NME]]|date=March 23, 2016|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228085444/https://www.nme.com/news/music/wiz-khalifa-2-4-1200573|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 11, West premiered the album at [[Madison Square Garden]] as part of the presentation of his Yeezy Season{{nbsp}}3 clothing line.<ref name="pitchfork.com">Phillips, Amy (February 11, 2016). [https://pitchfork.com/news/63472-kanye-west-new-album-the-life-of-pablo-debut-live-stream-watch-it-here/ "Kanye West New Album The Life Of Pablo Debut Live Stream: Watch It Here"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211182735/http://pitchfork.com/news/63472-kanye-west-new-album-the-life-of-pablo-debut-live-stream-watch-it-here/ |date=February 11, 2016 }}. Pitchfork. Retrieved February 11, 2016.</ref> Following the preview, West announced that he would be modifying the tracklist once more before its release to the public.<ref>West, Kanye (February 12, 2016). "The album is being mastered and will be out today{{nbsp}}... added on a couple of tracks{{nbsp}}...". Twitter. Retrieved February 16, 2016.</ref> He released the album exclusively on [[Tidal (service)|Tidal]] on February 14, 2016, following a performance on ''[[Saturday Night Live|SNL]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2016/02/chance-the-rapper-annotated-ultralight-beam/|title=Chance The Rapper Annotated His Verse on Kanye West's "Ultralight Beam"|work=pigeonsandplanes.com|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=June 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623234529/http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2016/02/chance-the-rapper-annotated-ultralight-beam/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Pitchfork>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21542-the-life-of-pablo/|title=Kanye West: The Life of Pablo|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=February 15, 2016|access-date=February 15, 2016|last=Greene|first=Jayson|archive-date=February 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215235527/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21542-the-life-of-pablo/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following its release, West continued to tinker with mixes of several tracks, describing the work as "a living breathing changing creative expression"<ref name="fader">{{cite magazine|last1=Dandridge-Lemco|first1=Ben|title=Kanye West Is Updating "Wolves"|magazine=[[The Fader]]|url=http://www.thefader.com/2016/03/15/kanye-west-is-updating-wolves|access-date=March 15, 2016|archive-date=March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317211812/http://www.thefader.com/2016/03/15/kanye-west-is-updating-wolves|url-status=live}}</ref> and proclaiming the end of the [[music album|album]] as a dominant release form.<ref name="slate">{{cite web|last1=Hamilton|first1=Jack|title=The Life of Pablo Is an Attack on the Very Idea of the Album|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2016/02/kanye_west_s_the_life_of_pablo_is_an_attack_on_the_very_idea_of_the_album.html|website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=February 19, 2016|access-date=March 25, 2016|archive-date=March 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324070257/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2016/02/kanye_west_s_the_life_of_pablo_is_an_attack_on_the_very_idea_of_the_album.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite West's earlier comments, in addition to Tidal, the album was released through several other competing services starting in April.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shah|first1=Neil|title=Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo' Now Widely Available to Stream|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/04/01/kanye-wests-the-life-of-pablo-now-widely-available-to-stream/|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=April 2016|access-date=April 4, 2016|archive-date=April 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403211534/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/04/01/kanye-wests-the-life-of-pablo-now-widely-available-to-stream/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Saint pablo tour.jpg|thumb|West on the [[Saint Pablo Tour]] in 2016]]

In February 2016, West stated on Twitter that he was planning to release another album in the summer of 2016, tentatively called ''Turbo Grafx 16'' in reference to the 1990s [[TurboGrafx-16|video game console of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/63742-kanye-west-says-new-album-coming-this-summer/|title=Kanye West Says New Album Coming This Summer—Pitchfork|work=pitchfork.com|date=February 24, 2016 |access-date=November 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last1=West |first1=Kanye |user=kanyewest |number=703446573552967680 |date=February 27, 2016 |title=My next album is titled "Turbo Grafx 16" as of now ...|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160313050042/https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/703446573552967680 |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2016, West released the collaborative lead single "[[Champions (GOOD Music song)|Champions]]" off the GOOD Music album ''Cruel Winter'', which has yet to be released.<ref name="6 Minute Track">{{cite magazine|url=http://time.com/4356393/kanye-west-new-album-cruel-winter/|title=Kanye West debuts 6-minute track|last=Lang|first=Cady|date=June 3, 2016|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=June 3, 2016|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828224933/http://time.com/4356393/kanye-west-new-album-cruel-winter/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2016/06/kanye-west-premieres-first-single-from-cruel-winter-listen/|title=Kanye West debuts single with a bunch of all-stars|author=<!