On Sunday afternoon, just hours before chaos would erupt outside New York City’s Webster Hall, Kanye West and a few of his friends gathered backstage at Hot 97’s Summer Jam for an early celebration of the rapper’s birthday. Surrounded by frequent collaborators like 2 Chainz and Desiigner, a grinning Kanye was presented with five sparklers mounted on a long, orange cake, the word “Pablo” carved out of the pastry in a jagged, Olde English font. The crowd cheered as the rappers’ wife, Kim Kardashian, held out the final notes of “Happy Birthday.”
“Happy birthday, mothafucka,” 2 Chainz offered once the lights came back on. “I ain’t know that.”
June 8 marks 39 years since the Lord first blessed us with Kanye Omari West. And while Ye’s fondness for sweets is well documented—predominantly his love affair with ice cream—over the course of the last decade, the MC’s lyrics, album artwork, and likeness have all lent themselves to an array of cakes and desserts.
Whether it’s a birthday, or a graduation, or an anniversary, there’s something about Kanye’s image that lends itself to celebration. Some desserts were made by fans, while others were baked for Mr. West himself. But whatever the occasion may be, here, in honor of Yeezy’s big day, are the greatest Kanye West-inspired cakes of all time.
