Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are the ultimate celebrity couple. But despite being relationship goals, the pair hasn’t always had the easiest go of things.
Still, though, they’ve been together for more than just a few years. The longevity of their relationship makes it hard to believe Kim and Kanye started on rocky ground. Even Kim’s ill-fated married to Kris Humphries didn’t seem to dissuade her from dating. That 72-day marriage made headlines for all the wrong reasons and ultimately ended in a messy divorce. But Kanye helped her get through the tough times.
Since then, we’ve seen their relationship blossom. They’ve been through everything, from Kim’s Paris robbery and Kanye’s mental health concerns to the four beautiful West children. It seems like nothing can tear this relationship apart.
Moreover, it was no coincidence that Kim and Kanye ended up together. Lyrics from Ye’s 2005 song “Gold Digger” hinted that they might end up together. The rapper mentioned that he was “lookin’ for the one, have you seen her? My psychic told me she’ll have [a body] like Serena, Trina, Jennifer Lopez…” He also said he wanted four kids, and that’s what the West family got.
There’s nothing more romantic than a fated relationship. But we can’t even dream up a scenario more characteristically Kimye than a relationship prediction nestled in the lyrics of a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop hit.
So how did the Kim and Kanye West relationship start?
They Met In 2003
[fm_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8bq38Wr5jA”]
When Kanye was recording a song with Brandy, he didn’t expect to meet the future love of his life. Presumably, he just wanted to work and make music. And Kim was busy doing her own thing.
She told Ryan Seacrest during a KUWTK anniversary special:
I met him, I think, in 2002 or 2003. He was recording a song with Brandy, and I was her friend. I vividly remember hanging out with him, and then they did a video together, so I’d see him a few times. He was asking his friends, “Who is this Kim Kardajan?” He didn’t know what my name was.
Kanye thought Kim worked as Brandy’s assistant.
Moreover, during an interview that Kanye did years ago on Kris Jenner’s talk show, the rapper and designer mentioned that Kim was Brandy’s assistant. But in fact, she was Brandy’s stylist. They didn’t meet again for another five years.
The crew wasn’t thrilled about adding Kim to the team.
Her infamous adult tape didn’t inspire much confidence in them. But Kim eventually impressed the filming group with her professionalism. Unfortunately, the show never aired.
But it wasn’t a total waste.
Those close quarters and the constant contact allowed Kanye and Kim to go from acquaintances to friends.“We had met before this project (back in 2003),” Kim wrote on her website. “But I would say this is when we first really connected.”
72 Days
[fm_giphy url=”https://media.giphy.com/media/M51IzbYeReKDS/giphy.gif”]
In 2011, Kim memorably married professional basketball player Kris Humphries in a televised ceremony. It seemed like a fairytale event, complete with a gown fit for a princess.
And the reality star wore jewels to match.
But it wasn’t meant to be. The couple gave the marriage a fleeting chance. Kim, however, called it quits after just 72 days. The announcement seemed to shock people. But we imagine Kanye must have been one happy camper.
Kim admitted she started to think about Kanye as more than just a friend even then.
“Right before I got married to Kris Humphries, [Kanye and I] were talking and I just went a different direction,” Kim shared. Having feelings for Kanye while being married must have been hard. However, after the separation she didn’t waste any time going for what she really wanted.
Finally Dating
[fm_giphy url=”https://media.giphy.com/media/bVJcpqxtUg6pW/giphy.gif”]
In April of 2012, Kim and Kanye made it official. After they were spotted in public, West released, “Cold.” The single seemed to reference Kim’s last relationship and his feelings about it. In typical, Kanye fashion, he held nothing back.
The A-lister raps:
And I’ll admit, 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.
Those lyrics were about Kris Humphries.
At the time, Humphries played for the Brooklyn Nets, an NBA basketball team that Jay-Z had stake in. Kanye and Jay-Z used to have a long-standing friendship, so in theory, ‘Ye could have asked to have Humphries fired.
Pregnant Kim
[fm_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1FE_OW_HLk”]
After dating for less than a year, Kanye announced that Kim was pregnant with the couple’s first baby. In fact, during an Atlantic City, NJ, performance the rapper abruptly asked the sound engineers to do him a favor.
