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Kanye West Hoax Stirs New Album Rumors
A mysterious package sent to MTV News’ New York office seemed to indicate that a new Kanye West project was on the way. Yeezy’s camp and Def Jam have since denied its authenticity, making the presumed hoax all the more puzzling.
On Wednesday (March 15), the network’s office received a package containing NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab logo, a VHS tape titled “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and a white-on-white credit card that read: NASA, PROJECT-10, KANYE WEST, 8/10, and 772233688.
There was more. The tape apparently consisted of two hours worth of static. A website for the hoax (https://www.772233688.com) features a two-minute white noise clip and a date: March 20. Initially, this was believed to be a possible release date.
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But the package’s authentication has been discredited. JPL confirmed that they were not involved. “It’s not from us,” a rep told MTV News. “The NASA logo used on the box is an old logo retired in 1992.” Def Jam initially said it sounded “really weird and suspiciously like a hoax.” Eventually, they clarified, by saying they are not involved at all.
It’s still unclear who the package came from and what it may signify. For now, however, it seems like it was simply an elaborate hoax.
Nevertheless, the follow-up to The Life of Pablo could very well still be on the way. In January, a report claimed West was working on “surprise projects” and in 2016, he vowed to unleash three albums per year.