Rapper Kanye West here to make waves

It has been more than five years since Kanye West abruptly interrupted Taylor Swift while she was accepting an MTV Video Music Award - to make sure that Swift, and the music world, knew that another artist, Beyoncé, deserved it more. Many were appalled by West's behaviour; even President Barack Obama, in an unguarded moment, called him a jackass.

But as the 37-year-old rapper/producer/songwriter/designer/entrepreneur prepares to release his seventh studio album, he is hotter and more creatively in demand than ever - despite becoming embroiled in more controversies.

West raised eyebrows in February by, well, pulling a Kanye again, this time at the Grammys. When it was announced Beck had won album of the year (Beyoncé was a contender) West rushed the stage, then backed off. He seemed to be kidding, although his comments to reporters later suggested he wasn't. That was, until he apologised.

Fellow rapper Common says West "always spoke his mind. He would just say anything out of his mouth, like a child would. That's just his way". But he says West "helps people. He will put you on a project, connect you with this person, and he has done that. Honestly, I love and respect that".

Alan Light, author of Let's Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain, says: "Whatever you make of [West], there's an ambition and sincerity to his creative side we respond to. There's a segment of his audience that wants to focus on the music without the rest of the noise. But the noise is part of the project. I think [West's] answer is, 'You don't get to choose. I get to choose.'"