And despite keeping a tight lid on his latest project Yeezus, the rapper's sixth studio album has made it's way onto the internet just days before it's official release on June 18.
Since Friday afternoon fans have posted everything from individual tracks to the entire album on video sites like YouTube and through file sharing torrents.
The high quality of the tracks have sent record executives scrambling to find the source of the release and even threaten to pursue legal action against the perpetrator.
But according to TMZ, Kanye hasn't been bothered by it as he understands that it's 'inevitable' for the tunes to fall through the cracks with 'so many cooks in the kitchen.'
And that's because Kanye has had heavy control over what the media and his fans have heard from the highly anticipated album.
Ahead of the weekend leak, only a few of his tracks have made its way to the public's ears.
Kanye has been hunkered down in Paris for much of the last year as he recorded his sixth studio album and the only major release of any of his tunes was his SNL performance of New Slaves and Black Skinhead in May.
Aside from that there has been no promotional roll out -- no singles have been released on the radio, no official videos posted online and no pre-orders or pre-releases were made available.
The album: Kanye's website was transformed to
show merely an image of his latest cd, which features simple
non-descript packaging
'The way this whole album was put together, the amount of producers that came together for it and the way we worked on this collectively, we didn't give a f*** what anybody said,' Kanye told the crowd.
'We just wanted to make the best product possible. And this is just the beginning of an entirely new mentality on how to make music directly for the people.'
It's Kanye's world: A video posted on his site features the rapper recording his tune I Am a God
A little help: In the video he chats with executive producer and music industry legend Rick Rubin
And the day before he debuted a host of new tracks at the Governor's Ball Music Festival in New York City.
Last week Kanye released a short clip on his website in which he's recording the tune I Am a God with lyrics proclaiming that he's talked to Jesus -- and been confirmed as being a god as well. The video ends with a chat with legendary music producer Rick Rubin, who was the executive producer of the album.
On the title of the album -- Yeezus, Kanye said: 'West was my slave name and Yeezus was my god name.'
Just a taste: Kanye played to an exclusive group of music industry execs in Switzerland on Monday
'Those looking for vintage soul sounds or even full-on raps from start to finish will be thrown several curves here. It's an album with numerous layers as well,' read a Billboard review posted on Saturday.
The music magazine gave the album an approving 88 out of 100 review, even justifying his recent claim to the New York Times that he is the 'Michael Jordan of music.'
'But mostly, West is just plain mad -- angry at naysayers, "The Man" censoring his art, and even at his own celeb status.'
Taking the stage: West performed two tracks, New Slave and another called Black Skinhead, on Saturday Night Live May 18
Controversy: Black hoods resembling those worn by members of the Klu Klux Klan flashed in the background during the performance
'beats are fire, lyrics are crazy,' fan @SarahNafissa wrote.
'All the songs on here are incredible. This is such a great album,' YouTube user williempow commented.
'Ye' is making hip-hop for 2020..you still in 2013. So of course you peasants would think #yeezus isn't hot. #aboveyourlevel,' @blackurbantimes tweeted.
Some fans have been less than impressed, claiming that the singer hasn't made much progress with his new album.
YouTube user hazmoar wrote: 'the laser sound is daft punk. daft punk was in stronger. in other words, kanye didn't go anywhere.'
'It's Garbage,' Twitter user @Slicknickshady posted.
Another leak: Kanye's girlfriend Kim Kardashian tweeted a snapshot of the album from Paris
Yet despite the early leak -- something that's becoming far too common in today's industry -- Ye's album is still expected to bring in a cool 500,000 sales in its first week release.
That would be in the same range as his previous album sales -- 2011's Watch The Throne collected 436,000 sales while his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy sold 496,000 and 2008's 808s & Heartbreak scored around 450,000.
But that is little in comparison to this year's hottest album -- Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience -- which topped the charts in March with 968,000 copies.
Newly savage sound: Kanye West debuted two of
his freshly cut singles at the Governor's Ball Music Festival on New
York's Randall's Island, on Sunday night
Amongst his forthright comments, he said in reply to a question about his cultural relevance: 'I think what Kanye West is going to mean is something similar to what Steve Jobs means. I am undoubtedly, you know, Steve of Internet, downtown, fashion, culture. Period.'
On his future, he replied modestly: 'I will be the leader of a company that ends up being worth billions of dollars, because I got the answers. I understand culture. I am the nucleus.'
Showing his support: Kourtney's partner Scott
Disick was seen arriving for Kanye's CD listening party celebration at
Milk Studios in Hollywood on Saturday night
Jazzy pants: Scott was wearing a pair of bright orange trousers for the occasion