--staff writer(s); no by-line-->|date=June 3, 2016|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]|access-date=June 3, 2016|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413155718/https://consequence.net/2016/06/kanye-west-premieres-first-single-from-cruel-winter-listen/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, West released a controversial video for "[[Famous (Kanye West song)|Famous]]", which depicted wax figures of several celebrities (including West, Kardashian, Taylor Swift, businessman and then-presidential candidate [[Donald Trump]], comedian [[Bill Cosby]], and former president George W. Bush) sleeping nude in a shared bed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/775796/kanye-west-gets-almost-no-reactions-from-stars-depicted-naked-in-famous-video|title=Kanye West Gets Almost No Reactions From Stars Depicted Naked in "Famous" Video|work=E! Online|date=June 26, 2016|access-date=June 28, 2016|archive-date=June 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628150056/http://www.eonline.com/news/775796/kanye-west-gets-almost-no-reactions-from-stars-depicted-naked-in-famous-video|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2016, West embarked on the [[Saint Pablo Tour]] in support of ''The Life of Pablo.''<ref name="hhd" /> The performances featured a mobile stage suspended from the ceiling.<ref name="hhd">{{cite web|last1=Mitchell|first1=Chris|title=Kanye West Soars Above Crowd To Kick Off Saint Pablo Tour|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.40174/title.kanye-west-soars-above-crowd-to-kick-off-saint-pablo-tour|website=[[HipHopDX]]|date=August 26, 2016|access-date=October 14, 2016|archive-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018202042/http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.40174/title.kanye-west-soars-above-crowd-to-kick-off-saint-pablo-tour|url-status=live}}</ref> West postponed several dates in October following the Paris robbery of several of his wife's effects.<ref name="bbm">{{cite web|last1=Brandle|first1=Lars|title=Kanye West Reschedules 'Saint Pablo' Tour Dates Following Kim Kardashian Robbery|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7526747/kanye-west-reschedules-saint-pablo-tour-dates-kim-kardashia|website=[[Billboard Magazine]]|date=October 4, 2016|access-date=October 14, 2016|archive-date=October 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008021137/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7526747/kanye-west-reschedules-saint-pablo-tour-dates-kim-kardashia|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 21, 2016, West cancelled the remaining 21 dates on the Saint Pablo Tour, following a week of no-shows, curtailed concerts and rants about politics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-kanyewest/exhausted-kanye-west-hospitalized-cancels-tour-after-bizarre-rants-idUSKBN13G1X6|title='Exhausted' Kanye West Cancels Tour After Bizarre Rants|date=November 21, 2016|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141202/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-kanyewest/exhausted-kanye-west-hospitalized-cancels-tour-after-bizarre-rants-idUSKBN13G1X6|url-status=live}}</ref> He was later admitted for psychiatric observation at [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center|UCLA Medical Center]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kanye West Hospitalized After Canceling Tour: Sources |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kanye-walks-west-s-saint-pablo-tour-cancelled-following-beyonc-n686856 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |first1=Andrew |last1=Blankstein |first2=Alex |last2=Johnson |first3=Emma |last3=Margolin |date=November 21, 2016 |access-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124152023/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kanye-walks-west-s-saint-pablo-tour-cancelled-following-beyonc-n686856 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-kanye-west-hospitalized-kim-kardashian-public-20161122-story.html|title=Kanye West's doctor called 911 during breakdown, report says; Kim Kardashian skips public return|first=Christie|last=D'Zurilla|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 22, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=November 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123045938/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-kanye-west-hospitalized-kim-kardashian-public-20161122-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He stayed hospitalized over the Thanksgiving weekend because of a temporary psychosis stemming from sleep deprivation and extreme dehydration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-to-remain-hospitalized-over-thanksgiving-news.25692.html?|title=Kanye West enters hospital due to sleep deprivation and extreme dehydration|last=Lilah|first=Rose|date=November 24, 2016|website=Hotnewhiphop|access-date=November 24, 2016|archive-date=November 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125110208/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-to-remain-hospitalized-over-thanksgiving-news.25692.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following this episode West took an 11-month break from posting on Twitter and the public in general.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nevins|first1=Jake|title=Kanye West returns to Twitter, writing a philosophy book 'in real time'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/18/kanye-west-twitter-return-philosophy-book|website=The Guardian|date=April 18, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=April 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419140116/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/18/kanye-west-twitter-return-philosophy-book|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2017–2019: ''Ye'' and the Wyoming Sessions ===

{{Main|Ye (album)|Kids See Ghosts (album)}}
{{See also|Daytona (album)|Nasir (album)|K.T.S.E.}}

