Thursday, Apr. 01, 2010
Kanye West
Age: 32
Occupation: Rapper
Previous TIME 100 Appearances: 1
What would rap be without a little ego? This year, West left no question as to his feelings of self-worth, boasting on Twitter about his accomplishments and denouncing critics for underappreciating his music and the music (and videos) of others. In a now infamous moment at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, West hijacked country singer Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video, snatching the microphone out of her hand and declaring that the title should have gone to Beyoncé instead. Reactions to the incident were heard everywhere from E! News to the White House, where President Obama dismissed him as a "jackass," earning West an unofficial award for biggest gaffe.