North West made her rap debut as she opened for her father Kanye West’s surprise Yeezy Paris Fashion Week showcase on Monday evening.
But the six-year-old artist-in-the-making failed to credit the 5-year-old musician ZaZa, who created the original track that North rapped over.
ZaZa’s parents were quick to take to Instagram to point out the lifted music, and Kim Kardashian, 39, quickly stepped in to credit their daughter.
Uncredited: North West made her rap debut as she opened for her father Kanye West’s surprise Yeezy Paris Fashion Week showcase on Monday evening, but she remixed five-year-old rapper ZaZa’s What I Do? without crediting her
Shortly after North’s performance, ZaZa’s parents took to her @redcarpetgirlz Instagram account to address the lifted song.
‘in July of 2019, ZaZa & her dad went into the studio for the ultimate experience! To finally begin making the music she wanted to make. We take PRIDE in creativity, and believe whether a child’s involved or an adult… creativity deserves RESPECT/homage!’ they wrote.
Though they made clear that ZaZa needed to be created for the performance, they also emphasized that there wasn’t any bad blood between them and North’s family.
‘What @kimkardashian (Kanye west) are doing with their daughter… with the inspiration of ZaZa & our family in mind is okay… we not mad BUT . . PLS SHOW LOVE AND SUPPORT TO THE ORIGINAL FIRST!!! We admire Kanye west, and adore his journey. However, we don’t wanna feel like our daughter’s journey in the world of entertainment is being STIFLED,’ they added.
Credit due: Shortly after North’s performance, ZaZa’s parents took to her @redcarpetgirlz Instagram account to address the lifted song
Honoring the original: What @kimkardashian (Kanye west) are doing with their daughter… with the inspiration of ZaZa & our family in mind is okay… we not mad BUT . . PLS SHOW LOVE AND SUPPORT TO THE ORIGINAL FIRST!!!,’ wrote ZaZa’s parents; pictured in January
After the original post was shared, Kim jumped into the comments to clear up the matter.
She said North was ‘inspired by ZaZa,’ as well as the young rapper Lay Lay, and she claimed the lack of credit was a logistics problem because of the last-minute nature of the performance.
‘We love you, North is a huge fan and records in the studio all the time and is inspired by ZaZa and loves Lay Lay too!’ she wrote.
‘Todays performance of North’s remix of ZaZa’s song was something she asked to do at the last minute and a complete surprise. I didn’t mean to not give credit where credit was due. Would love for the girls to meet soon,’ she finished, adding heart emojis.
Multiple social media users pointed out the similarities between North’s rap and ZaZa’s original song, but not the two rising stars might combine their talents for a collaboration.
After Kim replied, ZaZa’s parents quoted it in their Instagram Stories, adding, ‘All Love, All Good.’
Making it right: After the original post was shared, Kim jumped into the comments to clear up the matter, which she said was the result of an oversight because of the last-minute performance. She also said North was inspired by ZaZa
North originally took to the stage in Paris as models presented Yeezy’s neutral-toned Autumn/Winter 2020 collection.
Rocking a braided ‘do, the celebrity offspring was the picture of confidence as she took to the stage in front of the massive crowd, which featured her proud parents Kim and Kanye, 42, as well as auntie Kourtney, 40, and her cousin Penelope Disick, seven.
North was in her element as she rapped the catchy lyrics: ‘Look at my shoes, they’re new and cool. See my school, I’m new, walk to the streets, yeah yeah yeah. Cool, cute, cool, yeah! What are those?’
Standing out from the attendees, the star of the show sported a padded purple coat, teamed with baggy joggers and chunky waterproof boots.
Following her solo opening set, award-winning artist Kanye joined North on the stage, with the Kardashian clan cheering the duo on from the front row.
The Jesus Walks hitmaker looked as fashion-forward as ever in a suede brown coat, which he grouped with low-slung grey jeans and classic boots.
In her element: The daughter of Kim and Kanye West followed in her dad’s musical footsteps as she belted the lyrics while the models presented the brand’s neutral-toned Autumn/Winter 2020 collection (mother Kim Kardashian pictured right)
In good company: Rocking a braided ‘do, the celebrity offspring was the picture of confidence as she joined her fashion designer dad Kanye, 42
All eyes on her: North was in her element as she rapped the catchy lyrics ‘Look at my shoes, they’re new and cool. See my school, I’m new, walk to the streets, yeah yeah yeah. Cool, cute, cool, yeah!’ over ZaZa’s What I Do?
