Anti-Semitic comments have cost the artist formerly known as Kanye West a slew of his most valuable business relationships in recent days.
On top of those problems comes a lawsuit that claims West agreed to use a Miami “event space” as a recording studio for 25 days in January, ordered it cleared of any furnishings with color, then stiffed the owner of the $145,813 agreed to by one of his agents.
The space, called Surface Area, is located at 151 Northeast 41st Street in the city’s trendy Design District. A website for its owner, Surface Media LLC, describes it as a “shoppable showroom featuring hand-selected design objects and a curated art collection.”
The site adds, “By day, it doubles as a content studio for a team of Surface editors and creatives. By night, the boutique transforms into a venue for live programming, panels, cocktail receptions, dinners, parties and more.”
Crafts for sale in the shoppable showroom include a bottle of “ultra-sustainable” perfume for $565, a wool bomber jacket for $825, a car-style push-in cigarette lighter for $280, a handbag with a wooden handle for $1,100, and $3,000 mushroom-shaped lamps.
Ye’s management firm did not respond to emails seeking comment for this story.
Surface Media’s lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Miami, says that Ye ordered the removal and storage of more than 20 pieces of valuable art and 40 pieces of furniture and decor housed in the space so it could be replaced with sound equipment, other furniture, and art “to match [Ye’s] desired color scheme.”
On Jan. 5, Laurence Chandler, who managed Ye’s fashion line Yeezy, confirmed to managers of Surface Area that Ye would rent the space for the remainder of January with the option to rent the space for additional time, the suit states.
Arrangements for removal of the art and furniture and customization of the space to Ye’s liking began that night, the suit states.
Jonathan Smulevich, attorney for the Miami-based firm Lowy and Cook, P.A., which represents the plaintiff, said by email that “No request was too big or too small” for the Surface Media staff. “Ye asked and they delivered, and my client incurred significant costs and expenses to deliver.”
The suit states that Ye was represented by several other parties who had authority to act on his behalf, including Chandler, manager Steven Victor, and Charles Misodi Njapa, a record producer and rapper known as 88-Keys.
Niapa had authority to act on Ye’s behalf in renting Surface Area, the suits states. iPhone screenshots of text exchanges filed as exhibits in the suit show messages below the name 88-Keys asking, “Can we take out all artwork with color. Ye is looking to make the entire space black & white. And furniture which isn’t black or white. Also to be removed.”
A Surface Media representative, identified in the conversation as “Catie,” assured that, “We have a collection of art and furniture in storage that we can bring in to replace anything w color.”
Another message from “Laurence” says he thinks Ye wants everything cleared from the space “and then [Ye] can layer in.”
In one message, 88-Keys orders the crew to work more quickly, stating, “The sooner the better...always (Rule of thumb when working w/ Ye).”
Other requests relayed from Ye by 88-Keys were for black leather office chairs, which the suit priced at $813 for four, and a door for the makeshift studio. Photos of various chairs submitted for Ye’s approval are seen in the screenshots.
Steven Victor joined the text conversation after Catie posted a spreadsheet outlining cost of the project.
“Steven just waiting for your budget sign off,” Catie said.
“All good,” Steven Victor replied.
Another exhibit shows the invoice: $125,000 to rent the space for 25 days, $20,000 for moving expenses, and $813 for four office chairs.
According to the lawsuit, “The Defendant has failed to pay any amounts whatsoever to the Plaintiff.”
The suit states that Ye and his associates “commenced using the space to record music” on Jan. 7.
“Multiple musicians recorded in the early days of the setup,” Smulevich said, “and although Ye had planned to record in the space, he did not.
“My client is simply asking for the payment they were promised to Ye for their hard work in customizing and renting this unique space,” he said.
