Kanye West

=== Business ventures ===

West founded the record label and production company [[GOOD Music]] in 2004, in conjunction with [[Sony BMG Music Entertainment|Sony BMG]], shortly after releasing his debut album, ''[[The College Dropout]]''. West, alongside then-unknown [[Ohio]] singer [[John Legend]] and fellow Chicago rapper [[Common (rapper)|Common]] were the label's inaugural artists.<ref name=Founded>{{cite web|title=G.O.O.D. Music is Founded by Kanye West|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/09/the-complete-history-of-good-music/good-music-founded|work=The Complete History of G.O.O.D. Music|publisher=Complex.com|access-date=December 3, 2013|last=Chesna|first=Benjamin|date=September 26, 2012|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807162618/https://www.complex.com/music/2012/09/the-complete-history-of-good-music/good-music-founded|url-status=live}}</ref> The label houses artists including West, [[Big Sean]], Pusha T, Teyana Taylor, Yasiin Bey / Mos Def, [[D'banj]] and John Legend, and producers including [[Hudson Mohawke]], Q-Tip, [[Travis Scott (musician)|Travis Scott]], No I.D., [[Jeff Bhasker]], and S1. GOOD Music has released ten albums [[RIAA certification|certified gold]] or higher by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA). In November 2015, West appointed Pusha T the new president of GOOD Music.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Pusha T Named President of G.O.O.D. Music|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6753076/pusha-t-president-good-music-exclusive|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 9, 2015|archive-date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112001322/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6753076/pusha-t-president-good-music-exclusive?|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2008, West revealed plans to open 10 [[Fatburger]] restaurants in the Chicago area; the first was set to open in September 2008 in Orland Park. The second followed in January 2009, while a third location is yet to be revealed, although the process is being finalized. His company, KW Foods LLC, bought the rights to the chain in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kanye West To Open Chain of Fatburger Restaurants in Chicago|url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/2008/08/13/kanye-west-to-open-chain-of-fatburger-restaurants-in-chicago/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150204111514/http://www.ballerstatus.com/2008/08/13/kanye-west-to-open-chain-of-fatburger-restaurants-in-chicago/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2015|website=BallerStatus.com|date=August 2010}}</ref> Ultimately, in 2009, only two locations actually opened. In February 2011, West shut down the Fatburger located in [[Orland Park, Illinois|Orland Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2011/02/01/kanye_west_shuts_down_his_chicago_fatb|title=Kanye West Shuts Down His Chicago Fatburger Restaurant|publisher=Starpulse.com|date=February 1, 2011|access-date=December 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711135046/http://www.starpulse.com/kanye-west-shuts-down-his-chicago-fatburger-restaurant-1848033086.html|archive-date=July 11, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2012, West announced his establishment of the creative content company [[Donda (company)|Donda]], named after his late mother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/01/kanye-west-announces-creative-company-donda/|title=Kanye West Announces Creative Company DONDA|last=Osei|first=Anthony|date=January 5, 2012|magazine=Complex Magazine|access-date=January 9, 2012|archive-date=January 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108200345/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/01/kanye-west-announces-creative-company-donda|url-status=live}}</ref> In his announcement, West proclaimed that the company would "pick up where [[Steve Jobs]] left off"; Donda would operate as a "design company" with a goal to "make products and experiences that people want and can afford".<ref name="vh1.com">Graham, Mark, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140227074738/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2012-01-05/kanye-wests-epic-1600-word-twitter-rant-the-complete-text-neatly-organized-for-your-reading-pleasure/ Kanye West's Epic 1600-word Twitter Rant: Neatly Organized for your Reading Pleasure], January 5, 2012, 'VH1', retrieved August 4, 2015.</ref> In stating Donda's creative philosophy, West articulated the need to "put creatives in a room together with like minds" in order to "simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see, taste, touch, and feel."<ref name="vh1.com" /> West is notoriously secretive about the company's operations, maintaining neither an official website nor a social media presence.