From the photo archives: Kanye West

The hungry young producer

Kanye West at an awards show with Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon Dash in October 2002. West had already gained recognition as a producer for his work on Jay-Z's "The Blueprint," but he was making no headway in his efforts to launch a solo career. Most record executives, including Dash, loved West's production work, but didn't think he was "street" enough to appeal to rap fans as a solo artist (West was the son of a university professor and grew up in an upper-middle class suburb of Chicago).

Just weeks after this picture was taken, West was nearly killed in a car crash. It was an event that would change his life forever.