Def Jam CEO Steve Bartels Says Label Isn't "Pushing" Kanye West For New Music

Kanye West under no pressure when it comes to new music.

BYMatt F
Link Copied to Clipboard!
97 Views
Christopher Polk/Getty Images

After reportedly spending time in Wyoming recently to begin work on his newest project, Kanye West definitely isn't feeling pressure to produce something quickly.

According to DJ Booth, Def Jam CEO Steve Bartels said that the label isn't pushing for a fast release of a Life of Pablo follow-up.

"It’s never something we’re pushing — it’s always led by the creative side," Bartels told Variety.

Even at the more leisurely pace, when asked if we're going to get any new music out of Yeezy this year, the response from Bartels was non-committal. "You never know," he said. "He's always working, so maybe so."

In fact, it turns out that Bartels, and Def Jam by association, are just as much in the dark as we are:

"I don’t know if that’s real or not, I read the same things you do. When we talk we don’t really get down to the granular of where he’s going and how he’s flying there, we keep it much more on a broader level. Kanye is working, that’s been widely reported. He’s always very focused, and our relationship with him is that we always have great respect for him and when he’s ready to do something or talk about something, we’re there for him, we totally support his vision and his focus, and that’s where we leave it."

Def Jam also has releases coming up for Vince Staples, 2 Chainz and (hopefully) Iggy Azalea.

  • Link Copied to Clipboard!
About The Author