Kanye West is having an eventful year, between releasing his new album, Yeezus, which debuted No.1 and becoming a new dad with girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, it’s safe to say West is living the good life.
That said, Pepsi Pulse decided to list five of the many moments the Chicago native has had as a megastar.
From interrupting Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs, fashion collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Giuseppe Zanotti, impromptu declaration of “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” it’s interesting to see what the folks at Pepsi Pulse came up with.
– Chika Dunu
Check it out below via Pepsi.com:
1. Teaming Up With Daft Punk for “Stronger”
Kanye’s “Stronger” is still to this day one of the biggest hits of his career. Teaming up with French house duo, Daft Punk, to mix one of their most popular songs “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” into a more hip-hop driven beat without losing the aesthetic of the original. It was genius. It was game changing. It was stadium music exposing Kanye to a broader audience and opening up new creative possibilities in the hip-hop genre. The song went on to top the Billboard Hot 100, sell over 5 million digital copies in the US, and win Best Rap Solo Performance at the 50th Grammy Awards.
2. Glow in the Dark Tour
One of Kanye’s most unforgettable moments came after the success of his third solo album Graduation. Selling over 900,000 copies in the first week meant West was able to beat rap superstar 50 Cent in a friendly album sale competition. Mr. West decided to travel around the globe performing his critically acclaimed Glow In The Dark Tour. The tour also included Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D., Nas, a few surprise guests and Ye as the final act.
When it was time for Kanye’s main act he performed the entire show solo. No dancers, no ballerinas, no hype men, and the band hidden underneath the stage. His performance was inspired by a space ship crash landing on an alien planet. He began the show with hit “Good Morning” and perfectly transitioned from song to song.
Aside from a few controversies, like tour date mix-ups and Rihanna leaving, the tour was highly praised and grossed around $30 million over the course of 49 shows. Kanye proved he wasn’t just a master in the studio, but a gifted performer as well.
For the rest of the list, head over to Pespsi.com