It was reported in May 2017 that West was recording new music in [[Jackson Hole, Wyoming]], with a wide range of collaborators.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kanye West Is Reportedly Busy Creating His Next Album ... On a Mountain|date=May 9, 2017|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/05/09/kanye-west-next-album/|access-date=April 19, 2018|archive-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420202857/https://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/05/09/kanye-west-next-album/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Everything We Know So Far About Kanye West's New Album|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/kanye-west-new-album-details-release-date/|access-date=April 19, 2018|archive-date=August 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831115341/https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/kanye-west-new-album-details-release-date/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2018, West announced plans to write a philosophy book entitled ''Break the Simulation'',<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Romano|first1=Nick|title=Kanye West says he's writing a philosophy book called Break the Simulation|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=April 14, 2018|url=https://ew.com/books/2018/04/14/kanye-west-book-philosophy-break-the-simulation/|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420135909/http://ew.com/books/2018/04/14/kanye-west-book-philosophy-break-the-simulation/|url-status=live}}</ref> later clarifying that he was sharing the book "in real time" on Twitter and began posting content that was likened to "[[life coaching]]".<ref name="Kanyelifecoach">{{cite news|last1=Raspers France|first1=Lisa|title=Kanye West is life coaching on Twitter|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/entertainment/kanye-west-twitter/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420003305/https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/entertainment/kanye-west-twitter/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, he also announced two new albums, a solo album and self-titled collaboration with Kid Cudi under the name [[Kids See Ghosts]], both of which would be released in June.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Strauss|first1=Matthew|title=Kanye Announces 2 New Albums, Including Kid Cudi Collaboration|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-announces-new-album-release-date/|website=Pitchfork|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-date=April 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419215045/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-announces-new-album-release-date/|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, he revealed he would produce upcoming albums by GOOD Music label-mates [[Pusha T]] and [[Teyana Taylor]], as well as [[Nas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-says-hes-producing-nas-new-album|title=Kanye Says He's Producing Nas' New Album|date=April 23, 2018|last=Wicks|first=Amanda|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423042727/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-says-hes-producing-nas-new-album/|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, West released the non-album singles "[[Lift Yourself]]" and "[[Ye vs. the People]]", in which he and [[T.I.]] discussed West's support of Donald Trump.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wicks |first1=Amanda |last2=Blais-Billie |first2=Braudie |title=Kanye West Drops New Song "Ye vs. the People" With T.I.: Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-premieres-new-song-ye-vs-the-people-with-ti/ |website=[[Pitchfork (magazine)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=June 7, 2018 |date=April 28, 2018 |archive-date=April 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428182336/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-premieres-new-song-ye-vs-the-people-with-ti/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pusha T's ''[[Daytona (album)|Daytona]]'', "the first project out of Wyoming", was released in May to critical acclaim, although the album's artwork—a photograph of deceased singer [[Whitney Houston]]'s bathroom that West paid $85,000 to license—attracted some controversy.<ref name="Recording">{{cite tweet |user=kanyewest |number=999777955894050816 |url=https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/999777955894050816 |title=Daytona is the first project out of Wyoming. I'm really proud of what we put together. We've spent a year and a half digging for samples and writing. I really appreciate the overwhelmingly positive response that we've been receiving. 🙏🙏🙏 x|access-date=May 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-debuts-new-album-ye-in-wyoming-listen/|title=Kanye West Unveils New Album YE {{!}} Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|date=June 2018|language=en|access-date=June 1, 2018|archive-date=June 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602011928/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-debuts-new-album-ye-in-wyoming-listen/|url-status=live}}</ref> The following week, West released his eighth studio album, ''[[Ye (album)|Ye]]''. West has suggested that he scrapped the original recordings of the album and re-recorded it within a month.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Skelton|first1=Erik|title=Kanye West Says He Completely Redid His Album After TMZ|url=https://pigeonsandplanes.com/news/2018/06/kanye-west-i-completely-redid-the-album-after-tmz|website=[[Pigeons & Planes]]|access-date=June 7, 2018|date=June 3, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605223749/https://pigeonsandplanes.com/news/2018/06/kanye-west-i-completely-redid-the-album-after-tmz|url-status=live}}</ref> The week after, West released a collaborative album with Kid Cudi, titled ''[[Kids See Ghosts (album)|Kids See Ghosts]]'', named after their group of the same name. West also completed production work on Nas' ''[[Nasir (album)|Nasir]]''<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8461315/hip-hop-community-reacts-to-nas-new-kanye-west-produced-album-nasir|title=The Hip-Hop Community Reacts to Nas' New Kanye West-Produced Album|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 19, 2019|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219130644/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8461315/hip-hop-community-reacts-to-nas-new-kanye-west-produced-album-nasir|url-status=live}}</ref> and Teyana Taylor's ''[[K.T.S.E.]]'', which were released in June 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-teyana-taylors-kanye-produced-new-album-ktse/|title=Listen to Teyana Taylor's Kanye-Produced New Album K.T.S.E.