By Alexis Oatman, cleveland.com (TNS)

Conflict and controversy have followed Kanye West his entire career, but now more than ever. His latest quarrel? The state of California. According to state tax liens, the disgraced rapper’s Yeezy clothing brand owes at least $600,000.

The downfall of Kanye West, one of rap music’s most enigmatic figures, is one for the history books. His growing debts only add to the ever-increasing portrait of controversy surrounding the Chicago rapper and his businesses.

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In response to West’s recent antisemitic remarks, several companies have cut ties with the rapper, including Gap, Adidas, and Balenciaga. Following the terminated business deals, Forbes removed West from its billionaire list.

A series of state tax lien notices collected over the last two years show that Yeezy Apparel, the company managed and reportedly owned by West, owes the state of California over $600,000 in unpaid tax debt, according to NBC.

A lien happens when a claim is made on a person or entity’s assets in response to an alleged debt.

On three separate occasions, notice letters were sent to the rapper’s company in July 2021 and February and September 2022, NBC reported.

According to the state’s government website, liens can be imposed “if a company or taxpayer doesn’t respond to their letters about taxes owed, pay in full, or set a payment plan.”

Public California business records show that Yeezy Apparel has been in operation since 2017 and had been in “good standing” in an annual filing in January, NBC reports.

Representatives for West and the Yeezy brand have not commented on the recent announcement, but knowing West, he won’t stay quiet for too long. A response will presumably be coming soon.

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Taxes