Kanye Omari West born. June 8, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States is an American rapper, singer and producer. He is the winner of 14 Grammy Awards. His recordings have a worldwide circulation of over 15 million copies. As a music producer he has collaborated with Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, T.I. and others. Kanye was born and raised in Chicago by his photojournalist father and mother, a university professor. Unlike most rappers, he didn't experience the world of dirty back alleys and crack dealing as he grew up in a well-to-do middle-class family.