|website=Pitchfork|date=June 23, 2018|language=en|access-date=December 19, 2019|last1=Blais-Billie|first1=Braudie|last2=Strauss|first2=Matthew|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219130640/https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-teyana-taylors-kanye-produced-new-album-ktse/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September, West announced his ninth studio album ''[[Yandhi]]'' to be released by the end of the month and a collaborative album with fellow Chicagoan rapper Chance the Rapper titled ''Good Ass Job''. That same month, West announced that he would be changing his stage name to "Ye".<ref name="The Guardian 29 September 2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/29/hear-ye-kanye-west-announces-name-change-ahead-of-snl|title=Hear Ye: Kanye West announces name change ahead of SNL|date=September 29, 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=September 29, 2018|language=en|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413204952/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/29/hear-ye-kanye-west-announces-name-change-ahead-of-snl|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Yandhi'' was originally set for release in September 2018 but was postponed multiple times.<ref>{{cite web|last=Blais-Billie|first=Braudie|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-postpones-release-of-new-album-yandhi-again/|title=Kanye Postpones Release of New Album Yandhi Again|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=November 12, 2018|accessdate=December 28, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228084717/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-postpones-release-of-new-album-yandhi-again/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2019, West pulled out of headlining that year's Coachella festival after negotiations broke down due to discord regarding stage design.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Snapes|first1=Laura|title=Kanye West ruled out of Coachella after he demands a new stage|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/14/kanye-west-coachella-festival-custom-stage|website=The Guardian|access-date=January 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118210217/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/14/kanye-west-coachella-festival-custom-stage|archive-date=January 18, 2019|date=January 14, 2019}}</ref> In July, it was reported that songs from West's unreleased album ''Yandhi'' were leaked online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/07/kanye-west-yandhi-leak/|title=Songs From Kanye West's 'Yandhi' Have Apparently Leaked|date=July 18, 2019|website=Spin|access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511013238/https://www.spin.com/2019/07/kanye-west-yandhi-leak/|url-status=live}}</ref> The following month, Kim Kardashian announced that West's next album would be titled ''[[Jesus Is King]]'', effectively scrapping ''Yandhi''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-announces-new-album-jesus-king-next-month-check-tracklist-2543368|title=Kanye West confirms release date of new album 'Jesus Is King'|date=September 17, 2019|access-date=September 22, 2020|work=NME|first=Will|last=Richards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921203156/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-announces-new-album-jesus-king-next-month-check-tracklist-2543368|archive-date=September 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-says-new-album-jesus-is-king-is-out-this-week/|title=Kanye West Says New Album Jesus Is King Is Out This Week|website=Pitchfork|date=October 21, 2019|language=en|access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=October 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021060603/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-says-new-album-jesus-is-king-is-out-this-week/|url-status=live}}</ref> By October, the entire unfinished album was available for a short time on streaming services Spotify and Tidal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2019/10/kanye-west-yandhi-album-spotify-leak|title=Kanye West's 'YANDHI' Album "Leaks" on Spotify and TIDAL (UPDATE)|website=HypeBeast|date=October 8, 2019|access-date=March 3, 2020|archive-date=January 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111203102/https://hypebeast.com/2019/10/kanye-west-yandhi-album-spotify-leak|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2019–2022: ''Jesus Is King'', ''Donda'', and ''Donda 2'' ===
{{Main|Jesus Is King|Donda|Donda 2}}
On January 6, 2019, West started his weekly "[[Sunday Service (group)|Sunday Service]]" events, which included soul variations of both West's and others' songs and were attended by multiple celebrities, including the Kardashians, [[Charlie Wilson (singer)|Charlie Wilson]], and Kid Cudi.<ref name="Hearst Magazine Media, Inc.">{{cite web |last1=Penrose |first1=Nerisha |title=Everything You Need to Know About Kanye West's Sunday Services |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a26962861/kanye-west-sunday-services-location-videos-attendees/ |website=Elle |access-date=March 28, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032616/https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a26962861/kanye-west-sunday-services-location-videos-attendees/ |url-status=live }}</ref> West previewed a new song, "[[Water (Kanye West song)|Water]]" at his "Sunday Service" orchestration performance at Coachella 2019,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/21/entertainment/kanye-west-new-song-water/index.html|title=Kanye West debuts new song 'Water' during Sunday Service at Coachella|last=Vera|first=Amir|publisher=CNN|date=April 21, 2019|access-date=April 23, 2019|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032617/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/21/entertainment/kanye-west-new-song-water/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which was later revealed to feature on his upcoming album ''[[Jesus Is King]]'';<ref name="track">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/new-kanye-west-album-jesus-is-king-878415/|title=Kim Kardashian Teases Track List for New Kanye West Album 'Jesus Is King'|date=August 29, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|access-date=November 1, 2019|first=Charles|last=Holmes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914093002/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/new-kanye-west-album-jesus-is-king-878415/|archive-date=September 14, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> West released the album on October 25, 2019.