Kanye West

West in 2009, Miro Vrlik Photography LLC / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Kanye Omari West

Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

Date of Birth: June 8, 1977

Ethnicity: African-American

Kanye West is an American hip hop recording artist, rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer, entrepreneur, actor, and far-right conspiracy theorist. His legal name has been Ye since 2021. He produced singles for prominent artists before turning to a solo music career, with a style often sampling traditional soul music; utilizing orchestras, synthesizers, and autotune, and partaking in Christian music and gospel. He founded record label GOOD Music; founded, and has been head of, creative content company Donda; and created clothing and footwear for Nike, Louis Vuitton, Gap, A.P.C., and Balenciaga, as well as Adidas’s Yeezy brand. His music has sold over 160 million records worldwide. He is also known as Yeezus, Saint Pablo, Yeezy, and Louis Vuitton Don.

He was The Birthday Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 2020. He was also an independent candidate for President of the United States in 2024.

Kanye was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and moved to Chicago, Illinois, with his mother at the age of three, living in Oak Lawn. His father, Ray West, was a member of the Black Panthers and a photojournalist, and is now a Christian counselor. His mother, Dr. Donda C. (Williams) West, who died in 2007, was a professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, and Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University. Donda raised Kanye as a single mother. He is a cousin of producer and songwriter Devo Harris and singer and songwriter The Wrldfms Tony Williams.

The name Kanye is an Igbo, West African name, and the name of a town in Botswana.

Kanye is married to Australian-Italian architect, designer, entrepeneur, and model Bianca Censori. He has four children, including singer and actress North West, with his former wife, television and social media personality, actress, socialite, and model Kim Kardashian.

Kanye is a devout Christian.

Kanye’s paternal grandfather was James Frederick West, Sr. (the son of Virgil Henry West and Estella/Stella Selby). James was born in Delaware. Virgil was the son of Handy B. West, whose parents were free people of color, and of Mary Holloway.

Kanye’s paternal grandmother was Fannie Mae/B. Hooks (the daughter of Early Hooks and Mary Rolfe/Row). Fannie was born in Arkansas. Early was the son of Elsie Hooks. Mary was the daughter of Lott/Lot Rolfe.

Kanye’s maternal grandfather was named Portwood Williams (the son of John Williams and Clara). Portwood was born in Oklahoma, and was a civil rights activist.

Kanye’s maternal grandmother was Lucille/Lucyle E. Eckles (the daughter of Clarence Anthony Eckles and Beuloh/Beulah M. Jones). Lucille was born in Oklahoma. Clarence was the son of Samuel Morris Eckles/Eckels and Mary Jane Watley.

Kanye West with daughter North West in 2015, photo by Prphotos

Sources: http://findarticles.com

Article about Kanye’s ancestry, by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak – https://medium.com

Genealogy of Kanye West – http://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Kanye West (focusing on his father’s side) – http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com

Kanye’s paternal grandfather, James Frederick West, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Kanye’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Handy B. West, on the 1860 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Kanye’s paternal grandmother, Fannie Mae/B. Hooks, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy and obituary of Kanye’s mother – https://old.findagrave.com