generate questions: Despite his success as a producer, West's true aspiration was to be a rapper. Though he had developed his rapping long before he began producing, it was often a challenge for West to be accepted as a rapper, and he struggled to attain a record deal. Multiple record companies ignored him because he did not portray the gangsta image prominent in mainstream hip hop at the time. After a series of meetings with Capitol Records, West was ultimately denied an artist deal.
Although Kanye was achieving fame by producing, what did he actually want to be? {sep_token} What label declined to work with Kanye after many meetings? {sep_token} What career was Kanye's ultimate dream? {sep_token} What did Kanye West not have that made record companies turn him down? {sep_token} Which record company turned Kanye down after many meetings?