<ref name="Ryan2019">{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Patrick |title=Review: Kanye West finds God (and Chick-fil-A) on frustrating new album 'Jesus is King' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/10/25/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-imax-film-album/4089656002/ |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |access-date=October 28, 2019 |language=en |quote="Jesus is King," the rapper's most clear-cut foray into Christian hip hop, was released midday Friday after multiple delays and tracklist changes. |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032629/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/10/25/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-review-imax-film-album/4089656002/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It became the first to ever top the ''Billboard'' 200, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Top Rap Albums, Top Christian Albums and Top Gospel Albums at the same time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-wests-jesus-is-king-makes-history-hot-christian-songs-hot-gospel-songs-charts-1253139|title=Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Makes History on Hot Christian Songs, Hot Gospel Songs Charts|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 7, 2019|language=en|access-date=November 28, 2019|archive-date=November 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107193947/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-wests-jesus-is-king-makes-history-hot-christian-songs-hot-gospel-songs-charts-1253139|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 25, 2019, West and Sunday Service released ''[[Jesus Is Born]]'', containing 19 songs, including several re-workings of older West songs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/25/entertainment/kanye-west-jesus-is-born-trnd/index.html |title=Kanye West dropped a new album on Christmas and called it—what else?—'Jesus Is Born' |publisher=C.N.N. Entertainment |editor-last=Asmelash |editor-first=Leah |date=December 25, 2019 |access-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032632/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/25/entertainment/kanye-west-jesus-is-born-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

West released a single titled "[[Wash Us in the Blood]]" on June 30, 2020, featuring fellow American rapper and singer [[Travis Scott]], along with the music video, which was set to serve as the lead single from his tenth studio album ''[[Donda]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Welch|first=Will|url=https://www.gq.com/story/inside-kanye-west-vision-for-the-future-cover-may-2020|title=Inside Kanye West's Vision for the Future|website=GQ|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=July 13, 2020|archive-date=April 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415223343/https://www.gq.com/story/inside-kanye-west-vision-for-the-future-cover-may-2020|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in September 2020, West stated that he would not be releasing any further music until he is "done with [his] contract with Sony and Universal".<ref>{{cite web |title=Kanye West Says He Won't Release New Music Until Freed From Sony and Universal Contracts |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/9/kanye-west-not-releasing-new-music-until-freed-from-sony-universal-contracts |website=HypeBeast |date=September 15, 2020 |access-date=October 2, 2020 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032636/https://hypebeast.com/2020/9/kanye-west-not-releasing-new-music-until-freed-from-sony-universal-contracts |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 16, he released the single "[[Nah Nah Nah]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Kanye West Remixes "Nah Nah Nah" With DaBaby & 2 Chainz|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-remixes-nah-nah-nah-with-dababy-and-2-chainz-new-song.1989328.html|access-date=December 6, 2020|website=HotNewHipHop|date=November 13, 2020|language=en|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113143332/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-remixes-nah-nah-nah-with-dababy-and-2-chainz-new-song.1989328.html|url-status=live}}</ref> West held several listening parties at [[Mercedes-Benz Stadium]] for his upcoming album ''Donda'' in the summer of 2021, where he had taken up temporary residence in one of the stadium's locker rooms, converting it into a recording studio to finish the recording.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Abubaker|first=Mustafa|date=July 23, 2021|title=We Still Don't Know What's on Kanye's Mind|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-donda-premiere-review-1201351/|access-date=July 27, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726150941/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-donda-premiere-review-1201351/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=July 26, 2021|title=Kanye West living in Atlanta stadium to work on new album|url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-hip-hop-and-rap-kanye-west-adad6ab7856b767e49ee4bc847c42e42|access-date=July 27, 2021|publisher=Associated Press|language=en|archive-date=July 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727034724/https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-hip-hop-and-rap-kanye-west-adad6ab7856b767e49ee4bc847c42e42|url-status=live}}</ref> After multiple delays, ''Donda'' was released on August 29, 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|title=Kanye West Finally Releases 'Donda' to Streaming Services|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-donda-streaming-services-1218346/|access-date=August 29, 2021|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=August 29, 2021|language=en|archive-date=August 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829153643/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-donda-streaming-services-1218346/|url-status=live}}</ref> West claimed the album was released early without his approval and alleged that Universal had altered the tracklist.