Kanye West. Photo by Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images
Kanye West and Def Jam have gone their separate ways, according to a report in the New York Times. The FADER has reached out to representatives for Def Jam and Kanye West.
The rapper's deal with the label, which began in 2004 with the release of his debut solo album The College Dropout, was reportedly completed upon the release of 2021's Donda and has not been renewed. The purported severance also includes West's label G.O.O.D. Music—in 2022, G.O.O.D. Music and Def Jam released Pusha T's It's Almost Dry and You Can't Kill Me by 070 Shake.
It is unclear if the business relationship's alleged termination is connected to the growing fallout from Kanye West's antisemitic comments which first emerged in early October when he accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of being controlled by Jewish people. After West was barred from Instagram for posting the comments, he tweeted that he was going "death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE."
The past week has seen West dropped by Balenciaga, Adidas, the talent agency CAA, his lawyer, and a film studio with a completed documentary on the artist.
