Scooter Braun already has an impressive list of people he manages, but the 34-year-old may have added another big name to his Rolodex in addition to Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande — Kanye West.
The rapper/fashion designer has reportedly been working with Braun for about a month now, but is also still with his long time representative, Izzy Zivkovic. While one source said that Braun is indeed now managing “The Life of Pablo” rapper, another source said there is no formal agreement between the two.
"Scooter is a friend, confidant and is consulting with Kanye. There is no formal management agreement at this time," the source said of the new business venture.
In addition to managing huge acts like Bieber and Grande, Braun’s clients also include "Gangnam Style" singer Psy, Carly Rae Jepsen and Tori Kelly.
The possible collaboration with Braun comes after West tweeted earlier this year that Bieber’s song “What Do You Mean?” was his favorite song of 2015 and he was spotted at the pop star’s “Purpose World Tour” stop at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. During the concert, there were tons of videos of West looking like he was having the time of his life, dancing along to some of Bieber’s songs while his wife Kim Kardashian looked upon.
Last September, Bieber opened up about his relationship with West and how he looked up to him as an artist.
“Kanye’s a talker, so you get him in a room and he just starts talking, and he just starts ranting, and I just sit and I listen because he’s been through a lot of stuff,” Bieber told France’s Clique TV. “He’s not just talking to just talk. He’s obviously got something to say that he’s feeling from his heart. So when I hear that, I like to just sit and listen. He’s a really, really smart guy.”
The news of West potentially signing with Braun comes on the heels of the rapper finally releasing some songs of his latest album “The Life of Pablo,” to Apple Music and Spotify. Before, the album was only available to stream on Tidal, but "Famous" and "I Love Kanye” are now streaming for the general public.
Since West dropped the album in February during his Yeezy Season 3 fashion show in New York City at Madison Square Garden, it has only been available, but the rapper is still tweaking things before it is released in its entirety on Apple Music and Spotify — which will reportedly happen on April 1.