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kanye West: Donda released by Universal without my say, artist claims |publisher=BBC News |date=August 30, 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58383576 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032704/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58383576 |url-status=live }}</ref> He released a deluxe edition of ''Donda'', including five new songs, to streaming services on November 14, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 16, 2021|title=Ye (Formerly Kanye West) Releases 'Donda' Deluxe Edition Featuring New Big Names|url=https://americansongwriter.com/ye-formerly-kanye-west-releases-donda-deluxe-edition-featuring-new-big-names/|access-date=November 22, 2021|website=American Songwriter|language=en-US|archive-date=May 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524044633/https://americansongwriter.com/ye-formerly-kanye-west-releases-donda-deluxe-edition-featuring-new-big-names/|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 20, days after ending their long-running feud,<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Brandle|first=Lars|date=November 17, 2021|title=No More War? Drake and Kanye West Pose For Photographs|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/drake-ye-reconcile-photographs-1234998304/|access-date=November 22, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032704/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/drake-ye-reconcile-photographs-1234998304/|url-status=live}}</ref> West and rapper [[Drake (musician)|Drake]] confirmed that they would stage the "Free [[Larry Hoover]]" benefit concert on December 9 at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|title=Kanye West and Drake Confirm 'Free Larry Hoover' Benefit Concert|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-drake-free-larry-hoover-benefit-concert-1260723/|date=November 20, 2021|access-date=November 21, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032709/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-drake-free-larry-hoover-benefit-concert-1260723/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 5, 2022, West was announced as one of the 2022 headliners of [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Brooks|first=Dave|title=Kanye West to Headline Coachella 2022, Considering Sunday Service|url=https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/coachella-2022-kanye-west-billie-eilish-headliners-1235015988/|date=January 5, 2022|access-date=January 5, 2022|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=August 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804080420/https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/coachella-2022-kanye-west-billie-eilish-headliners-1235015988/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month on January 15, West released the first single for his upcoming album ''[[Donda 2]]'', "[[Eazy (Kanye West & The Game song)|Eazy]]" featuring [[The Game (rapper)|The Game]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=January 15, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |title=Kanye West Calls Out Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson On New Track 'Eazy' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-the-game-eazy-drop-1284695/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220115082443/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-the-game-eazy-drop-1284695/ |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> to be executive produced by American rapper [[Future (rapper)|Future]].<ref name="ReleaseDate">{{cite magazine|last=Jones|first=Marcus|date=January 27, 2022|title=Kanye West shares ''Donda 2'' release date, Future is executive producer|url=https://ew.com/music/kanye-west-donda-2-release-date-future-executive-producer/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=January 28, 2022|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127191544/https://ew.com/music/kanye-west-donda-2-release-date-future-executive-producer/|url-status=live}}</ref> West hosted a listening event for the album at [[LoanDepot Park]] in Miami, Florida, on February 22.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=February 13, 2022|title=Kanye West Sets 'Donda 2' 2.22.22 Event in Miami. Kid Cudi Likely Won't Be There|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-donda-2-22222-event-miami-kid-cudi-beef-1299424/|access-date=February 16, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032725/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-donda-2-22222-event-miami-kid-cudi-beef-1299424/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April, shortly before Coachella, West pulled out as headlining act,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/kanye-west-pulls-out-of-coachella-1235224072/|title=Kanye West Pulls Out of Coachella|work=Variety|first1=Jem|last1=Aswad|date=April 4, 2022|access-date=December 29, 2023|archive-date=August 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819010240/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/kanye-west-pulls-out-of-coachella-1235224072/|url-status=live}}</ref> then proceeded to pull out of headlining [[Rolling Loud]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Peters|first=Mitchell|title=Kanye West Pulls Out of Rolling Loud Miami 2022 Headlining Set|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-cancels-rolling-loud-miami-2022-performance-1235115265/|date=July 17, 2022|access-date=July 17, 2022|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032727/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-cancels-rolling-loud-miami-2022-performance-1235115265/|url-status=live}}</ref> West and The Game performed the single on July 22, marking West's first performance in five months following the low profile he had been keeping since ''Donda 2'' remained unfinished.