Kanye West is reportedly living an unconventional lifestyle in Tokyo while working on his upcoming album Bully. According to music journalist Touré’s Substack, the rapper has adopted an “upper-class homeless” existence in one of Asia’s largest metropolises, opting to live in a hotel room and record his music there, rather than in a traditional studio.
A friend of West, quoted by DailyMail, explained that the rapper’s decision to stay in Japan is partly driven by his ongoing “war with the paparazzi” in Los Angeles. The constant media attention in the U.S. has made it difficult for the West to live and work comfortably. “I think Japan is good for him. In LA he’s got a war with the paparazzi. He does not like the paparazzi,” the source shared.
Japan, with its more reserved and respectful culture, seems to offer the peace and privacy the West has been craving. “When he’s in Japan, people see him, but they’re very quiet. They’re very respectful. Very seldom will they even come up and ask for a picture. So he can move around Japan with no security,” the insider revealed, highlighting how West can navigate the city with much less intrusion than he experiences in the U.S.
In addition to finding solace in Tokyo’s quiet, West is focusing entirely on his new music. The Can’t Tell Me Nothing rapper is reportedly taking full creative control of Bully, his upcoming album. According to the insider, West is producing the entire project himself, marking a return to a more hands-on approach to his music. “This album is 100% him. He’s producing everything 100% himself. This will be 100% Kanye West, which it hasn’t been in many, many years,” the source explained.
This level of involvement in every aspect of the album is something that fans of West’s earlier work might find exciting, as it promises a more authentic, undiluted version of his artistry. As West continues his creative journey in Tokyo, the quiet and isolation of his “upper-class homeless” lifestyle may be providing him the space he needs to deliver a truly personal and introspective body of work.
