Ye fires longtime Yeezy designer Steven Smith

The legendary sneaker designer was Ye’s most important creative collaborator in business. As of August, he’s gone.

Steven Smith—the famed sneaker designer who propelled Yeezy to become one of the most successful shoe brands ever, and who since served as “employee one and only” at the Yeezy spin-off Donda Design—was fired by Ye (the artist formerly known as Kanye West) this month after eight years of partnership.