“That Was a Really Dumb Move” — New Owners of Kanye West’s Malibu Home Criticize Rapper for Damaging an Architectural Masterpiece

Kanye West’s architectural vision for his now-sold Malibu home has faced significant criticism from its new owners. West originally purchased the Tadao Ando-designed mansion in 2021 and sold it to Belwood Investments at a loss in September 2024. In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times, Bo Belmont, CEO of the California real estate firm, discussed West’s controversial renovations.

Reports indicate that Kanye West removed doors and windows from the property, transformed the stairs into slides, and even converted the flooring into trampolines. Belmont expressed dismay, stating that West effectively destroyed the “architectural masterpiece”crafted by the renowned Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect in 2013.

“That was a really dumb move. Really no purpose. He single-handedly destroyed this architectural masterpiece. My goal is to make it as though Kanye was never there,”Belmont stated.

He further elaborated:

“The house will be restored right back to what it was. It would have required extensive review… There’s a process to it and he does things his own way, and the city of Malibu, they don’t care who you are they’ll hold you accountable.”

Kanye West Sold His Malibu House for $21 Million

When Kanye West initially acquired the house in 2021, he paid $57.25 million. The rapper listed the mansion for $53 million in December 2023, subsequently reducing the price to $39 million in April. Ultimately, Belwood Investments purchased the property in September for “just under $22 million.”

Belmont stated that the company is committed to restoring the mansion to Tadao Ando’s original design. In a press release following the acquisition, he noted:

“This is not just a phenomenal real estate investment; it is an opportunity to revitalize and preserve an architectural gem by the renowned Tadao Ando, ensuring it remains a jewel of Malibu.”

The press release further indicated:

“This acquisition exemplifies Belwood Investments’ commitment to transforming properties with historical and architectural significance while delivering exceptional returns for our investors.”

Belmont estimated that the renovation costs would total between $6 to $8 million to restore the mansion to its original design. The real estate firm is reportedly teaming up with Marmol Radziner for the renovations before flipping the house for profit.

Kanye West Teased a New Solo Album

On the musical front, Kanye West announced that he is working on a new album titled Bully. The rapper, also known as Ye, debuted a track from this upcoming album during a listening event in China on September 28.

“I got a new album coming out. The album’s called ‘Bully’ and this song is called ‘Beauty and the Beast,’” Ye stated before playing the song.

Mike Dean, one of West’s frequent collaborators, took to Instagram to reveal that the new song was a leftover track from the rapper’s 2021 album Donda. Kanye West has not yet announced a release date for Bully, which will be his 11th studio LP, following Donda.

The announcement of Bully follows Kanye West’s collaborative LP with Ty Dolla $ign titled Vultures 2, released on August 3, 2024. This album, the second in a trilogy series, followed its predecessor which was released in February 2024. The timeline for the final part of the trilogy remains uncertain.

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