Prior to working on his own solo album, Kanye produced for such notable artists as Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Cam'ron, Janet Jackson, Brandy, Talib Kweli, Dilated Peoples, Chamillionaire, Ludacris, Carter Hays, and John Legend. It was Kanye’s production work on Jay-Z's critically-acclaimed 2001 album, The Blueprint, that raised his profile as a major player in the hip hop scene.

The catalyst for the spiritual smash-hits that Kanye is best known for was a near-fatal car crash in October 2002. Two weeks after the accident, he recorded "Through the Wire," featured on his debut solo album The College Dropout, which was released in 2004. On "Through the Wire," Kanye mumbles through the lyrics; his jaw was still wired shut at the time of recording. Another single from The College Dropout, "Jesus Walks," was also a hit and a further testament to his renewed Christianity. The album went on to win Best Rap Album at the 2005 Grammy awards, for which he was the most nominated artist of the year with ten nominations.

In 2005 Kanye released his second album, Late Registration. Once again he won Best Rap Album at the Grammy’s, as well as Best Rap Song for "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" and Best Rap Solo Performance for the track "Gold Digger," which features Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx.

Kanye has already announced that his third album will be titled Graduation; his fourth, A Good Ass Job. Both albums will be released under Kanye’s own record label, GOOD Music (Getting Out Our Dreams). Kanye has also started his own fashion line, Pastelle Clothing, under the GOOD franchise.

Kanye has contributed his talent and profile to various charitable endeavors but some of his accompanying political statements have been met with controversy. At the Philadelphia Live 8 concert in 2005, he made reference to "man-made diseases placed in African communities." That same year he appeared as a featured speaker on NBC’s A Concert for Hurricane Relief, stating, "George Bush doesn't care about black people," while Mike Myers, also a featured speaker, looked on uncomfortably. He has also drawn parallels between African Americans and the gay community in the struggle for equality, and chastised, "Everyone in hip hop discriminates against gay people."

In January of 2006, Kanye posed for the cover of Rolling Stone wearing a crown of thorns, which was met with controversy from America's Catholic League. He is also reported to have a mural in his home painted in the image of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, featuring his own face in place of the disciples.

Kanye is known for frequently making boastful statements that tend to overshadow his accomplishments and talent in the press. When asked about being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2004, he told RelishNow magazine, "I am not one of the most influential and innovative talents – I am the most influential and innovative". At the 2004 American Music Awards, he took issue with losing the award for Best New Artist to country songstress, Gretchen Wilson, stating, "I was the best new artist this year" and then later echoed the sentiment at the Billboard Music Awards, stating, "I still think I am the greatest."

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