Kanye West Then & Now: Photos of the Rapper From His Young Days to Superstardom

The rapper and entrepreneur’s career has changed a lot over the years. See photos of him from the beginning to now, here.

Kanye West first made his mark with the 2004 album The College Dropout. His following albums include Late Registration (2005); Graduation (2007); 808s & Heartbreak (2008); My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010); Yeezus (2013); The Life of Pablo (2016); Donda (2021), Vultures (2023) and more.

West has also been the subject of deep controversy. After he sold antisemitic merchandise and was dropped by several brands, the rapper formally apologized to Jewish people in a January 2026 letter via The Wall Street Journal. 

“Twenty-five years ago, I was in a car accident that broke my jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of my brain,” West explained. “At the time, the focus was on the visible damage — the fracture, the swelling, and the immediate physical trauma. The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed.”

He added, “It does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”

Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of Kanye West over his years in the spotlight.

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