The Evolution of Kanye West's Onstage Outfits

When: August, 2002

With this chain, I thee name a hip-hop icon. When Jay Z and Damon Dash anointed Kanye West with his Roc-A-Fella chain back in 2002 in Chicago, it was something special. "Now I'm the newest member of the Roc-A-Fella team," Ye rapped while rocking a casual, but time-appropriate Adidas tracksuit. And let's be honest—any outfit matches being blessed with a diamond chain.

When: March 11, 2004

Drake might be the king of questionable sweater choices, but back in 2004, Kanye was already doing it.

When: June 29, 2004

The performed "Jesus Walks" and looked the part of a preacher in this suit jacket and sweater combo.

When: August 29, 2004

2004 was the year of demure fashion for Kanye. Candy striped dress shirt, tie and velveteen suit? We can barely recognize this version of him.

When: August 14, 2004

This was definitely the height of Kanye's "Ralph Lauren Was Boring Before I Wore Him" stage.

When: September 2, 2005

Kanye kept warm during a "Good Morning America" taping with a Gucci scarf and matching pocket square. Remember when rapper jeans were this baggy?

When: September 22, 2005

Kanye rocked the disheveled schoolboy look with this argyle sweater at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors.

When: December 31, 2005

Kanye brought his "Touch the Sky" music video look to life during a performance in Las Vegas.

When: April 29, 2006

Kanye paid homage to Miles Davis in this festival-appropriate T-shirt. In typical Kanye form, his red bandana played up his red wristwatch.

When: May 6, 2006

This white T-shirt from XXX shouted out hip-hop greats and nodded to Rap-A-Lot Records, Gangstarr, and other legends.

When: August 4, 2006

Kanye's striped Lacoste polo was the sublt Yin to Pharrell's loud BBC Yang.

When: August 6, 2006

All the colors of the rainbow! Kanye's color-block polo shirt showed he was not afraid to experiment with color.

When: February 1, 2007

If you doubted Kanye's prescience, here's Ye rocking a big gold chain and underlayering, two things tons of rappers are just starting to do six years later.

When: February 14, 2007

If Diddy and Mase's shiny suits got a high fashion update, they would probably resemble Kanye's iridescent blazer.

When: July 1, 2007

Business on top, basketball on bottom. Kanye mixed a suit and tie look with his beloved Jordans and the then-so-hot shutter shades.

When: February 10, 2008

Kanye brought his "Stronger" to life with a light-up, LED jacket and those famous shutter shades from the music video.

When: June 14, 2008

Kanye's modern-day gladiator get-up was very necessary to fend off boos from the crowd at Bonnaroo. Ye came onstage at 4:30am.

When: July 4, 2008

From backpack rapper to Louis Vuitton don, Ye's custom LV backpack says it all.

When: November 23, 2008

R.I.P. Pastelle. The bright colors and patchwork on this varsity jacket from Kanye's short-lived label were enough to distract us from the furry critter (or good luck charm?) Ye had in his pocket.

When: December 2, 2008

Viva La Medusa! Kanye was on Versace way before Migos.

When: December 12, 2008

For a minute there, red was obviously Kanye's color of choice, including this puffy Moncler vest.

When: February 8, 2009

If you thought Kanye had only one silver blazer (See: 2007's Fusion performance) you are sorely mistaken. Paired with leather gloves and a mullet-esque hairstyle, this was 808s Kanye in his finest.

When: September 12, 2010

Kanye's head-to-toe redsuit courtesy of Phillip Lim added flare to his all-white performance at the VMAs.

When: September 14, 2010

Rappers love their chains, but Kanye out-did everyone with this gi-nourmous Horus pendant. Add the leopard print shirt and red suit and it's clear Kanye is a modern pharoah.

When: November 7, 2010

It's not surprising that the "Jesus Walks" rapper would be attracted to Givenchy's religious-themed T-shirt.

When: December 31, 2010

Tupac back? Kanye rocked a bandana like the late great Tupac Shakur for this performance along with his favorite leather pants and the Air Jordan 3s in black/cement.

When: March 19, 2011

All-black-everything. Kanye brought biker chic to SXSW with this black leather head-to-toe look.

When: April 17, 2011

Where else but the California desert would you wear Celine's Emerald Foulard silk long sleeve shirt? The shirt's blousy, open neckline (which was rocked by a female model in Celine's runway show) was made for all those gold chains.

When: May 14, 2011

In a look that prefaced the all-white-everything that Ye's been sporting often in 2013, Kanye rocked Cannes and revelers at the film festival that now marks the unofficial beginning of summer's party season.

When: July 2, 2011

From backpack rapper to Louis Vuitton don, this outfit pretty much sums up Kanye's career.

When: Augusut 28, 2011

Amid an American flag backdrop, Kanye rocked a denim on denim Canadian tuxedo and we were totally alright with it. Note the color contrast on his ombre chambray shirt.

When: September 16, 2011

Kanye brought the all-red look from his "Big Red" stage back but gave it some edge with a red leather jacket and untucked white tee.

When: November 9, 2011

Who cares about scantily-clad Victoria's Secret angels? All (okay, most) eyes were on Ye's Versace for H&M varsity jacket (which hadn't even dropped yet).

When: November 29, 2011

We're not sure what's bigger: Kanye and Jay Z's Watch The Throne album or Kanye's famous leather skirt/kilt? Either way, the looks designed by Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci have become one of Ye's breaktrhough fashion moments.

When: July 1, 2012

When all-black-everything gets too passe, Kanye switches it up to all-white. The 3D texture on this only added levels to this 'fit.

When: September 1, 2012

"Leather jogging pants" will forever be a part of Kanye's legacy after his BBC interview (and Jimmy Kimmel rant), but give the dude credit for practicing what he preaches.

When: December 12, 2012

Iconic fashion moment or hip-hop blasphemy? Critics are still debating the influence of Kanye's leather Givenchy skirt/kilt.

When: December 28-30, 2012

The announcement of Kim Kardashian's pregnancy might have grabbed headlines from this concert series, but Kanye's assortment of facewear like this sparkly, crystal Margiela mask were nothing to fuck with.

When: December 28-30, 2012

Imagine if Kanye was the Abominable Snowman...And thus, "Kanyeti" was born.

When: May 15, 2013

"I ain't no muthafuckin celebrity," Kanye ranted during his performance at the Adult Swim upfront party. Ye kept in casual in a white tee look, quite possibly from his A.P.C. collabo.

When: June 9, 2013

Kanye's Governor's Ball look was one of contrasts with a spiked metal leather jacket over a Henley shirt, acid wash jeans and the Red October Air Yeezy IIs we're all waiting for.

When: August 25, 2013

In 2013, Kanye wanted the music to speak for itself during his VMA performance. He blended into the backdrop, quite literally, in this muted look complimented with Visvim FBT Shaman sneakers.

When: August 31, 2013

Ye reportedly received a cool $3 million for performing at a wedding in Kazakhstan but he kept his look far from extravagant in a denim jacket and black leather pants.

When: September 9, 2013

Fringe on fringe might be that new look for 2013. Kanye paired a long leather cape with fringe accents and his favorite Visvim FBT Shaman sneakers.

When: September 16, 2013

Kanye stripped down for a kick ass performance of "Blood on the Leaves" and "New Slaves" with a plain black tee and his trademark gold chains. He donned a cozy, ankle-length Rick Owens DRKSHDW jacket later for "Bound 2."