As author Ben Sweetland once said, “Success is a journey, not a destination.” Kanye West has been an icon of American hip-hop culture for over a decade. . His music, fashion line, production skills and flamboyant personality influenced many people for generations to come. Coming out of Chicago, many people in the music industry didn't even think Kanye had a chance to become a hip-hop figure, but his hard work and perseverance paid off. Kanye began his music career as a producer. He has produced music for major artists such as Common and Jay-Z. His first major breakthrough came from producing Jay-Z's "The Blueprint," which was certified 2x platinum. Kanye believed he could also become a successful rapper, but music executives didn't believe he had it in him. That all changed when Roc-A-Fella Records signed Kanye to their label and gave him a chance to shine as a rapper. Kanye's journey, critical analysis, and prominence all show that he has become one of the most important figures in American hip-hop culture to date. Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta, Georgia on June 8, 1977. He and his mother soon moved to Chicago, Illinois after his parents divorced. Kanye spent his entire youth in Chicago. He spent his time during the school year with his mother, who was an English teacher, and spent his summers with his father, who was an award-winning photographer and later became a religious counselor. “I was taught to think for myself growing up, which is something a lot of black kids don't understand” (Newsmakers 2). In high school, he befriended producer No ID, who worked with rapper Common before becoming famous. This is where Kanye got his start in the production industry. Kanye Wen... middle of paper ...... hard work and perseverance helped him achieve his goal of becoming a major hip-hop star. Once he got his first chance to become a hip-hop star with the release of his debut album, everyone began to see the true side of Kanye. Her flamboyant fashion sense and outspoken personality showed us her true side. Like it or not, his music has inspired and touched the lives of many aspiring hip-hop artists, making him one of the most influential people in America. Works Cited “About Kanye West.” MTV Artists. Np, and Web. November 26, 2013. “Kanye West Biography.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, and Web. November 25, 2013. “Kanye West.” PEOPLE.com. Np, and Web. November 26, 2013.Trickey, Erick. “Kanye West.” Journalists. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Student Resources in Context. Internet. November 25, 2013. “World Biography.” Kanye West biography. Np, and Web. November 26. 2013.