Community Art Center Co-Founded By Kanye West Cuts Ties With West And Receives Backlash.

In 2013, artist, songwriter and Kanye West collaborator, Rhymefest, created a community art incubator to support youth on the South Side of Chicago. The charity organization co-founded and initially funded by Kanye West was named the “Donda’s House”, after Kanye West’s mother. Unfortunately things have not gone smoothly.

Following struggles to keep the center afloat, seemingly after Rhymefest agreed to take sole responsibility for the organization’s operational expenses when Kanye fell upon hard times financially, Rhymefest released a statement via the Donda’s House website stating they would no longer use the name “Donda’s House Inc”.

It should also be pointed out that since Kanye’s pro-Trump statements, the charity has worked to disassociate itself from him.

DeLLsyoVAAEmIuH — Official statement from Donda’s House

Kanye West’s wife Kim Kardashian responded on twitter to the statement issued on May 26, releasing a series of tweets yesterday questioning the ethics and integrity of the organization and finally threatening to take over the organization.

Kanye and Donda started a charity called Loop Dreams. When Donda passed, they changed the name to Donda’s House. Kanye paid Rhymefest a salary to run it.

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2018

After several years of lack of performance from the organization and Kanye going through personal financial issues, he could no longer fund salaries. Rhymefest asked to take it over and Kanye agreed with no financial strings attached.

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2018

Kanye gave his “friend” an opportunity to run an organization on his own. So now that Kanye is being publicly shamed for not being involved makes no sense and, at this exact time, just seems very calculated.

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2018

I have and will always applaud any efforts to give back to the community. To fight for justice and to help uplift the youth. But I will never tolerate someone who was close to Kanye who attempts to use his late mother’s name to publicly shame him while pretending to do good.

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 27, 2018

You better believe I will make it my mission to take Donda’s House from you and let my children run it the way it should be run! @RHYMEFEST

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 26, 2018

In Response to Kim Kardashian’s threat on twitter, on Sunday Rhymefest issued a formal statement directly to Kim taking her up on her suggestion to dissolve the charity while stressing the art center will continue its programming and original mission.

Hey @KimKardashian good to hear from you. Here’s my response pic.twitter.com/dWvwZfr1b5

— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) May 27, 2018

Immediately following the statement from @Rhymefest to Kim Kardashian twitter users reacted, largely in support of Rhymefest, aka Che Smith, who has known Kanye West since they were 16 years old.

Che Smith’s friendship with West also goes back to their days in the studio. Smith had a hand in some of Yeezy’s biggest songs including writing credits on “Jesus Walks” and “New Slaves.”

Smith who helped co-found Donda’s House with Kanye in 2013 says the name change was a difficult decision to make as Dr. Donda West was a mentor to him when he was younger.

GettyImages-109331540 — (Left to right) Rhymefest, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Chris Tucker, pictured in 2005 (photo by GettyImages)

https://twitter.com/mattwhitlockPM/status/1000538374049026049

https://twitter.com/woahthatsgayaf/status/1000562646716907526

Girl. Bye. Rhymefest’s & his wife put in mad work across the city to help Donda’s House. Literally saw them in Walmart on 83rd buying supplies for the youth music program. Where have you been at the last 5 years? I’ll be quiet lol https://t.co/wqsZgYLIwu

— LaNika✌️✈️💚 (@LanikaFiasco) May 27, 2018

https://twitter.com/ShawtysLikeA_/status/1000593113650475008

News outlets frame the situation as “drama” and beef” with little regard to the center’s positive work which will continue as Kanye West and Che Smith work through the differences.

Kanye West has yet to respond.

For more information about the charity organization focused on Chicago’s disadvantaged youth follow the link here.