Kanye West Says He Is 'Retiring From 'Professional Music,' But 'Isn't Sure What Else To Do'

Controversial rapper Kanye West has seemingly revealed plans to step away from "professional music" amid a flood of lawsuits against him.

The rapper's retirement remarks were revealed in a text exchange shared by his fellow musician Rich The Kid, who inquired why West was quitting the music business.

Kanye West made a major music comeback this year by releasing the collaboration album "Vultures 1" with rapper Ty Dolla Sign, which topped the charts and broke several records.

On Tuesday, Rapper Rich The Kid shared a screenshot of a text exchange between him and West, in which the Yeezy founder claimed that he intends to "retire" from "professional music."

West said, "I am retiring from professional music," adding, "Not sure what else to do."

His words seemingly stunned Rich The Kid, who proceeded to question why West wanted to retire from music.

"Retire? Why? How? The ppl NEED you the music you & Ty & we have made the BIGGEST STAMP in culture to this date in 2024," Rich The Kid said.

He continued, "Drop Ye about mine & V2 and we do it all over again the kids need you big bra fasho maybe some time to chill but retiring ain't it."

West's intention to quit the music business divided people on social media. While some celebrated, others were left disappointed, especially those anticipating the release of Volumes 2 and 3 of his "Vultures" music project.

One person said, "My goat [is] retiring with Vultures as his last album. Please say sike [right now]."

Another wrote, "As a fan, I am happy for him if it's true. He owes fans and the 'music' industry nothing. Healing and focusing on his wellbeing could be best realized by him once he puts quits the music/fast life."

"I think the best thing for Kanye to do is take a long break to get his mental state together and find peace then return to music at his own time," a third person noted.

One more person said, "As sad as it is, watching his downward spiral after the last couple of years has been more sad. Definitely needs to wrap it up or at least get some help."

After the release of West's highly anticipated collaborative music project, "Vultures," the album was unexpectedly removed from Apple Music and iTunes, where the song "Carnival" had previously held the top spot on the Top 100: Global chart.

According to Billboard, the distributor was actively working to remove the album from all streaming platforms, allegedly because West uploaded it without proper authorization.

Despite streaming issues, the album soared to number one in 100 countries. Spotify removed the track "Good (Don't Die)" over copyright infringement claims from legendary singer Donna Summer's estate, but the remaining tracks remained accessible on the platform.

Titled "Vultures 1," the album served as the first part of a trilogy, with the subsequent releases still to come. "Vultures 2" was initially scheduled to be released in March; however, the album was postponed to May, but it was still not released.

West and his wife, Bianca Censori, reportedly experienced a renewed sense of marital bliss after the success of "Vultures 1."

The controversial couple allegedly had a tumultuous period in their marriage, including a public dispute over West's anti-Semitic remarks, with Censori questioning her husband's behavior.

According to sources, their relationship "was hanging on by a thread," which is why she didn't show up to support her husband at his New York event and after-party on February 9.

The insider who spoke to the Daily Mail said, "She knows [what] everyone thinks of her husband—and his recent outbursts were causing her to question everything."

However, the insider noted that the album's success restored their bond, adding, "But then, all of a sudden, his album is a success, and she is back to being a loving, adoring, and supportive wife."

West's retirement remarks come after he revealed his plans to start a new business venture related to the adult entertainment industry.

The rapper reportedly wants to launch his own professional porn studio and has seemingly moved forward in negotiations with his partners.

In April, TMZ quoted a Yeezy rep as saying West had been pondering the idea of launching his own pornography studio and brand for a while now and is now bent on ensuring that dream comes to life.

He has reportedly contacted Stormy Daniels's ex-husband Mike Moz to help him start up the "Yeezy Porn" studio, which would be part of a broader adult entertainment division at the parent Yeezy company.

Moz is said to know the intricacies of the porn industry after serving as a producer for over a decade and has also done casting and art direction in the adult film industry.