Context: According to Capitol Record's A&R, Joe Weinberger, he was approached by West and almost signed a deal with him, but another person in the company convinced Capitol's president not to. Desperate to keep West from defecting to another label, then-label head Damon Dash reluctantly signed West to Roc-A-Fella Records. Jay-Z later admitted that Roc-A-Fella was initially reluctant to support West as a rapper, claiming that many saw him as a producer first and foremost, and that his background contrasted with that of his labelmates.

Question: Who almost picked up Kanye but was ultimately swayed?
Answer: Joe Weinberger

Question: What label finally (although reluctantly) picked up Kanye?
Answer: Roc-A-Fella

Question: What did Kanye's peers see him as while he tried to pursue his rap career?
Answer: a producer

Question: What man was almost ready to give Kanye a record deal?
Answer: Joe Weinberger

Question: What record company eventually signed Kanye West?
Answer: Roc-A-Fella