Kanye West is an American rapper, singer, and fashion designer best known for being one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. He was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Ray West and Donda West. After his parents divorced, the future artist moved with his mother to Chicago where he would spend the majority of his childhood. Even at a young age, West showed great interest in the arts by writing poetry and selling his own musical compositions. After shortly attending Chicago State University, the aspiring rapper dropped out to pursue his musical career full-time.
Before he became a highly acclaimed artist, West started out as a producer for underground artists in Chicago. In 2000, he began producing music for Roc-A-Fella and had significant contributions to artists such as Jay-Z, Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. One of the record label’s co-founders, Damon Dash, eventually signed West as a recording artist to prevent him from moving to another company. In 2002, the rapper got into a serious car accident which later prompted him to finally record his hit debut single “Through the Wire.”
Since his debut in 2004, West would go on to produce more than ten albums to critical and commercial successes. In 2020, Rolling Stone included the rapper’s first six albums in the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” The list included “The College Dropout” (2004), “Late Registration” (2005), “Graduation” (2007), “808s & Heartbreak” (2008), “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (2010), and “Yeezus” (2013). Throughout his career, West has won 24 Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, and a Billboard Artist Achievement Award.
Nowadays, the rapper’s name is almost synonymous with controversy. From feuding with his ex-wife’s boyfriend to airing polarizing comments, West has apparently been on a downward spiral since his divorce. On top of everything, the rapper’s sexuality is also being questioned. So, is Kanye West gay? Let’s find out once and for all.
VOTE: What is Kanye West’s Sexuality?
Kanye West’s High-Profile Relationships
Unlike other rappers, West didn’t subscribe to the gangster persona. However, he wasn’t immune to one of the stereotype’s defining traits: a long list of high-profile relationships. When it comes to his love life, the rapper has had his ups and downs including a very public divorce. Here’s a breakdown of all of West’s partners throughout the years.
Kanye West and Sumeke Rainey (1996-2004)
Before his big break, West dated his high school sweetheart, Sumeke Rainey. Not much is known about their relationship but Rainey did get an honorable mention in one of the rapper’s tracks in his debut album, “The College Dropout.” It’s unclear whether they were still together when West released his first record. However, sources state that the couple were officially broken up in 2004.
Kanye West and Alexis Phifer (2002-2008)
At the beginning of his career, West was also linked to designer, Alexis Phifer. The pair dated on and off for four years before the rapper popped the question. According to reports, West proposed to his long-time girlfriend over dinner while on vacation in Capri. Unfortunately, their engagement didn’t survive the scrutiny that came with the rapper’s intense fame. They eventually called off their wedding when West’s mother unexpectedly passed away.
Kanye West and Brooke Crittendon (2005-2006)
While West was on a break from Phifer, he dated “Harlem Heights” star Brooke Crittendon as well. Although they were together only briefly, the couple made an official appearance during the 2006 Grammy Awards. They broke up later in the year but the split was amicable. According to Crittendon, she couldn’t handle the pressure that came with being West’s partner. She also didn’t want to live in the shadow of being the rapper’s ex-girlfriend.
Kanye West and Amber Rose (2008-2010)
Not long after his split from Crittendon, West got together with model, Amber Rose. The pair dated for two years before Rose finally called it off. After their breakup, the model confessed that it was difficult to move on since she had to experience “constant bullying” from the rapper. Their split was also monumental to West’s award-winning album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” which was released in 2010.
I’m famous, and I’m broke. I can’t date anyone else. I can’t say anything on the Internet because Kanye has such a voice. If I was going to kill myself, I would have done it during those times.”
Amber Rose to Complex Everyday Struggle, 2017
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian (2012-2022)
In 2012, West started dating one of his long-time friends, Kim Kardashian. The latter was freshly divorced from her infamous 72-day marriage to Kris Humphries. Before the end of that year, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child.
During the next couple of years, they welcomed their daughter, North West, and the couple got married in Florence, Italy. They would later have three more children, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm, with the last two being conceived through surrogacy.
The pair had a turbulent marriage which included long-running feuds with other celebrities and an unsuccessful presidential campaign. In 2021, Kardashian decided that enough was enough and filed for divorce. The “Skims” founder went on to date SNL comedian, Pete Davidson, but they eventually split less than a year later.
Kanye West and Irina Shayk (2021)
After his extremely public divorce from Kardashian, West dated model Irina Shayk. The duo had met before with the latter starring in one of his music videos and modeling for his fashion brand. West and Shayk were first spotted in France during the rapper’s 44th birthday. The pair dated briefly and parted ways before the end of the year.
Kanye West and Julia Fox (2021-2022)
West’s next official relationship was with actress Julia Fox. The couple met in 2021 and immediately embarked on a whirlwind romance. They opened their relationship to the public and were often snapped together. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be and the duo broke up by February in 2022.
The unresolved issues that he was dealing with. It just seems like he had a lot to work on, and I just don’t have time for it or energy. I don’t have the bandwidth or emotional capacity for it.”
Julia Fox to ES Magazine, 2022
Kanye West and Bianca Censori (2022-Present)
In December 2022, West released a track with the title “Censori Overload,” indirectly confirming his alleged relationship with architect and entrepreneur, Bianca Censori. A month later, the pair were spotted having dinner together in Beverly Hills. Not long after this sighting, news outlets reported that West and Censori were actually married. It’s unclear whether the couple are officially married because they apparently haven’t filed for a marriage certificate.
West’s Alleged Affair And Views On Sexuality
When the news of Kardashian and West’s divorce broke out, talks started swirling as to what could be the cause. Somehow, a rumor emerged alleging that beauty mogul, Jeffree Star, was the main reason for the couple’s split. Although the rumor was baseless, it didn’t help that the YouTube celebrity kept fanning the flames. Amidst the controversy, Star tweeted a picture of himself with the caption: “I’m ready for Sunday Service,” alluding to the rapper’s infamous church sessions.
Is Kanye West Gay?
No, Kanye West is not gay. He has been linked multiple times to women, was married twice, and has four children. The rapper’s stance on the LGBTQ community is unclear, especially considering his highly controversial remarks. As of now, it’s safe to assume that West identifies as straight.
Featured Image: “Kanye West”, by Jason Persse, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED