In 2005, Vinoda Basnayake, a then law student, helped with promoting a Kanye West performance at Club2K9 in Washington, DC. This was when West had one single, “Through The Wire,” but Basnayake said even then he understood how gifted he was.

“I just think he’s so talented,” says Basnayake. “As a music producer and as an artist in every sense of the word, he’s just incredible.”