The Origin and Financial Context of the Phrase
The phrase "i just talked to jesus he said what up yeezus" originates from Kanye West's 2013 album Yeezus, which marked a provocative industrial-rap pivot. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over 327,000 copies in its first week in the United States, according to Luminate. The title track samples the gospel hymn "I Will Follow Him" and frames a confrontational, almost divine self-mythologizing that later collided with real-world financial consequences.
By 2022, the Yeezy brand was valued at roughly $1.5 billion in annual retail sales, per a Forbes estimate. The partnership with Adidas generated about $1.3 billion in revenue for the company in 2020, making it one of the most valuable celebrity collaborations in fashion. The phrase now circulates as a meme that juxtaposes spiritual bravado with the sharp financial downturn that followed the end of that deal.
The Adidas Split and the SEC Filing Fallout
Termination of the Yeezy Partnership
Adidas terminated its Yeezy partnership in October 2022 after leaked messages attributed to Kanye West contained antisemitic content. Adidas reported a $250 million impairment charge tied to the Yeezy brand in its 2023 annual report, as filed with the SEC. The company stated it expected to lose $1.2 billion in sales related to the Yeezy line, a figure that directly impacted its full-year operating results.
In its 2023 Form 10-K, Adidas disclosed that it had paid $17.7 million to settle a portion of the dispute with West's Yeezy LLC, while also recording a $369 million provision for the remaining contingent obligations. The settlement covered certain marketing and inventory commitments, but the brand's valuation collapsed. As of the latest available data, Yeezy's contribution to Adidas's total revenue is effectively zero, and the company has shifted focus to other celebrity and lifestyle collaborations.
Current Net Worth and Business Standing
Kanye West's Reported Wealth
Forbes estimated Kanye West's net worth at around $400 million in 2024, a dramatic decline from the $2 billion peak it had assigned in 2021. The drop reflects the loss of Yeezy royalties, legal settlements, and the devaluation of his real estate and other assets. His stake in Yeezy LLC, which he co-founded, remains a central subject of ongoing litigation with Adidas.
West has attempted to relaunch the Yeezy brand independently, including a new Yeezy Home initiative and a series of Yeezy Gap collaboration items that were later paused. Gap Inc. filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Yeezy LLC in 2023, as reported by Reuters, seeking damages for unpaid invoices and inventory returns. The outcome of these legal proceedings will heavily influence West's near-term financial trajectory.