2007'S MOST POPULAR: KANYE WEST

We already knew Kanye West was brash and demanding. But his occasional petulance — see the MTV Video Music Awards — can be defended as perfectionism. When it came to public feuds, he punched his weight, pummeling rival 50 Cent in their 9/11 smackdown. ''I'm doing pretty good as far as geniuses go,'' West brags in ''Barry Bonds,'' off his multiplatinum third album, Graduation. Undeniably so. —Jeff Labreque

KANYE WEST'S 2007

Jan. 13
West confirms reports that he plans to star in a fictional series for HBO that's loosely based on his life and directed by Borat's Larry Charles.

Feb. 20
He appears in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's swimsuit issue, posing with supermodel Anne V, who describes working with the performer as being ''like magic.''

July 1
Performing in front of a global television audience estimated at more than 500 million, West violates the ''no swearing'' policy of the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium while performing his hit single ''Touch the Sky.''

July 7
West shares the stage with John Mayer and the reunited Police during the New York City Live Earth concert.

July 22
West, who had been contemplating an August release date, announces that his third album, Graduation, will drop on Sept. 11, the same day as rival 50 Cent's third album, Curtis. ''We ain't moving,'' West boldly tells MTV.

Aug. 26
West cameos as himself on HBO's Entourage. His new single, ''Good Life,'' plays during the end credits.

Sept. 9
The rapper erupts backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards, after losing all five for which he was nominated. ''I'm never coming [back] to MTV!'' howled West. ''Give a black man a chance!''

Sept. 11
West's Graduation and 50 Cent's Curtis hit stores, and West claims victory, selling 957,000 copies (to 50's 691,000), the highest first-week sales for an album in more than two years.

Sept. 29
He guest-stars alongside basketball phenom LeBron James on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live.

Nov. 10
Donda West, Kanye's mother and the inspiration for his hit song ''Hey Mama,'' dies suddenly. The 58-year-old college professor ran West's charities and wrote a book about her experiences as a single mom.

NEXT PAGE: 2007's Four Prodigies