Adidas plans to sell the remaining stock of Kanye West’s Yeezy sneaker collection, despite initially cutting ties with the rapper. Image via Pinterest (AMDT314 group 6)
Kanye West urged to feature local artist’s work for album cover
Kanye West has been urged to feature a local artist’s work on his next album’s cover. Will he cave in to pressure?
Adidas plans to sell the remaining stock of Kanye West’s Yeezy sneaker collection, despite initially cutting ties with the rapper. Image via Pinterest (AMDT314 group 6)
Kanye West has been urged to feature a local artist’s work on his next album’s cover.
The rumoured name for his next release is ‘Yesuke’, which features collaborations with other hip-hop artists and rappers.
There’s no official release date yet, but some of the songs have leaked to YouTube, Spotify, and other sites.
West is controversial, especially after losing sponsorships with companies like Balenciaga and Adidas.
How do we get from one of the world’s weirdest rappers to an artist from Cape Town, South Africa?
Here’s how this story happened.
Kanye West: The rumoured ‘Yesuke’
Kanye West’s next album is untitled, but referred to as the ‘Yesuke’ album. Some songs, including Enemy, have already leaked to YouTube and Spotify.
According to Reddit, the name comes from the African Samurai, Yasuke.
The samurai fought during the late 1500s, arriving in Japan in 1579. He’s also the topic of a Netflix series.
West has to do damage control. He later apologised for his comments, but with much of the damage to his sponsorship deals done.
Kanye West urged to use local artist’s work
Fans have urged Kanye West to use a local artist’s work for the album’s official cover art.
Pressure has increased after a Spotify playlist appeared using the artist’s image as its feature picture.
Artist Nicola Roos has become known for her life-sized Yasuke sculptures, created in Cape Town and internationally exhibited.
So far, the use of Yasuke’s photographs have been mostly unattributed and shared via the internet.
West has recently changed his moniker to “Ye”, and has played basketball with Die Antwoord at least once.
Will Kanye West cave in to pressure?
There’s no way to tell what the Grammy-winning rapper might be thinking.
West’s Weird Moves
West has made himself one of rap’s most controversial figures, and not in a good way.
Several sponsors distanced from West after he praised Adolf Hitler in an interview. He issued an apology, but this didn’t bring back the sponsorships.
West is also the figure behind his own schooling academy, a completely unaccredited and controversial school: Donda Academy.
He’s won several Grammy Awards in addition to losing his sponsorships.
Tell us your thoughts
What do you think about this story? We’d love to hear from you. Send an email to: info@thesouthafrican.com.
