Kanye West got his start in the music industry as a record producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the mid-1990s. He worked with prominent artists such as Jay-Z, Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson, producing several hit songs like “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” and “Gold Digger.” His work as a producer earned him recognition and he signed with Roc-A-Fella Records as a rapper in 2004. His debut album, “The College Dropout,” went on to be certified triple platinum, surprising the hip-hop world. Other successful albums followed and he has earned many awards and accolades.