Kanye West

=== 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>