Ye — the artist formerly known as Kanye West — appears to be calling it a career on the music front.
Rich The Kid shared an alleged text message from West on Tuesday (July 9) which shows Ye explaining how he’s walking away from doing music professionally.
“I am retiring from professional music Not sure what else to do,” Ye wrote in the message while seemingly caught in a state of uncertainty.
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Rich The Kid replied trying to convince him otherwise: “Retire? Why? How? The ppl NEED you the music you & Ty & we have made the BIGGEST STAMP in culture to this date in 2024. Drop Ye about mine & V2 and we do it all over again the kids need you big bra fasho maybe some time to chill but retiring ain’t it.”
The “New Freezer” rapper deleted the text message exchange featuring Ye’s alleged retirement from his Instagram Story about a half-hour after originally posting it.
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Fans were left flabbergasted at the idea Kanye would be done with music. “BOOOOOOOOOO NEVER Ngl I never thought I would hear him use the word retirement in life,” a person replied on X.
Another shocked fan wrote. “That’s what happens when people don’t respect your genius. If it is true yeah should be mentioned with the greats of all time. An artist before anything.”
However, some aren’t taking West at his word and believe this could be a marketing ploy leading into his next album or venture.
It all might be for none as Rich The Kid followed-up announcing that his Life’s A Gamble album is arriving next Friday (July 19) and features West on “Gimme a Second 2” and “Plain Jane.” Ye and Ty Dolla $ign also serve as executive producers on the project.
“ACTUALLY WE DROPPING FRIDAY 7/19,” he wrote with a series of crying laughing emojis.
However, Ty Dolla $ign announced over the weekend that he and Ye were planning to bring the Vultures experience to South Korea with a listening party slated for Aug. 23 at Goyang Stadium. Tickets are reportedly scheduled to go on sale later in July.
Rich The Kid has worked with Yeezy in the past and he appeared on Vultures anthem “Carnival” alongside Ty Dolla $ign and Playboi carti, which gave Ye his fifth No. 1 hit atop the Billboard Hot 100.
Even after releasing music independently this year following his string of antisemitic remarks and controversies, West still put numbers on the boards with Vultures topping the Billboard 200 — his 11th project at the chart’s apex — in February.
Ye has notched 157 Hot 100 entries in his decorated career — which is good for the sixth most of all-time — spanning two decades with 21 top 10 hits to his name.
Billboard has reached out to a rep for Ye for comment.
