Despite the media chaos that has accompanied his name over the past month, Ye is back in the news after filing a series of trademark applications that would allow the rapper to create his own mini-community or, as West intends to call it, the “Yecosystem”. The ambitious project – leaked by sources to Rolling Stone – has actually been in the works for a year. Sources describe it as a self-sufficient enterprise that would have its own branded houses, retail shops selling Yecosystem-branded food and beverages. The plan is serious: one source says the first campus should be launched as early as next month. Eventually, West hopes to create these mini-communities across the country. It’s not the first time that Ye crosses his path with architecture: in 2018 he launched an initiative called Yeezy Houses. But this time the scale of the project looks much more ambitious.

A Ye source explains how this vision starts from a genuine desire to make the world a better place by creating new technologies like his Stem Player and offering a new approach to education with the Donda Academy. But the documents also contain data for philanthropic activity, with charitable services including biological cloning, reproductive healthcare, children’s education and support for members of the US armed forces.

Although the road to the realisation of Yecosystem is still long and uncertain, this is not the first time West has attempted to create his own city. In 2020, the artist shared plans for an “ecological village” that did not materialise, but which would have focused on building a self-sufficient community for mothers and children. Now, as the fruitful collaboration with Adidas comes to an end, Ye is back to invest in this building dream, imagining these new settlements as a “ranch”, where residents would generate income for the community by growing their own food.

According to West, the “ranch” would have an educational component, with residents generating income for the community through growing their own food, “mushroom plastics,” and creating “craft and herbal products.” At that time he was also building prototypes of the Yeezy Shelter, a large domed structure made of wood and metal.

It is unclear where West plans to build his first campus, but Atlanta may be a likely choice, considering that Young Thug recently offered West its 100-acre plot of land.