Grammys Flashback '05: Kanye Wins First of Many

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Possibly due to his well-documented controversial antics, many people forget that Kanye West has been one of the most successful music artists in Grammys history. In 2005, after releasing his debut album The College Dropout, the Chicagoan rapper attended his first Grammys with an astonishing ten nominations and left the ceremony with three gramophone trophies. That was only the beginning.

In a span of less than a decade, West has surpassed the masses into Grammys history. In that brief time-frame, he has slotted himself on the Top 10 list in nominations (sixth, 53), most awards by a male artist (sixth, 21), and most awards won (eighth, 21).


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The then-27-year-old rapper also made history in 2005 for the most Grammys in one night by tying Lauryn Hill for the second-most nominations in one night, positioning himself behind only Michael Jackson's twelve nominations in 1984.

After the show, the record-book rapper talks to ET's special correspondent Paula Abdul, who prompts him to recount his passionate acceptance speech.

"Everybody thought I was going to go crazy. They thought I was going to snap out," he says. "Everybody wanted to know what I would do I if didn't win. Well, I guess we'll never know."


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We wouldn't know what it was like until West didn't receive an award at the Grammys for the first time in a year in which he had been nominated in 2011. However, that was after he had already built a plentiful collection of fourteen Grammy Awards.

Despite his highly publicized year with bride-to-be Kim Kardashian and new baby North West, if West's past success at the Grammys is any indication of his chances this year, West may increase his total yet again at the 2014 show. Kanye is up for Best Rap Song for New Slaves, as well as Best Rap Album, for his critically acclaimed offering, Yeezus.