“Exploring Kanye West’s Dating History: A Timeline of Relationships”-HO
Kanye West isn’t only famous for being one of the best-selling male artists or for his bizarre fashion and behavior, he’s also well-known for his long list of relationships.
Having split from the love of his life, Kim Kardashian, Ye’s path to finding love again has taken a very interesting turn. We’ve seen him have whirlwind romances with (several) supermodels, and get married (YES, MARRIED!) to his former wife’s lookalike.
The controversial rapper has always had a very public love life, but there may be some secrets left untold.
From gold diggers, to relationships that only lasted fourfiveseconds, we take a trip down memory lane to uncover Kanye West’s dating history…
Ex: Sumeke Rainey
Who is She? Ye’s high school crush
Dated in: The 90s
Kanye’s first reference to one of his girlfriends was in his song “Never Let Me Down,” where he mentioned his high school sweetheart, Sumeke Rainey. In the lyrics, Kanye rapped, “Nothing sad as that day my girl’s father passed away / So I promised to Mr. Rainey, I’m gonna marry your daughter.”
However, despite these lyrics, it seems that Kanye’s promise was purely lyrical, as there were no wedding bells for him and Sumeke. The relationship didn’t last, and they parted ways when Kanye’s fame began to rise.
Ex: Alexis Phifer
Who is She? Fashion designer
Dated in: 2002-2008
Alexis and Kanye first met in 2002 and embarked on a six-year on-and-off relationship. However, in 2004, during Kanye’s rapid ascent to fame, the couple took a brief break due to Alexis reportedly struggling to cope with Kanye’s newfound stardom.
Despite the challenges, they eventually reconciled and became engaged in 2006. Unfortunately, their relationship came to an end after 18 months following the tragic passing of Kanye’s mother, Donda.
Although they never made it to the altar, Alexis spoke to People magazine, expressing her sadness at the relationship’s end and emphasizing that they remained friends. She wished Kanye the best in his future endeavors, acknowledging him as one of the most talented individuals she had ever met.
Ex: Brooke Crittendon
Who is She? Actress
Dated in: 2004-2006
During a break with his ex-girlfriend Alexis, Kanye met an aspiring actress backstage at an MTV production, which led to a two-and-a-half-year relationship. Initially, everything appeared positive, but their split ended “amicably.” However, Brooke later disclosed that their “open” relationship posed challenges for her. She even warned Kim Kardashian about Kanye’s “obsession with sex” when he began dating the reality star.
Rumored Ex: Sessilee Lopez
Who is She? Model
Dated in: 2008
This former couple got involved with each other when Sessilee featured in Kanye’s Flashing Lights music video. But it seems this was just a fling, as nothing further progressed in this love story.
Ex: Amber Rose
Who is She? Model
Dated in: 2008-2010
After calling off his engagement to Alexis, Ye fell madly in love with controversial model, Amber Rose. The duo lasted two whole years, before it ended in a messy breakup.
Amber accused Kanye of “constant bullying” amid her heartbreak, and even admitted that she would have “killed herself” during the turbulent breakup – “I’m famous, and I’m broke. I can’t date anyone else. I can’t say anything on the Internet because Kanye has such a voice. If I was going to kill myself, I would have done it during those times.”
During an appearance on The Breakfast Club, the rapper said he had to take “30 showers” after splitting with Amber, to which Amber retaliated on Twitter saying, “Ppl make mistakes in life trust me I have. But when u bully other ppl and ur not perfect its so fu**ed. I own up to every piece of my life.”
Rumored Ex: Melody Thornton
Who is She? Singer
Dated in: 2010
After calling it quits with Amber Rose, Kanye was later linked to Pussycat Doll, Melody Thornton. The two artists were spotted at Marc Jacobs and later seen being intimate with each other.
Other than that sighting, though, Kanye and Melody never made a public debut together.
Apparently, this short fling caused a feud between Melody and Kim Kardashian, as Kim had a crush on the rapper at the time.
Rumored Ex: Selita Ebanks
Who is She? Victoria’s Secret model
Dated in: 2010
It appears that Ye was focused on models in the mid-2000s, as he was also romantically linked to Selita Ebanks. After Selita starred in Kanye’s short film “Runaway,” the two were seen getting cozy at fashion week in Paris. However, their relationship didn’t progress beyond that.
Rumored Ex: Chanel Iman
Who is She? Victoria’s Secret model
Dated in: 2010
In 2010, Kanye’s dating life seemed quite eventful as he was rumored to be involved with another Victoria’s Secret model, Chanel Iman.
However, when questioned about their relationship during an interview with US magazine, Chanel dismissed the rumors with laughter, indicating that they were merely speculation.
Despite the rumors, Kanye and Chanel maintained a close friendship. They were seen together on multiple occasions, including at a Givenchy fashion show in 2011. Additionally, Iman walked in Kanye’s Yeezy Season 4 fashion show in 2016, further highlighting their enduring friendship.
Rumored Ex: Kate Upton
Who is She? Victoria’s Secret model
Dated in: 2011
In 2011, Kanye was spotted kissing a blonde model on a balcony in Cannes, and the world assumed it was supermodel Kate Upton.
Unlucky for Ye, however, he didn’t have the privilege of getting close to Upton, who confirmed on Twitter that she wasn’t even in Europe at the time. “I’m not dating Kanye,” the model wrote.
Rumored Ex: Angela Martini
Who is She? Model
Dated in: 2011
In 2011, Kanye was reportedly linked to former Miss Universe, Angela Martini, after a source told NYDailyNews, “They are dating. I just don’t know if it’s exclusive.”
Initially, Angela denied the hookup, but later confirmed the relationship during an interview, saying, “Ah, 100 years ago! Yes, there was [a relationship]. I said it since you said I have no problem telling it…”
However, Kanye and Angela’s romance was short-lived, lasting only a few months before Kanye moved on to the next relationship.