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=July 10, 2022 |title=Kanye West Returns to Stage to Deliver 'Eazy' at the Game's L.A. Show |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-returns-eazy-at-the-game-la-show-1380457/ |access-date=July 11, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032726/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-returns-eazy-at-the-game-la-show-1380457/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A day later, despite cancelling as headliner, he appeared at Rolling Loud during [[Lil Durk]]'s set.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-after-canceling-headlining-set-shows-up-at-rolling-loud-to-do-hot-shit-with-lil-durk/|title=Kanye West, After Canceling Headlining Set, Shows Up at Rolling Loud to Do "Hot Shit" With Lil Durk|work=Pitchfork|first=Allison|last=Hussey|date=July 23, 2022|access-date=December 29, 2023|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032733/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-after-canceling-headlining-set-shows-up-at-rolling-loud-to-do-hot-shit-with-lil-durk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2022, after [[Views of Kanye West#Race and antisemitism|weeks of controversial antisemitic statements]], West released a new song "Someday We'll All Be Free" on his Instagram.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-someday-well-all-be-free-new-song-infowars-1234643524/|title=Kanye West Vents About the Consequences of His Actions on New Track|first1=Andre|last1=Gee|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 8, 2022|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032733/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-someday-well-all-be-free-new-song-infowars-1234643524/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2023–present: ''Vultures'' trilogy and ''Y3'' ===
{{Main|Vultures 1}}
[[File:YS Bologna 2024.jpg|thumb|¥$ listening party in [[Bologna, Italy]], for ''[[Vultures 1]]'' (2024)]]
On August 25, 2023, West was reported to be in the process of recording his eleventh studio album, with two sources close to him stating that the release of new music was "imminent".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=August 25, 2023 |title=Ye plans to drop a new album |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/ye-plans-drop-new-album-rcna101889 |access-date=October 14, 2023 |website=NBC News |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119023619/https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/ye-plans-drop-new-album-rcna101889 |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 13, [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']] reported that West had finished recording a [[Vultures (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign album)|collaborative studio album]] with [[Ty Dolla Sign]] and was in the process of shopping the album to distributors, adding that the album was originally intended for an official release that day but was ultimately pushed back for unknown reasons and expected to drop within the coming weeks.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stutz |first=Colin |date=October 13, 2023 |title=Kanye West Is Shopping a New Album to Distributors |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/kanye-west-new-album-ty-dolla-sign-shopping-distributors/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=October 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128012339/https://www.billboard.com/pro/kanye-west-new-album-ty-dolla-sign-shopping-distributors/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 23, Ty Dolla Sign announced that he and West would be holding a "multi-stadium listening event" on November 3 to promote their collaborative project.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coleman II|first=Vernon|date=October 23, 2023|title=Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign Hosting Multi-Stadium Listening Event for New Album in November|work=[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-hosting-multi-stadium-listening-event-new-album/|access-date=October 23, 2023|archive-date=October 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024014546/https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-hosting-multi-stadium-listening-event-new-album/|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 22, 2023, West and Ty Dolla Sign released the eponymous lead single for the album, "[[Vultures (song)|Vultures]]" featuring [[Bump J]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Sam |date=November 22, 2023 |title=Lil Durk Seemingly Reacts To Being Cut From Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's 'Vultures' Single |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/lil-durk-kanye-west-vultures-removed-reaction |access-date=November 22, 2023 |website=[[HipHopDX]] |language=en |archive-date=November 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122130556/https://hiphopdx.com/news/lil-durk-kanye-west-vultures-removed-reaction |url-status=live }}</ref> Two additional versions of the song were later released: A version of the song featuring [[Lil Durk]] alongside Bump J on November 23, 2023, and a version of the song produced by [[Mobb Deep]] rapper [[Havoc (musician)|Havoc]] on February 8, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mendez |first=Marisa |date=November 24, 2023 |title=Lil Durk Fans Rejoice As He's Reinstated On Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's 'Vultures' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/lil-durk-reinstated-kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=[[HipHopDX]] |language=en |archive-date=February 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216073552/https://hiphopdx.com/news/lil-durk-reinstated-kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Saponara |first=Michael |date=February 8, 2024 |title=Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign Release Ominous 'Vultures (Havoc Version)' Video Ahead of New Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-ty-dolla-dign-vultures-havoc-version-video-1235603380/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=February 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211012442/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-ty-dolla-dign-vultures-havoc-version-video-1235603380/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

