Kanye West has a $10 million offer on the table.
The request: To release his next album exclusively to Martin Shkreli, the former pharmaceutical executive who became a national figurehead for corporate greed after upping the price of a potentially life-saving drug from $13.50 to $750. He’s also currently facing securities fraud charges.
Shkreli tweeted his request at the rap star on Thursday with an image of a typed letter that appears to be intended for delivery via FedEx.
“I am writing to you in hopes of convincing you to withhold the release of your forthcoming studio album,” Shkreli’s letter reads. “Instead of releasing this product for your millions of fans, I ask you to sell this recording solely to me, for the price of $10,000,000.”
In a subsequent tweet, Shkreli claims, “Kanye and his label are legally required to take my offer letter to their Board of Directors. This should delay the album by a few days.”
Shkreli posted the tweet less than an hour after the kickoff of an event at New York’s Madison Square Garden where West is debuting his new album, “The Life of Pablo.”
It’s unclear when the record will go on sale. West’s publicist did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.
It wouldn’t be the first time Shkreli spent multi-millions to be the sole owner of a rap album. Shkreli paid $2 million in an online auction for the sole copy of a Wu Tang Clan record on Nov. 25, 2015.
Two weeks later, the self-described pharmaceutical entrepreneur asked his Twitter followers which album he should acquire next. Out of 2,300 responses, West won 49% of the vote.
He conducted a poll asking what he should offer West to “ensure his music is respected.” The winning answer choice was the largest option: $10 million.
Shkreli, 32, wrote in his note to Kanye posted Thursday that he’s been a longtime fan of the rap star, and his debut album — 1999’s “The College Dropout” — “inspired me to succeed at a young age.”
In January, court documents revealed he was worth at least $45 million.
