Currently, Kanye West is not signed to any major record label. After a lengthy dispute with Universal Music Group (UMG) and their subsidiary Def Jam Recordings, which ended in 2021, he's been operating as an independent artist.

Throughout his career, Kanye's label history has included several notable affiliations:

• 2004-2021: Def Jam Recordings/Universal Music Group
• 2004-present: GOOD Music (his own label, founded by him)
• 2021-present: Independent

During his time with Def Jam Recordings, Kanye released numerous successful albums including "The College Dropout," "Late Registration," "Graduation," and "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." His relationship with the label became strained in 2020 when he publicly criticized the music industry's standard recording contracts and called for artists to have more control over their master recordings.

In 2021, following the release of "Donda," Kanye's contract with Def Jam Recordings expired. Since then, he has chosen to remain independent, giving him complete control over his music releases and creative direction.

While Kanye continues to operate GOOD Music, his own record label imprint, he now releases his personal music independently. This arrangement allows him full artistic freedom and ownership of his master recordings, something he had publicly advocated for during his later years with Def Jam.

This independent status means that Kanye now handles his own music distribution and retains all rights to his new recordings, marking a significant shift from his previous major label arrangements.

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