<ref>Hope, Clover, [http://www.vibe.com/2013/08/kanye-west-has-dream-inside-creative-agency-donda/ Kanye West has a Dream: Inside his Creative Agency DONDA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207124828/http://www.vibe.com/2013/08/kanye-west-has-dream-inside-creative-agency-donda/ |date=February 7, 2016 }}, August 19, 2013, 'VIBE', retrieved August 4, 2015.</ref><ref>Pasori, Cedar, [http://www.complex.com/style/2014/11/how-kanye-wests-creative-company-donda-is-making-its-own-brand-of-cool/ How Kanye West's Creative Company DONDA is making its own Brand of Cool] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223034420/http://www.complex.com/style/2014/11/how-kanye-wests-creative-company-donda-is-making-its-own-brand-of-cool |date=December 23, 2015 }}, November 3, 2014, 'Complex Magazine', retrieved August 4, 2015.</ref> Contemporary critics have noted the consistent minimalistic aesthetic exhibited throughout Donda creative projects.<ref>Sargent, Jordan, [http://www.spin.com/2013/11/kanye-west-2-chainz-pusha-t-big-sean-donda-minimalist-design-company/ DONDA: Kanye West Goes G.O.O.D. Trill Hunting with His Minimalist Design Company] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820114429/https://www.spin.com/2013/11/kanye-west-2-chainz-pusha-t-big-sean-donda-minimalist-design-company/ |date=August 20, 2018 }}, November 13, 2013, 'Spin Magazine', retrieved August 4, 2015.</ref><ref>Babcock, Gregory, [http://www.complex.com/style/2015/06/rich-wilkerson-jr-donda-book/ Kanye's Stylish Pastor Releases DONDA-Designed Book] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309183431/http://www.complex.com/style/2015/06/rich-wilkerson-jr-donda-book |date=March 9, 2016 }}, June 23, 2015, 'Complex Magazine', retrieved August 4, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lewis|first=Brittany|url=http://globalgrind.com/2014/11/03/donda-created-music-covers-photos-kanye-west-creative-house/|title=Every Music Cover Kanye West's Creative House DONDA Has Created So Far... (LIST)|date=November 3, 2014|work=Global Grind|access-date=December 29, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212083517/http://globalgrind.com/2014/11/03/donda-created-music-covers-photos-kanye-west-creative-house/|url-status=live}}</ref>

West expressed interest in starting an architecture firm in May 2013, saying "I want to do product, I am a product person, not just clothing but water bottle design, architecture{{nbsp}}... I make music but I shouldn't be limited to one place of creativity"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2013/09/24/im-working-with-five-architects-at-a-time-kanye-west/|title='I'm working with five architects at a time'—Kanye West|date=September 24, 2013|work=Dezeen|access-date=September 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928200716/https://www.dezeen.com/2013/09/24/im-working-with-five-architects-at-a-time-kanye-west/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/07/kanye-west-announces-architecture-arm-to-his-company-yeezy-home|title=Kanye West announces architecture arm to his company Yeezy|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|date=May 7, 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=September 28, 2018|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000244/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/07/kanye-west-announces-architecture-arm-to-his-company-yeezy-home|url-status=live}}</ref> and then later in November 2013, delivering a [[manifesto]] on his architectural goals during a visit to [[Harvard Graduate School of Design]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.citylab.com/design/2013/11/kanye-west-goes-harvard-delivers-manifesto-architecture/7616/|title=Kanye West Goes to Harvard, Delivers Manifesto on Architecture|work=CityLab|access-date=September 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000131/https://www.citylab.com/design/2013/11/kanye-west-goes-harvard-delivers-manifesto-architecture/7616/|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2018, West announced he was starting an architecture firm called Yeezy Home, which will act as an arm of his already successful Yeezy fashion label.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2018/05/07/kanye-west-announces-yeezy-home-architecture-arm/|title=Kanye West to launch architecture arm of Yeezy fashion label|date=May 7, 2018|work=Dezeen|access-date=September 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928200755/https://www.dezeen.com/2018/05/07/kanye-west-announces-yeezy-home-architecture-arm/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2018, the first Yeezy Home collaboration was announced by designer Jalil Peraza, teasing an affordable concrete [[prefabricated]] home as part of a [[social housing]] project.