Though the rapper had eyes for Kim since meeting her in 2004, the timing always seemed to be off for the pair (or at least for the reality star).
But while Kardashian's dating history was busy being played out in the tabloids — including one wedding on national TV — West wasn't just sitting at home pining for the curvaceous brunette. Well, maybe he partially was.
West first publicly professed his love for Kardashian and dislike for her ex-hubby, NBA player Kris Humphries, in the song "Cold": "I had fell in love with Kim/Around the same time she had fell in love with him/Well that's cool, baby girl, do ya thang/Lucky I ain't had Jay drop him from the team." (In 2012, Humphries played for the Nets and Kanye's BFF Jay Z owned a stake in the team.)
It looks like Yeezus's public declaration worked as Kanye, 36, is getting ready to tie the knot with Kim, 33, this weekend. In anticipation of Kimye's nuptials, let's take a look back at the girls that came before Kim.
Alexis Phifer: 2002-2008
Kanye dated designer Alexis Phifer on and off for nearly seven years. The stylish couple was often spotted at fashion shows, and even posed for a Harper's Bazaar feature in 2007 in which they offered a glimpse into their "fashionable life."
Kanye dated designer Alexis Phifer on and off for nearly seven years. The stylish couple was often spotted at fashion shows, and even posed for a Harper's Bazaar feature in 2007 in which they offered a glimpse into their "fashionable life."
Things were pretty serious between the two, and West proposed to Phifer in Italy over a lobster and pasta dinner during a vacation on the island of Capri in August 2006. (Coincidentally, West will reportedly marry Kardashian in Florence on Saturday.)
They called off their engagement a year and a half later.
"It's always sad when things like this end, and we remain friends," Phifer told People of her relationship's demise. "I wish him the best in his future and all of his endeavors. He's one of the most talented people I've ever met."
West was heavily preparing for his nationwide "Glow in the Dark" tour at the time, which reportedly contributed to their breakup. But perhaps another reason behind the split was the fact that Alexis did not like the spotlight.
During an interview with Vibe in 2011, she was asked about another one of West's gal pals, Amber Rose, who once threw shade at Phifer during a radio appearance: "You see, Kanye's other ex, he was with her for six years, took her the same places and no one even remembers her name now..."
"I believe that you get what you want out of a situation and Kanye will tell you that I didn't [want that attention]," Alexis responded. "It's weird. I'll get on the red carpet and over-criticize myself. I don't want that attention. She wanted that and that's what she got out of it."
Phifer, now 36, is still working as a designer/stylist and is busy raising her child. "I think after experiencing being with somebody that is a celebrity, it's really nice to have your anonymity," she continued. "I'm a mom, so I would much rather be able to be out with my son and have nobody recognize me. I really think that's a cool thing as opposed to doing red carpets or something like that, but only if it's really pertaining to my line because that's what I'm trying to sell… I'm not really trying to sell myself."
Amber Rose: 2009-2010
West's next girlfriend, model Amber Rose, loved being the center of attention during their relationship. It was hard not to notice Rose, who turned heads thanks to form-fitting fashions and her bleached buzz cut.
West's next girlfriend, model Amber Rose, loved being the center of attention during their relationship. It was hard not to notice Rose, who turned heads thanks to form-fitting fashions and her bleached buzz cut.
Naturally, in 2008, she caught Kanye's attention with her unique look in Ludacris's "What Them Girls Like" video.
"I was home in the Bronx, and he called me on my cellphone," Rose recalled to the New York Post'sPage Six. "I'd never met him before. He was like, 'Hey, it's Kanye.'"
Rose hung up on him thinking it was a joke, but clearly it wasn't. West flew her out to L.A. to star in his "Robocop" video.
Although it was never released, the two became friends and he invited her to the Grammys.
"We weren't dating yet," Amber explained. "We were still just friends, and we had never kissed or anything. I was in the back with his family. I didn't sit in the audience. We didn't do the red carpet or anything like that."
Their friendship eventually blossomed into something more; however, Rose has been vocal in partially blaming Kim Kardashian for their split. Rose called Kim a "home wrecker" in the press for supposedly having an affair with Kanye while he was dating Amber and Kardashian was dating Reggie Bush.
But all is well in Rose's world now. The 30-year-old model is married to rapper Wiz Khalifa and they have one son together, 1-year-old Sebastian.
The Modelizing Era: 2011
Post-Amber Rose, West was linked to a bevy models.
Post-Amber Rose, West was linked to a bevy models.
Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks made her acting debut in West's short film "Runaway," and the two appeared to be quite cozy in the months to follow.
Although nothing too serious ever came of it, the beauty had nothing but nice things to say about her sort of ex and Kim Kardashian after news broke they were expecting a child together.
"I think Kanye is going to be an amazing father,” she gushed to reporters. “I think he will be really good at it… Come on, [he or she] is going to be one of the best dressed kids in the world.”
West was also linked to Victoria's Secret model Chanel Iman. The two were rumored to be an item after Iman walked in West's show at Paris Fashion Week, although she played coy when asked about the romance.
"Rumors are rumors. Everyone's going to have something to say," Iman told Us Weekly. "We're really close; we're cool. We've been really tight since I first started modeling, actually."
Kim Kardashian: March 2012-Present
After chasing Kim for years, West finally got his shot at love with the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star following her split with Kris Humphries. The two had been friends forever (the notoriously private rapper even appeared on her reality show in summer 2010), but finally decided to give romance a try in 2012.
After chasing Kim for years, West finally got his shot at love with the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star following her split with Kris Humphries. The two had been friends forever (the notoriously private rapper even appeared on her reality show in summer 2010), but finally decided to give romance a try in 2012.
"I don't know why it took so long for us to get together," Kardashian revealed on Oprah's Next Chapter shortly after the two went public, "but I think I needed to go through all my experiences."
Clearly, the rest is history.
Kim and Kanye welcomed their first child together, North West, on June 15, 2013. A proposal followed soon after. On Oct. 21, West popped the question to Kim on her 33rd birthday at San Francisco's AT&T Park in front of friends and family. The Chicago Symphony played Lana Del Rey's "Young and Beautiful" while the giant Jumbotron flashed "PLEEEASE MARRY MEEE!!!"
With an over-the-top proposal like that, we can't wait to see what Kimye has planned for their wedding day on Saturday.
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