Kanye West Rapper/Producer Chicago-born Kanye West, one of today’s most original and controversial artists first rose to prominence as a producer for Jay-Z at Roc-A-Fella Records, and later as an MC. His Post–Hurricane Katrina remarks about President George Bush and subsequent awards-show stunts, however, have made him notorious as well. Love him or hate him, he continues to push hip hop’s boundaries with his music, lyrics and visual creativity. West debuted his extended video for “Runaway” like a Hollywood premiere at the Sunshine Theater in New York City.