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/7/17326702/kanye-west-yeezy-home-architecture-design|title=Is Kanye West's first architecture project an affordable concrete prefab?|work=Curbed|access-date=September 28, 2018|archive-date=September 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928201042/https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/7/17326702/kanye-west-yeezy-home-architecture-design|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2018/06/04/kanye-west-yeezy-home-architecture-social-housing-project-instagram/|title=Kanye West begins Yeezy Home architecture venture with social-housing project|date=June 4, 2018|work=Dezeen|access-date=September 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000120/https://www.dezeen.com/2018/06/04/kanye-west-yeezy-home-architecture-social-housing-project-instagram/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2015, it was announced that West is a co-owner, with various other music artists, in the [[music streaming]] service [[Tidal (service)|Tidal]]. The service specialises in [[Lossless compression|lossless]] audio and high definition music videos. Jay-Z acquired the parent company of Tidal, [[Aspiro]], in the first quarter of 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/business/media/jay-z-buys-the-music-streaming-firm-aspiro.html|title=Jay Z Buys the Music Streaming Firm, Aspiro|work=The New York Times|date=March 13, 2015|access-date=March 31, 2015|first=Ben|last=Sisario|archive-date=September 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908091219/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/business/media/jay-z-buys-the-music-streaming-firm-aspiro.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Sixteen artist stakeholders including Jay-Z, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Madonna, [[Chris Martin]], [[Nicki Minaj]] co-own Tidal, with the majority owning a 3% equity stake.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6509498/jay-z-tidal-launch-artist-stakeholders|title=It's Official: Jay Z's Historic Tidal Launches With 16 Artist Stakeholders|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Andrew|last=Flanagan|date=March 30, 2015|access-date=March 31, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402032038/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6509498/jay-z-tidal-launch-artist-stakeholders|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2022, in direct response to bans he received on Twitter and Instagram stemming from his antisemitic comments,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wagner |first1=Kurt |last2=Bhashin |first2=Kim |title=Ye Says He Bought Parler Because Instagram, Twitter Penalized Him |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-17/ye-says-parler-purchase-prompted-by-instagram-twitter-penalties |date=October 17, 2022 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017190731/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-17/ye-says-parler-purchase-prompted-by-instagram-twitter-penalties |url-status=live }}</ref> West reached an [[agreement in principle]] to acquire the [[alt-tech]] social network [[Parler]] for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite web |last=Browne |first=Ryan |title=Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, agrees to buy conservative social media platform Parler, company says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/17/kanye-west-is-buying-conservative-social-media-platform-parler-company-says.html |date=October 17, 2022 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |publisher=[[CNBC]] |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119085751/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/17/kanye-west-is-buying-conservative-social-media-platform-parler-company-says.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Coster |first1=Helen |last2=Datta |first2=Tiyashi |last3=Balu |first3=Nivedita |title=Kanye West agrees to buy social media app Parler |language=en |publisher=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/parler-be-acquired-by-kanye-west-2022-10-17/ |date=October 17, 2022 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017222740/https://www.reuters.com/technology/parler-be-acquired-by-kanye-west-2022-10-17/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Parler and West mutually agreed to terminate the proposed deal in mid-November.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/01/tech/kanye-parler-deal-termination/index.html|title=Kanye West is no longer acquiring Parler, company says|first=Brian|last=Fung|work=CNN Business|date=December 1, 2022|access-date=December 2, 2022|archive-date=December 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201224143/https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/01/tech/kanye-parler-deal-termination/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>