Like many of the world's A-list celebrities, rapper Kanye West has a strong affinity for high-end brands. Over the years, he has owned some extraordinary vehicles, including an Aventador gifted to him by ex-wife Kim Kardashian. In the motoring community, West is best known for his controversial Otis music video where, together with Jay-Z, he destroyed a $350,000 Maybach in the name of entertainment.
But it seems the 45-year-old has grown tired of Europe's finest cars. His company has revealed a new concept car called the Donda Foam Car, a quirky-looking concept that will be designed and manufactured in the United States. Not much else is known about the concept, and the only image shown so far is this side profile seen below. Sporting a fully black finish in this concept guise, massive wheels dominate the design.
Other than the glasshouse seen at the front, there aren't many design features. If we're being polite, we'd describe it as minimalistic, but, frankly, it's bizarre. West's company, Donda, has selected Steven Smith to head up industrial design. While he isn't very well-known in automotive design circles, the acclaimed designer is a hero among the sneaker and fashion community.
He's penned some iconic footwear in the past, including the Yeezy Boost 700 and the New Balance 574, but, importantly, he also has experience in designing military electronics. He may not have Marcello Gandini's talent, but he clearly knows his way around a sketchpad. As mentioned, the vehicle will be built in the United States when ready, but there's no information to suggest where it will be manufactured.
West's well-documented friendship with Elon Musk has led some publications to believe that Tesla may take up the challenge, but this is merely speculation at this point. Kanye West isn't the first musician to venture away from the recording studio, though.
Mercedes-Benz recently wrapped up an extensive project with will.i.am, which resulted in the polarizing WILL.I.AMG, a bespoke creation dreamed up by the creative artist and built by Mercedes. While it can never be described as pretty, the weird G-Wagon/GT 4-Door Coupe mashup is streaks ahead of Kanye's proposed concept.
It will be interesting to see whether the rapper's automotive dreams so fruition. It's certainly distinctive and with a fiercely loyal fan base, it will undoubtedly find customers - even if it sports an exorbitant price tag. But, if it keeps Kanye West from butchering the new Maybach S, we're all for it.