#TheWeeklyRoundUp - 09.12.22

Yeezy Clothing Brand Owes $600,000 In Back Taxes to California, Records Show (digital music news)

Tax documents reveal that rapper Kanye West’s Yeezy clothing brand has significant tax debt to California–more than $600,000.

Tax documents reviewed by NBC News include a series of state tax lien notices from the last two years. The notices claim that Yeezy Apparel owes over $600,000 in unpaid tax debt to the state. At least three separate notices were sent–starting July 2021, February 2022, and September 2022. A lien is a claim made against a person’s assets to fulfill an alleged debt.

California may impose a lien on a company or taxpayer if they don’t respond to taxes owed either by setting up a payment plan or paying the balance in full.

According to public records, Yeezy Apparel has been operating in the state since 2017. The brand’s collaboration with Adidas and Gap were terminated earlier this year after Ye made several antisemitic remarks. Yeezy Apparel is one of five active Yeezy LLCs managed by the rapper in the state.

“The state is subject to some criticism for just sitting on this when there is a going business there from which they could collect,” Lynn LoPucki, a professor of law at the University of Florida, told NBC News. “Tax lien indicates that the state maintains that a debt is owing to the state.”

NBC News says it found 17 government-imposed liens in California against the rapper’s businesses. Four of the liens were labeled as active. There is no indication that these liens have been terminated or paid. The rapper has been doing a media circuit on alt-right channels complaining about his financial woes.

The rapper says at least four of his bank accounts have been frozen–with at least $75 million on hold. The rapper also shared that his accountants told him he owes $50 million in taxes. Experts who were shown the tax liens agreed they were probably pertaining to payroll taxes.

---

'I could not be more proud,' says Kid Fonque about 5FM exit (channel 24)

Award-winning 5FM host Kid Fonque and his show, Selective Styles, are bidding the radio station farewell after more than six years on the airwaves to focus on his music label, which he started in 2015.

Kid Fonque, real name Allan Nicoll, hangs up his headphones after his last show on Sunday. The show airs from 09:00 to 12:00.

"In the six years I've been hosting Selective Styles, we've provided a spotlight on the South African underground music scene and discovered unheard gems from our global community," he says in a press statement. "Selective Styles was home to the freshest, cutting-edge beats from the likes of the Mzansi massive – FKA, Mash, Sio, Gabanna, China Charmeleon, Jackson Brainwave, laTique, Sculptured Music, Nutty Nys, Vinny Da Vinci, Zito Mowa, Card on Spokes, EMAMKAY and many, many more."

"I could not be more proud of the guests, track lists, vibe, and listeners' reception every Sunday – it seriously made my soul sing. I'd like to thank 5FM for their vision, all the artists who made a contribution and the listeners without who Selective Styles would not have been a success."

5FM business manager JD Mostert says Kid Fonque has been a "huge asset" to the station, adding he was the epitome of their mission to bring listeners "the freshest, hottest tracks” before they were released elsewhere.

"His commitment to giving underground artists their first break, bringing listeners unreleased songs from the world of house, soul, jazz, hip-hop and other genres, conducting in-depth, exclusive interviews with new and exciting producers and singers and giving listeners the inside track on what's new has consistently been a level above," he says in the statement. "We commend him for his phenomenal contribution in keeping 5FM at the top of the log as SA's favourite youth radio station and wish him every success with his future endeavours."

In the press statement, the radio station encouraged listeners to stay tuned, visit its website or download its app for more information on "a brand-new, exciting show going on-air soon".