Kanye West is legally banned from retiring or taking an extended hiatus under the terms of his record contract with EMI.
The Stronger rapper filed a lawsuit at the Los Angeles Superior Court in January against bosses at EMI in which he demanded “to be set free from” their contract. The complaint was heavily redacted at the time, but it has been released in full following EMI’s response.
In the lawsuit, West claims that under the terms of his contract, which he signed in 2003, he must “remain actively involved in writing, recording and producing” songs and albums.
“At no time during the term will you seek to retire as a songwriter, recording artist or producer or take any extended hiatus during which you are not actively pursuing your musical career in the same basic manner as you have pursued such career to date,” the contract reads, according to his complaint.
The 41-year-old argues that the contract he signed was “lopsided” and claims it is a violation of California state law to keep anyone locked into a personal service contract for more than seven years. He also believes he is owed money.