Inspiration: She also sang the lyrics: ‘What are those?’, taken from the popular 2015 meme by the late Brandon Moore
Must be in the genes: Proud dad Kanye beamed with delight as he joined her eldest child onstage following her set
Arriving at the hot ticket presentation with her older sibling Kourtney, make-up mogul Kim had all eyes on her as she made her way to the audience with her new hairstyle, similar to her daughter.
Wrapping up in an oversized taupe coat over a plunging beige top, the mother-of-four – who shares North, Saint, four, Chicago, two, and Psalm, nine months, with Kanye – teamed her look with a palette of impeccably applied makeup for the occasion.
The reality star icon took items fresh from the collection as she flashed a hint of her abs in a beige bralet, which she styled with puffy grey trousers.
Poosh creator Kourtney nailed casual chic in a turtleneck cropped jacket and grey straight-leg trousers, while injecting her signature glamour into her outfit with nude pointed heels.
Pop of colour: Standing out from the attendees, the star of the show sported a padded purple coat, teamed with baggy joggers and chunky waterproof boots
Kooky: The young celeb rounded things off by screaming into the microphone, similar to her father’s 2013 performance at London’s Hammersmith Apollo
Opting to stay away from the braided trend, the brunette’s locks were slicked into a glossy bun, while shades from a brown palette were used for her make-up look.
The rapper invited guests to the show with a dozen rattlesnake eggs and a bundle of sage, as revealed by attendee Alyssa Vingan Klein, the editorial director for Nylon magazine, who tweeted a snap of the invitation. The paper note said: ‘From the West family. Yeezy season 8 March 2nd 2020.’
Alyssa had the yellow envelope of rattlesnake eggs blocking part of the note; the envelope had an image of a snake with: ‘Caution: Keep in cool place to prevent hatching.’
The sage also covered some of the text but the right handed portion of the note read: ‘Here is a little piece of our home in Cody Wyoming.’
Family first: Arriving at the hot ticket presentation with her older sibling Kourtney, make-up mogul Kim had all eyes on her as she made her way to the audience with her new hairstyle, similar to her daughter
Mummy, let’s go! North pulled an animated facial expression following her show-stopping performance
Glowing: Poosh creator Kourtney nailed casual chic in a turtleneck cropped jacket and grey straight-leg trousers, while injecting her signature glamour into her outfit with nude pointed heels
Radiant: Kim teamed her look with a palette of impeccably applied makeup for the occasion
A-list crowd: CEO of PrettyLittleThing Umar Kamani and his model girlfriend Nada Adelle also made an appearance at the event
Out and about: North was warmly embraced by her father, while her BFF Penelope was followed by her mother
Alyssa tweeted the image along with: ‘This just showed up to my hotel room,’ adding an emoji with a magnifying glass and a snake emoji.
Later into the evening, Kim was every inch the happy mother as she tweeted about her child’s ‘impromptu’ performance, a remix to child star ZaZa’s What I Do?.
The online sensation said: ‘I’m so proud of my Northie!!!!!! Her 1st performance had me in tears! She had an impromptu performance on stage at her dads Yeezy Season 8 fashion show! Shout out to Zaza!!! North hopes you like the remix!!!’ [sic]
Elated: Later into the evening, Kim was every inch the happy mother as she tweeted about her child’s ‘impromptu’ performance, which was a remix to child star ZaZa’s What I Do?
According to Forbes magazine, Kanye’s impressive sneaker empire is a billion-dollar enterprise. Revenue for the Yeezy sneaker line, now with Adidas, is set to top $1.5 billion in 2019, and West’s pretax income over the past 12 months came in at $150 million.
Since moving the Yeezy line from Nike to Adidas in 2013, the musician has struck what Forbes calls an ‘unprecedented deal’ for 15 percent royalty on wholesale, plus a marketing fee.
For comparison, Michael Jordan is thought to get royalties around 5 percent on the Air Jordan line, which does annual sales of about $3billion.
Off they go: The group hopped into a car following a long day, with the group documenting their festivities on their video camera
Busy bees: The family have maintained a strict schedule throughout their time in the French capital
Honour: Kanye wore a T-shirt emblazoned with his late mother Donda’s face, over 12 years after she passed away (Kanye’s relative and rapper Consequence pictured right)
The media personality describes his foot line as ‘the Lamborghini of shoes’, a nod to the matte-black Lamborghini SUV he owns.