He wanted them to stop the music.
And in front of the entire crowd, he shared the news. “Make noise for my baby mama,” West bellowed while pointing to Kim in the crowd.
But Kim still had to deal with the Kris Humphries separation.
After Kanye’s impromptu announcement, Kim’s lawyer team filed a motion to speed up the divorce process. “I do not want to be married to [Humphries] when I have my baby,” Kardashian wrote in the declaration to support her motion.
Met Gala
[fm_twitter url=”https://twitter.com/KimKardashian/status/1125460976248160256″]
When Kim arrived at the Met Gala with Kanye on May 6, 2013, she made headlines for all sorts of reasons. And that jaw-dropping dress simply added to the effect. Most people didn’t recognize the TV personality as style guru, though.
They thought she belonged on reality television only.
Indeed, Kim never even received an invitation to the 2013 Gala. She attended only as Kanye’s plus-one. But she didn’t take too long to carve out her own lane in the fashion world.
At the time, though, Kim felt like it was all too much.
Apparently, she went home and broke down. “I’m sure no one wanted me there lol,” Kim tweeted. “I did my own lipstick and the color [was] so off. I went home [and] cried after [because] of insecurities but this is one of my fave looks now.” Love it or hate it, this Givenchy dress will go down in history as one of the most noteworthy looks ever worn.
The Arrival Of North West
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/B15JTR7A7Mk/” hidecaption=true]
On June 15, 2013, Kim and Kanye welcomed their first daughter, North West. Her name may have initially raised a few brows. However, we all love Nori almost as much as her own parents do.
Additionally, during the pregnancy, the media even criticized Kim harshly for her weight.
It’s like some people just couldn’t keep their opinions about a pregnant woman’s body to themselves. After the birth, Kim seemed to feel the need to go into hiding while losing the baby weight. She did, however, make a surprise appearance on her mom’s talk show, Kris.
In that moment, Kim gave the world its first glimpse of North.
On the final episode of Kris, Kim showed everyone a picture of her bundle of joy. The first photo of North was very cute. And when you look at her parents, are you all that surprised?
The Long-Awaited Marriage
[fm_giphy url=”https://media.giphy.com/media/2WIchbvBYCQgw/giphy.gif”]
When you’re Kanye West, there’s no such thing as a small gesture. Lucky for us, we got an inside look into his marriage proposal during an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
And it was hardly a minor affair.
On October 21, 2013, West rented out San Francisco’s AT&T Park. He led a blindfolded Kim into the dark baseball field while a 50-piece orchestra serenaded her with her favorite Lana Del Rey song.
All of this played out while the couple’s closest family and friends watched from the dugout in complete silence.
Kanye got down on one knee as the scoreboard flashed “PLEEEASE MARRY MEEE!!!” He topped it all off by sliding a custom 15-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond engagement ring on her finger. The proposal alone set him back a cool $3 million.
Making Vogue Cover History
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/l0CZncEUwl/” hidecaption=true]
In 2014, ahead of their fairytale wedding, Kim and Kanye flaunted their relationship on the cover of Vogue. The revered magazine received incredible backlash for putting the power couple on the front page.
But the Vogue editor-in-chief wasn’t fazed.
In fact, in a trailer for her upcoming Masterclass, Anna Wintour set the record straight and explained why she included the couple in the April issue. And we think her explanation makes quite a lot of sense.
She noted:
This cover was a deeply controversial cover… But Kim and Kanye were a part of the conversation of the day. And for Vogue not to recognize that would have been a big misstep. You are leading, not following — and that’s a very important lesson to always keep in your mind.
The Wedding Weekend
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/ogSSO6uS9C/?hl=en”]
One month after the release of the Vogue issue, the celebs tied the knot. Their weekend began in Paris and included a bachelorette party at Hôtel Costes and a pre-wedding lunch hosted by Valentino himself. It took place at Château de Wideville, just outside of Paris. And then there was a rehearsal dinner in the Palace of Versailles’s Hall of Mirrors.
On the day of the wedding, guests took surprise, complimentary flights into Florence.