West and Ty Dolla $ign held several listening parties prior to the release of ''Vultures'', including "Vultures Rave" performances in [[Miami]] and [[Las Vegas]] in December 2023 and listening parties at [[United Center]] in Chicago and [[UBS Arena]] in the New York City area on February 7 and 8, 2024. On January 23, 2024, West released a trailer for ''Vultures'' directed by [[Jon Rafman]]. Through the trailer, West announced that ''Vultures'' would instead be released as a trilogy of albums, with each of the album's three volumes set to be released on February 9, March 6, and April 5, 2024. In January 2024, Kanye West co-signed [[4Batz]] and called him his favorite new artist.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kanye West Calls TikTok Sensation 4Batz His New Favorite Artist|url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/kanye-west-tiktok-4batz-new-favorite-artist-1234846807/|access-date=February 16, 2024|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=January 31, 2024 |language=en|archive-date=February 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217041724/https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/kanye-west-tiktok-4batz-new-favorite-artist-1234846807/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/758727-kanye-west-4batz-industry-plant-hip-hop-news|title=Kanye West Co-Signs 4batz Again And Prompts A Plethora Of "Industry Plant" Accusations|work=[[HotNewHipHop]]|last=Cole|first=Alexander|date=January 21, 2024|accessdate=February 20, 2024|archive-date=February 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222190623/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/758727-kanye-west-4batz-industry-plant-hip-hop-news|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 8, 2024, West released the first volume's second single, "[[Talking / Once Again]]" featuring his eldest daughter North, as well as a compilation pack entitled ''Vultures Pack'' composed of the eponymous song's three released versions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cummings-Grady |first=Mackenzie Cummings-Grady |date=February 7, 2024 |title=Kanye and North West Plus Ty Dolla Sign and His Daughter Come Together in 'Talking / Once Again' Video |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-north-west-talking-once-again-video/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=XXL Mag |language=en |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207231932/https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-north-west-talking-once-again-video/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=February 10, 2024 |title=Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign Release New Album Vultures 1 |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-and-ty-dolla-sign-release-new-album-vultures-1/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US |archive-date=February 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211030525/https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-and-ty-dolla-sign-release-new-album-vultures-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 9, 2024, during an interview of [[Erick Sermon]] on the ''Bootleg Kev'' podcast, Sermon revealed that West's upcoming eleventh studio album was titled ''Y3'', while also stating that he had originally contributed to ''Y3'' in May – June 2023 and later contributed to ''Vultures'' after traveling to [[Florence]] and discovering West had switched his focus entirely towards the latter project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cummings-Grady |first=Mackenzie |date=February 9, 2024 |title=Kanye West's Next Solo Album Is Called Y3, Erick Sermon Says |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-y3-album/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=XXL Mag |language=en |archive-date=February 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210203053/https://www.xxlmag.com/kanye-west-y3-album/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On February 10, 2024, hours after West held a listening party at UBS Arena, the first volume of the ''Vultures'' trilogy, entitled ''[[Vultures 1]]'', was officially released.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=February 10, 2024 |title=Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign Finally Release 'Vultures 1' Album |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/kanye-west-ty-dolla-ign-finally-release-vultures-album-1235906767/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=February 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210154448/https://variety.com/2024/music/news/kanye-west-ty-dolla-ign-finally-release-vultures-album-1235906767/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lamarre |first=Carl |date=February 10, 2024 |title=Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign Team Up for New Album 'Vultures 1': Stream It Now |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-1-album-stream-it-now-1235558698/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=February 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210213649/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-1-album-stream-it-now-1235558698/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The album debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, becoming West eleventh consecutive and Ty Dolla Sign's first number one album, respectively.<ref name=":02">{{Cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=February 18, 2024 |title=Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's 'Vultures 1' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-1-debuts-number-one-billboard-200-albums-chart-1235610342/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218201249/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-1-debuts-number-one-billboard-200-albums-chart-1235610342/ |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |access-date=February 18, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>