10 Things You Should Know About Birthday Boy Kanye West

As rapper Kanye West turns a year older we get you some facts you should now about the rapper.

As Kanye West turns a year older we get you some fun facts you might not know about this American rapper, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and fashion designer. Phew!

1. Kanye’s First Pay

Kanye sold his first beat to local Chicago rapper Gravity for $8,800 and used the money to buy a Jesus showpiece and a polo.

2. His Mother Got Him His Big Break

West’s late mother Donda, a professor of English retired from teaching to become her son’s manager for the early part of his career. She was the person who got Kanye his big break. It was she, who spoke to Hip-hop and R&B producer No ID’s mom and after being nagged by his mom over and over again No ID had no other option but to take Kanye under his wings and the rest is history.

3. Beyond Music

Kanye launched an online travel company called ‘Kanye Travel Ventures’ (KTV) through his official website in 2008.

4. Controversy’s Favourite Child

West has been an outspoken and controversial celebrity throughout his career. From posing as Jesus for the cover of Rolling Stone to accusing former President George Bush of not “caring about black people”, he has done it all.

5. Taylor Swift Gets Kanyed!

But the infamous Taylor Swift Gate incident at the 2009 VMAs stunned one and all. The night of 2009 VMAs, while Taylor Swift was giving her acceptance speech for Best Female Video for You Belong With Me, Kanye West got onto the stage and interrupted her; he took her microphone, and expressed his displeasure saying it should have been Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ that should have won. Kanye was not only booed by the audience but was also removed from the remaining part of the show.

6. Escape Strategy

After this infamous incident, West escaped to Japan, then Rome, before finally moving to Hawaii for 6 months to start working on music again.

7. Kanye’s Burger Joint

After he had sufficiently established himself in the music industry, West started his own restaurant. After some haggling and a financial hitch, Kanye’s restaurant Fatburger opened its doors in 2008. But it was forced to shut down by 2011, citing financial instabilities.

8. Grammy Star

West was the most nominated artist at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards with 10 nods, and he took home three trophies - Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song for Jesus Walks and Best R&B Song for producing Alicia Keys’ You Don’t Know My Name. West has won a total of 21 Grammy Awards, making him one of the most awarded artists of all-time.

9. Kanye the Porn Star?

After finding one of his father’s porn stash at an early age, West has always been open about his fascination with the adult industry. In an interview, Kanye admitted that he’d nearly released his own sex tape at one point, but ultimately decided against it as “it would have some hinderance to some of the other stuff” that he was currently doing. Well, may be not soon but who knows whats lies in the future. Also, if ‘sex tape’ is what he is thinking about, he is certainly married to the right woman.

10. Kanye is Worth It!

Kanye’s current net worth is estimated at around $120 million. That’s a lot of money for a college dropout!