And, of course, all the jets were private. The guest list boasted the crème de la crème of Hollywood. Serena Williams attended as did did André Leon Talley and director Steve McQueen. But nothing took the spotlight away from Kim and Kanye.
Pregnancy Concerns
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/5sj1Omjs76/”]
When Kim Kardashian gave birth to baby North, she suffered a condition called placenta accreta. This condition prevents the placenta from detaching naturally following childbirth. And it can be incredibly painful.
It’s more common than one might think.
To help correct the matter, a medical professional has to remove the placenta by hand. Unsurprisingly, the condition can cause the mother great pain. Despite the risk, though, Kim tried for baby number two.
But unfortunately, an entirely thing happened in their pregnancy journey.
Kim and Kanye experienced fertility issues, and some of them were documented on KUWTK. “One doctor told me I would need my uterus removed after I had another baby — I could only have one more,” Kim told Glamour.
She shared more of the sobering news:
One [doctor] was like, “You should get a surrogate.” The other one was like, “Oh, no, you’ll be fine.” Then I called my doctor, and he’s like, “You know what? I believe — we’ll get through it.” The waiting and waiting has been a roller coaster.
Baby Number Two
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/6P0-KluS5-/”]
Kim and Kanye persevered and managed to conceive their second child together. Their relationship appeared stronger than ever. And it had to be to help Kim get through a very challenging pregnancy.
Those nine months definitely weighed on her.
“I’m gonna keep it real: For me, pregnancy is the worst experience of my life! LOL! I don’t understand one moment of it and I don’t understand people who enjoy it,” KKW wrote on her website.
Kim was honest, raw, and uncensored when discussing the struggles of carrying her second child.
“I’m not sure why I don’t like the experience like others do. Maybe it’s the swelling, the backaches, or just the complete mindf*ck of how your body expands and nothing fits…” she continued. “I just always feel like I’m not in my own skin. It’s hard to explain. I don’t feel sexy, either – I feel insecure and most of the time I just feel gross.”
Saint’s Arrival
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BuEUZn8nX3Y/” hidecaption=true]
Kim and Kanye’s first son, Saint, arrived on December 5, 2015. But the birth had its fair share of complications. The mom had yet to go through the most difficult moment of childbearing.
Kim mentioned:
This weekend I checked into the hospital and underwent a procedure called an ECV (External Cephalic Version, or a Version). [This] is done to manually turn the baby from a breech position to a head-down position… and let me tell you: This was soooooo painful. Probably more painful than childbirth. BUT it worked!!!
Kim told Ryan Seacrest she wouldn’t naturally conceive another child again.
“I said this last time. I said I am done. Don’t ever make me go through that again,” she told Seacrest. And she kept her word.
Paris Robbery
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BMAUNzVB33D/”]
In 2016, it looked as though the fashion world finally decided to embrace Kim for her style and clothing choices. In fact, she received an invitation to Paris Fashion Week. And Kim’s trip coincided with Kanye’s Saint Pablo tour.
But they couldn’t have predicted what happened next.
Kim faced one of the scariest encounters. So Kanye rushed off stage midway through his performance. He left fans shocked and upset but made no apologies.
And truly, who can blame him?
Kim had been robbed at gunpoint in her own hotel room. During the traumatizing event, intruders took off with her 20-carat Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring. Obviously, Kanye needed to go and support his wife.
Kanye’s Mental Health
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzxv3vgHQ_w/”]
As a pioneer of vulnerability in hip-hop, Kanye has been open about his emotional, mental, and lifelong struggles. When his mother, Donda West, lost her life in 2007, the designer took it extremely hard.
Complications with plastic surgery caused the fatal accident.
And, in part, the loss apparently plunged Kanye into a deep depression. Some sources suggest that almost losing Kim during the Paris robbery put the rapper in a dark place, leading to his mental health devolution in 2016.
Out of nowhere, the performers canceled 21 shows on his Saint Pablo tour before entering the hospital.
“His state of mind goes back a long way, perhaps to the death of his mother, which he never got over,” a source told Page Six. “That combined with his chaotic life – he often stays up and works for 48 hours at a time when he’s on and calls his team at 3 a.m. Kanye needs a stronger support system.”
