Why is Kanye West famous?

Seriously, I'm hoping someone will explain it to me.

I'm rap-literate enough to know he's not a good rapper. In my opinion, he's had one catchy song, and that was years ago (by the way, I'm still trying to figure out what a "broke-broke" is - though yes, I know what it's there in place of). Ever since then, whenever I see the name "Kanye West" pop up on my car's XM, I turn up the song to see what the fuss is all about, but within seconds I bore of his mediocrity and tune out. I do respect that he called out President Bush during a live Katrina telecast - inspiring Mike Myers to soil his pants from sheer awkwardness - but as a musician, I put Kanye right up there with Heidi Montag.

As for his beginnings, I know there was something about a car accident, but at least Gloria Estefan was famous before hers. Kanye, on the other hand, climbed from the wreckage and decreed "I'm now a famous musician!" - and it was so. Since then, he and his Debbie Gibson sunglasses have had a nice stretch of memorably NOT winning Grammys (a less talented Susan Lucci, if you will), though that streak was broken this year when he won a few, in the new category of "Best Artist Who Will Call You Racist If He Doesn't Win". Come to think of it, maybe I should go for that one next year with my new single - "I ain't saying she a bit wonky, but she ain't messin' with no wack - wack".

And with that, I officially decree that I'm a famous musician.