In 2009, Kanye West was riding high. 808s & Heartbreak – his fourth studio album and a marked departure from his soul-based, hip-hop sound – proved a resounding critical and commercial triumph.
A foray into clothing design had culminated in a Paris fashion week sneaker show with Louis Vuitton and a shoe line with Nike, the first for a non-athlete.
No longer was West the dorky producer-turned-rapper agitating to break out of Jay-Z’s shadow. He had become something even bigger: a true star . The only person who could stop Kanye was Kanye – or Ye, as he’s preferred to be known of late.
Today his empire lies in a smouldering heap in the wake of the 45-year-old artist’s media blitz. West himself says he lost $2bn (£1.7bn) in a single day this week.
First there was the smear campaign against his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, then the White Lives Matter fashion statement in Paris, and then his complete transformation into an alt-right puppet.
And it escalated with West’s fusillade of unprompted anti semitic commentary, starting with him needling the Kushner family during an hourlong sitdown with [the Fox News talkshow host] Tucker Carlson in early October, that cost West his diverse portfolio.
The Gap, JP Morgan and Creative Artists Agency are among a raft of partners that quickly cut ties. All the while West dug in, claiming on a podcast appearance that Adidas – with whom West teamed up after leaving Nike – would never leave him, regardless of how many more anti semitic assertions he made.
Denne historien er fra October 29, 2022-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra October 29, 2022-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Amorim asks for survival mode after Wolves loss
Ruben Amorim said Manchester United must adopt survival mode to end their miserable run after a fourth defeat in five Premier League matches dropped them to 14th, eight points above the relegation zone.
'We have to try' Guardiola calls for January signings after Everton draw
Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City board will discuss new signings for the January transfer window this week, the manager said after his team dropped another two points in the 1-1 draw with Everton.
Arteta backs Martinelli to step up after Saka injury
Mikel Arteta is hoping Gabriel Martinelli can help to fill the void created by Bukayo Saka's hamstring injury, with the England forward likely to miss key fixtures including the north London derby next month.
Wilson and Muniz pounce late to cast doubt on Chelsea's title credentials
Perhaps there will be some debate around Fulham's equaliser after 82 minutes of this 2-1 derby win for Marco Silva's team at Stamford Bridge.
Jones and Salah clear path at the top for Liverpool
Liverpool have kicked off at 8pm on a Boxing Day twice in their history.
Tonali helps Newcastle ease past 10-man Villa
Sandro Tonali has brought Newcastle an abundance of gifts but perhaps foremost among them is the rare ability to slow games down that offers Eddie Howe's high-intensity team the sort of invaluable control they have so often lacked in recent months.
Elanga takes Forest third and deepens Postecoglou's pain
The mist rolled in with such increasing density from the Trent that eventually it was difficult to make out which Tottenham player was running down which blind alley. But what is crystal clear is Nottingham Forest's momentum which, after Anthony Elanga's third goal in successive games, has lifted them into third place in the Premier League.
Haaland's wasted spot-kick adds to Guardiola's gloom
Manchester City's plight is their individual kind of déjà vu nightmare.
Fabianski carried off but Bowen edges out Juric's new Saints
If we take the view that Southampton are doomed - as a reminder, no club has ever stayed in the Premier League with such a lowly points tally at this stage of the season - then small positives must be sought wherever possible for the beleaguered regulars at St Mary's.
'Rubbish game' but Guéhi content with valuable point
The visiting captain, Marc Guéhi, branded Crystal Palace's goalless draw with Bournemouth a \"rubbish game\" and \"boring for the neutral\".
