Kanye West's plan "to take some time off" in the aftermath of his MTV awards show embarrassment may be cut short as the rapper readies for a three-month tour with Lady Gaga.Kanye Omari West (pronounced /ˈkɑːnjeɪ/; born June 8, 1977)is an American rapper, record producer, author, and singer. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, his third album Graduation in 2007, and his fourth album 808s & Heartbreak in 2008. His first three albums (and his fourth to a lesser extent) have received numerous awards and critical acclaim.All have been very commercially successful, with 808s & Heartbreak becoming his third consecutive #1 album in the U.S. upon release. West also runs his own record label GOOD Music.West's mascot and trademark is "Dropout Bear," a teddy bear costume which has appeared on the covers of three of his four albums as well as various single covers and music videos.
West gained fame by producing for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album, The Blueprint as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally utilized pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments. However, subsequent albums saw him broadening his musical palette and expressing influences ranging from '70s R&B, to synth-pop, and classical music.
About.com ranked Kanye West #8 on their "Top 50 Hip-Hop Producers" list.On May 16, 2008, Kanye West was crowned by MTV as the year's #1 "Hottest MC in the Game.
West gained fame by producing for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album, The Blueprint as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally utilized pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments. However, subsequent albums saw him broadening his musical palette and expressing influences ranging from '70s R&B, to synth-pop, and classical music.
About.com ranked Kanye West #8 on their "Top 50 Hip-Hop Producers" list.On May 16, 2008, Kanye West was crowned by MTV as the year's #1 "Hottest MC in the Game.
The tour, titled Fame Kills: Starring Kanye West & Lady Gaga, starts November 10 and ends January 24, promoter Live Nation announced Friday.
The tour dates announced Friday include 34 shows across the United States and Canada, with few days off except for travel.
People who are still members of the Kanye West Fan Club get a first shot at tickets starting Tuesday, and sales to the general public begin in select cities September 25.
Sunday night, West caused a ruckus when he put down his bottle of cognac, jumped on the MTV Music Video Awards stage and grabbed the microphone from singer Taylor Swift as she was giving an acceptance speech.
West, who apologized the next day on "The Jay Leno Show," seemed to blame his erratic behavior on the lack of time he had to grieve his mother's death two years ago.
"I deal with hurt and, you know, so many, you know, celebrities, they never take the time off, and I've never taken the time off to really, you know, I just, music after music and tour after tour on tour," West told Leno.
Fame Kills kicks off in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 10, followed by concerts in California, Nevada and then Canada for the rest of the month. Those shows will be followed by concerts in cities such as Denver, Colorado; St. Louis, Missouri; and Washington, according to the announcement.
The tour dates announced Friday include 34 shows across the United States and Canada, with few days off except for travel.
People who are still members of the Kanye West Fan Club get a first shot at tickets starting Tuesday, and sales to the general public begin in select cities September 25.
Sunday night, West caused a ruckus when he put down his bottle of cognac, jumped on the MTV Music Video Awards stage and grabbed the microphone from singer Taylor Swift as she was giving an acceptance speech.
West, who apologized the next day on "The Jay Leno Show," seemed to blame his erratic behavior on the lack of time he had to grieve his mother's death two years ago.
"I deal with hurt and, you know, so many, you know, celebrities, they never take the time off, and I've never taken the time off to really, you know, I just, music after music and tour after tour on tour," West told Leno.
Fame Kills kicks off in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 10, followed by concerts in California, Nevada and then Canada for the rest of the month. Those shows will be followed by concerts in cities such as Denver, Colorado; St. Louis, Missouri; and Washington, according to the announcement.
