Kanye, G.O.O.D. Music No Longer Signed To Def Jam: Report
Kanye and G.O.O.D. Music are reportedly no longer signed to Def Jam according to The New York Times.
The New York Times published an article Monday (Oct. 24) that due to the rapper’s recent racist remarks, several companies have decided to sever ties with Ye. According to the publication, Ye’s relationship with Def Jam ended with the release of Donda in August of 2021. In February, Ye released a follow-up to Donda titled Donda 2 but was only made available on the rapper’s Stem Player.
Kanye’s Getting Out Our Dreams imprint is also reportedly no longer being distributed by the label. The NYT article does not specify whether Def Jam decided to no longer distribute G.O.O.D. Music due to Ye’s recent racist remarks in the media or if it happened prior to G.O.O.D. Music is still listed on Def Jam’s website.
Ye’s recent anti-Semitic remarks have had companies drop their partnership with the rapper in the past week. Vogue reportedly decided to cut ties with the rapper on Friday (Oct. 21).
A Vogue spokesperson told Page Six that “neither the magazine nor its editor-in-chief Anna Wintour intends to work with Kanye West again after his anti-Semitic rants and support for the White Lives Matter cause.”
“Anna has had enough,” an insider told the tabloid. “She has made it very clear inside Vogue that Kanye is no longer part of the inner circle.”
Vogue has not made it clear what this will mean in practice for Kanye. He might never appear on the magazine’s sites, or physical cover (including his clothing) again or at the very least he won’t be welcomed to the exclusive Met Gala event held every year.
Additionally, Camille Vasquez — Johnny Depp’s attorney in his defamation trial against Amber Heard– reportedly cut ties with the rapper, Page Six reports after Ye hired her last week per TMZ.
His touring agent, CAA, has also dropped him, Deadline reported this week, in addition to his documentary has also been scrapped, Variety confirms. Studio executives Modi Wiczyk, Asif Satchu, and Scott Tenley from MRC announced in a memo on Monday (Oct. 24).
“This morning, after discussion with our filmmakers and distribution partners, we made the decision not to proceed with any distribution for our recently completed documentary about Kanye West. We cannot support any content that amplifies his platform,” they wrote. “Kanye is a producer and sampler of music. Last week he sampled and remixed a classic tune that has charted for over 3,000 years — the lie that Jews are evil and conspire to control the world for their own gain.”
Balenciaga severed ties with the rapper last week.