Turning To Surrogacy
[fm_twitter url=”https://twitter.com/KUWTK/status/797991850531401729″]
While their relationship had been tested, Kim and Kanye were stronger than ever before. Which meant they were keen to make room for a new member of the family. In an episode of KUWTK, Kim revealed that she wanted to explore surrogacy.
Kim met with someone who had experienced both natural birth and surrogacy to learn more.
“If the two doctors I trust have told me it would not be safe to get pregnant again, I have to listen to that,” she said.
Baby Chicago
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/B2w8_tiA0Y_/” hidecaption=true]
On January 15, 2018, Kim and Kanye welcomed their third child, Chicago. A surrogate carried their second daughter to term. And as a result, Kim was able to avoid the danger of a third pregnancy.
The baby came out incredibly healthy, too.
Chicago looks like the spitting image of her parents, and the mother of three couldn’t be happier. “She’s here! We’re so in love,” Kim wrote on her website. “Kanye and I are happy to announce the arrival of our healthy, beautiful baby girl.”
Drake Rumors
[fm_twitter url=”https://twitter.com/XXL/status/1042833004077506560″]
Towards the end of 2018, certain rumors circulated about the Kardashian-West’s marital life. In fact, some sources suggested that Kim had an affair with Canadian rapper, Drake.
And the claims got vicious.
After Drake and Pusha T, a rapper on Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music record label, started feuding, the dispute took another angle. Kanye was further dragged into the disagreement. Before long, other rappers started mentioning that Drake recorded a diss record that mentioned Kim.
Everyone shared their two cents.
Even Kim’s ex, Nick Cannon had something to say. “There’s something real personal Drake holds over that whole family, that he’s like, ‘Ya’ll don’t want me to let this out,’” Cannon claimed.
Twitter Rants
[fm_twitter url=”https://twitter.com/enews/status/1073331242475630592″]
The Drake fiasco, in part, prompted Kanye to air his grievances on Twitter. The entire situation went from bad to worse. Drake and Kanye snapped at each other over a number of Tweets.
The rappers seemed to hold very little back.
The music beef and the rumors surrounding Kim were topics of conversation. Somehow, both Travis Scott and Ariana Grande got caught in the crossfire. Even Kim, who usually steers clear of ‘Ye’s music concerns, got involved.
She wrote, “[Drake], never threaten my husband or our family. He paved the way for there to be a Drake.”
Reports suggested Kanye’s rants caused friction in the relationship.
That’s when momager, Kris Jenner shut the entire thing down. “I think they’re just so solid. They’re so connected, and they love each other very much, and they have a family that they’re committed to,” Kris told Us Weekly.
She went on to note:
You’re going to have differences [in marriage]. You’re going to have things that pop up. You’re going to have hiccups [but] I think [Kim and Kanye are] so committed to one another that things like that probably bring them closer together.
Baby Psalm
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/ByiY5VtAOQ2/”]
With their relationship seeming stronger than ever, Kim and Kanye decided to make yet another addition to their family. They wanted baby number four to join the Kardashian-West team.
And again, they employed a method that’s becoming more and more common.
Another surrogate helped Kimye bring beautiful baby Psalm into the world on May 10, 2019. The family debuted his photo on Instagram. “He’s honestly the best baby,” Kim mentioned later.
During an appearance on LIVE with Kelly and Ryan, Kim opened up about how the couple landed on their son’s name.
And They’re Still Flirting
[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/B1nFmE5ACwT/” hidecaption=true]
There are some things we just can’t deny about Kim and Kanye’s relationship. Namely, they keep the fire alive. The two of them always seem to flirt, smooch, and leave thirsty comments on each other’s social media.
We appreciate the modern romance.
It’s not easy to keep the intrigue going after multiple years together and multiple children. But these celeb darlings are doing pretty well. Oh, and we can’t help catching Kanye sneak loving looks at his wife every so often.
It keeps things playful and light.
And every relationship can use a little banter now and then to stay fresh. We wouldn’t mind implementing some of their relationship hacks in our own love lives.
