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

                                                                                                          By:
                                                                                                          December 19, 2023 10:00AM EST
                                                                                                          Kanye West
                                                                                                          Shutterstock

                                                                                                          The rapper and entrepreneur’s career has changed over the years. See photos of him, 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) and Vultures (2023). Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of Kanye West over his years in the spotlight.

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                           

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In NYC

                                                                                                          Kanye West In NYC
                                                                                                          Jim Cooper/AP/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West poses on a rooftop in the Soho section of New York. He was on the cusp of superstardom.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West Wins At The 2005 Grammys

                                                                                                          Kanye West Wins At The 2005 Grammys
                                                                                                          Jim Smeal/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West juggles three trophies backstage at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 13, 2005. He looked handsome in an all white suit for his big night.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2006

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2006
                                                                                                          Henry Lamb/BEI/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West attends an event celebrating Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs on Oct. 16, 2006. He looked laid back in grey.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2007

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2007
                                                                                                          Steve Black/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West takes the stage during the T on the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland on Aug. 16, 2007. He got the crowd going.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2008

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2008
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                                                                                                          Kanye West is preppy in glasses and a bow tie during Yves Saint Laurent’s Autumn / Winter 2008 – 2009 show at Paris Fashion Week on Feb. 28, 2008. He snapped a photo back at the photographer.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West & Amber Rose In 2009

                                                                                                          Kanye West & Amber Rose In 2009
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                                                                                                          Kanye West and Amber Rose attend amfAR’s Inaugural Milan Fashion Week Event on Sep. 28, 2009. The then-couple looked cool in leather. Their relationship would last from 2008 to 2010 but later Kanye would cruelly mock his ex in an internet spat with her baby daddy Wiz Khalifa.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2010

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2010
                                                                                                          Amanda Schwab/Starpix/Shuttersto

                                                                                                          Kanye West dons all black for Rodarte’s Spring 201 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York on Sep. 14, 2010. He looked cool while leaning against the wall.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West At The 2011 Met Gala

                                                                                                          Kanye West At The 2011 Met Gala
                                                                                                          John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West is sharp at the 2011 Costume Institute Gala Benefit celebrating ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’ on May 2, 2011. While he’s known for his fashion-forward approach to the red carpet, he looked classic in his black tux.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2011

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2011
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                                                                                                          Kanye West attends Celine’s Spring Summer 2012 fashion show during Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 2, 2011. He wore a jean jacket and cross necklace with casual duds.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2013

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2013
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                                                                                                          Kanye West is all smiles at Celine’s Autumn Winter 2013 show during Paris Fashion Week on Mar. 3, 2013. He wore a denim look with a fur coat.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West & Kim Kardashian In 2014

                                                                                                          Kanye West & Kim Kardashian In 2014
                                                                                                          Broadimage/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kim Kardashian holds onto Kanye West’s arm while out and about in Los Angeles onMar. 14, 2014. She wore a red dress and gold heels, clearly before Kayne took over her fashion choices.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West & North West In 2015

                                                                                                          Kanye West & North West In 2015
                                                                                                          Broadimage/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West takes their daughter North West to ballet class in LA on Nov. 11, 2015. She looked so cute in her olive dance ensemble.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West At The 2016 VMAs

                                                                                                          Kanye West At The 2016 VMAs
                                                                                                          Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutt

                                                                                                          Kanye West throws his hands up while on stage at the VMAs. He wore a white shirt with the name of his track ‘Famous’ written on it in a small type and spoke passionately about gun violence and other social topics.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2017

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2017
                                                                                                          Mediapunch/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West rocks blonde locks while out and about in New York on Feb. 13, 2017. Proving he was his own best advertisement, he donned a Yeezy jacket and looked so cool.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2018

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2018
                                                                                                          Nam Y Huh/AP/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          All stars! Kanye West holds his son Saint as he waves to fans before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox in Chicago on Sep. 23, 2018. It was a cute father and son bonding moment.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2019

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2019
                                                                                                          Michael Wyke/AP/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West answers questions from Sr. pastor Joel Osteen during the 11 am service at Lakewood Church, in Houston, Texas on Nov. 17, 2019. Kanye has been vocal about his Christian faith through his career, and even began making gospel music later in his career.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2021

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2021
                                                                                                          MediaPunch/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West makes a surprise guest performance during Future’s set at Rolling Loud California in San Bernadino, California on December 12, 2021. He wore work boots on stage for the festival.

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                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2022

                                                                                                          Kanye West In 2022
                                                                                                          MediaPunch/Shutterstock

                                                                                                          Kanye West attends a game between the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Miami on Mar. 12, 2022. He was with then-girlfriend Chaney Jones.

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