In July, Forbes reported that he appeared for its cover photo shoot not once but twice wearing a black hoodie and that he called the editor to share his concern that the piece would not focus enough on the religious influence on his business.
His business fortunes mark a stunning reversal from just over three years ago in late 2016, when he begged Mark Zuckerberg to invest $1 billion in his ‘ideas’ and claimed to be $53 million in debt.
He told the publication: ‘I’m just blessed through the grace of God to go from tweeting at Mark Zuckerberg (to now)’. People wondered, ‘Why did you tweet at Mark Zuckerberg?’ And I was like, ‘Hey, I heard he was looking for aliens.”
Goofy: Ahead of the show, KUWTK star Kim took to social media as she updated fans: ‘OK guys, we’re pulling up to the Yeezy show, twinning!’
That’s different… The last minute invite to the exclusive presentation featured rattlesnack eggs and a sage stick
A history of the Yeezy: How did Kanye West build a billionaire dollar shoe empire?
The Yeezy shoe line, which get its moniker from Kanye’s nickname, launched in 2009 with Nike, with an average cost of $215 per shoe, they soon became an collectors item due to their limited stock – selling resale at $3000.
While this was the started of the Chicago rapper’s empire, it was not his first foray into the fashion industry. Earlier that year, the multiple Grammy-award winning musician, launched three different shoes with luxury retailer Louis Vuitton – all named after people close to him. The shoes retailed at around $1000, but now are available online for up to $40,000.
He stayed with Nike until 2014, releasing two Air Yeezys and the Air Yeezys Two, but left for Adidas when they said they would offer him royalties on the shoes, that Nike wouldn’t.
The Yeezy shoe line, which get its moniker from Kanye’s nickname, launched in 2009 with Nike, with an average cost of $215 per shoe, they soon became an collectors item due to their limited stock – selling resale at $3000. Pictured: Air Yeezy
Kanye had designed a line for Adidas in 2006, called College Dropout, the same moniker as his debut album, but the shoe was never released.
The deal Kanye got from Adidas was described as ”unprecedented deal’ for 15 per cent royalty on wholesale.
Two years after leaving Nike, he released a song called ‘Facts’ a diss-song with the line ‘I ain’t drop an album but the shoes went platinum’ suggesting that he’d sold more than a million shoes in 2015 .
He stayed with Nike until 2014, releasing two Air Yeezys and the Air Yeezys Two, but left for Adidas when they said they would offer him royalties on the shoes, that Nike wouldn’t. Pictured: Yeezy Boost
It also featured the line ‘Tell adidas that we need a million in production. I done told y’all all I needed was the infrastructure’ suggesting he wanted to produce more. He also said he ‘jumped over the jumpman’ suggesting he was outselling Nike’s Air Jordan brand, a collaboration with basketball player Micheal Jordan – known as the jumpman.
In 2015, he also launched a Yeezy clothing line, the opening show, Yeezy Season One, saw some of the biggest names in fashion and showbiz in the front row, including Vogue editor Anna Wintour, Beyonce, Diddy, Alexander Wang, Beyonce and his wife Kim Kardashian.
The collection was known for its basic, stripped down, ready-to-wear style which drew influence from flesh coloured tones and military clothing.
With the Kardashian family, some of the most photographed women in the world, walking adverts for the line as they were often spotted in Yeezy clothes and shoes, the line has continued to grow. Pictured from left: Kris Jenner (Kanye’s mother-in-law), Khloe Kardashain, Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian (Kanye’s sisters -in-law), Kim Kardashian-West (Kanye’s wife), North West (Kanye’s daughter), Caitlyn Jenner (Kris Jenner’s ex-partner who was a step-parent to Kim), and Kylie Jenner (Kanye’s sister-in-law) at the Yeezy Season 3 launch in 2016. They are all wearing clothes and shoes designed by Kanye
With the Kardashian family, some of the most photographed women in the world, walking adverts for the line as they were often spotted in Yeezy clothes and shoes, the line has continued to grow.
Shoes now sell from around $100 to $6350 retail – and up to 10 times more resale.
They’ve been described as the ‘hype sneaker’ of the world, and thousands of people queue up to get their hands on the shoe.
The first Adidas Yeezy Boost sold out in 10 minutes in February 2015.
GQ also described them as the ‘most influential shoe’ of 2016, when hundreds of big name designers took inspiration to make shoes similar to those debuted by Kanye.
