American rapper Kanye West has announced his retirement from professional music, expressing uncertainty about his future plans.
West revealed his decision in a recent conversation with fellow rapper Rich The Kid. Rich The Kid shared a screenshot of their chat on his Instagram story on Tuesday. In the screenshot, West wrote, “I am retiring from professional music. Not sure what else to do.”
In an attempt to persuade West to reconsider, Rich The Kid responded, “Retire? Why? How? The people need you. The music you, TY (Dollar $ign), and we have made was 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 bro. Fashion maybe some time to chill but retiring ain’t it.” (Sic).
Rich The Kid did not share whether West accepted his advice.
Kanye West is one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, known for his diverse musical styles. He began his music career as a producer in Chicago after dropping out of college and gained prominence after co-producing Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint. He was later signed as an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records.
In 2004, West released his debut album, The College Dropout, which received critical acclaim and produced the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single “Slow Jamz.” Over his career, he has become the joint most-awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history, sharing the title with Jay-Z, each holding 24 Grammy Awards.