When did Kanye West become popular?

Kanye West began to rise in popularity in the early 2000s. His debut album, "The College Dropout", was released in 2004 and was a critical and commercial success. He followed this up with several more successful albums, including "Late Registration" (2005), "Graduation" (2007), and "808s & Heartbreak" (2008). By the late 2000s, Kanye West had become one of the most popular and influential musicians in the world.