Throughout the course of his career, Kanye West has always been tied to Jay-Z. Even when it seemed Roc-A-Fella Records was inactive, Kanye West was still listed as an artist on the roster. When Jay-Z began Roc Nation, Kanye West was among the first artists mentioned as a part of the mega company.
However, Kanye West has a business of his own that he has been running over the past couple of years. Named after his deceased mother, Donda West, Kanye West started his creative company, DONDA. The company has done projects with such brands as Louis Vuitton, Nike, and Adidas.
While Kanye West has done a good job of running his company, reinforcements have never hurt. When turning to Jay-Z, Kanye West knows he cannot go wrong, seeing how many businesses he has successfully run over the past few years. Kanye West issued an official press release following the DONDA/Roc Nation deal.
Read the press release below:
Announced today, Kanye West’s creative house DONDA enters into partnership with Roc Nation to manage all DONDA Music.
The partnership will focus on Mr. West’s international recording brand and worldwide touring ventures.
A multi-discipline design and content company, DONDA saw its early beginnings seeded by the 2009 footwear collaboration with fashion house Louis Vuitton. That collaboration spurred demand for Mr. West’s design sensibilities with fashion and apparel brands around the globe, including Nike and Adidas. DONDA continues its influence in the world of apparel: two versions of the Nike AIR YEEZY – each of which has sold out worldwide in just minutes – two celebrated capsule lines with Parisian brand A.P.C. – also instantly sold-out – and the highly-anticipated new line with Adidas, slated to debut this fall.
Mr. West officially branded DONDA in 2011 with the groundbreaking packaging and tour design for Watch The Throne. The following year, DONDA conceptualized and introduced an immersive new way to experience cinema: the 7-Screen Surround Vision experience in Cannes, France. The short film Cruel Summer, a visual companion to the G.O.O.D. Music album of the same name, employed the new techniques in both filming and viewing. In 2013, DONDA oversaw the concept and design for Mr. West’s minimalist YEEZUS album packaging and groundbreaking global launch, including a guerilla-marketing campaign, the “New Slaves” projections. DONDA is at the center of concept, design and production of Mr. West’s lauded concert experience, the YEEZUS TOUR. DONDA has designed and produced album packaging, staging, music videos and content for Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Pusha T and more.
Founded in 2008, Roc Nation is a full-service entertainment company, inclusive of artist, songwriter, producer and engineer management; music publishing; touring & merchandising; film & television; new business ventures; and a music label. It is home to a diverse roster comprised of critically acclaimed recording artists, writers and producers including Rihanna, Shakira, Rita Ora, J. Cole, Timbaland, etc. Roc Nation has a partnership with global management company, Three Six Zero. Over the past several years, Roc Nation has been responsible a state-of-the-art recording and distribution deal with the Universal Music Group for JAY Z, Rihanna, and others; Rihanna’s rise as a huge global touring brand; and the launch of the Roc Nation Sports agency, which in its first year has built a roster of such all-star talent as Robinson Cano, Kevin Durant, Victor Cruz and more.
Follow DJ Louie Styles on Twitter @DJLouieStyles.
