Tidal Fight
JAY-Z, KANYE IN WAR OVER MUSIC BIZ
THE TIDE HAS turned on the business relationship between Kanye West and JAY-Z.
West has reportedly cut ties with Tidal, JAY-Z’s subscription-based music streaming service, over complaints that the company owes him more than $3 million.
The “Famous” rapper released his highly anticipated album “The Life of Pablo” exclusively on Tidal more than a year ago, a move he says brought in 1.5 million new subscribers to the service he co-owned, according to TMZ.
West says the company was supposed to give him a bonus for the boost in profile, but never did. He also claims the company failed to reimburse him for music videos. Sources told the gossip site that West didn’t get the money for the videos because he never made them. West reportedly plans on making the videos when he gets paid.
As a result, West’s lawyer reportedly sent two letters to Tidal claiming the company was in breach of contract and its deal with West was terminated.
Tidal then responded with a letter of its own to the rapper, saying that it still had an exclusive contract with him and would sue if he tried to take his music to a different streaming site. West is reportedly set to sue Tidal should the company sue him.
West, 40, and JAY-Z have long been collaborators and teamed up on 2011’s “Watch the Throne,” which spawned several singles. It was certified platinum.
When JAY-Z, 47, launched Tidal in 2015 as an artist-owned alternative to streaming sites like Pandora and Spotify, he brought West onboard as a co-owner, alongside stars like Alicia Keys, his wife Beyoncé, Usher and Nicki Minaj.
Since Tidal’s launch, it has seen its fair share of controversy, including a now-dismissed suit against West that alleged he made “The Life of Pablo” unavailable for purchase on his website as a ploy to get people to sign up for Tidal.
The service frequently debuts the albums of popular artists exclusively, including Beyoncé’s smash hit “Lemonade,” and, more recently, JAY-Z’s “4:44.”
Though West reportedly ended his relationship with Tidal before the release of “4:44,” the album’s first track, “Kill JAY-Z,” features some choice words seemingly aimed at Kanye.
“You walking around like you invincible/You dropped out of school, you lost your principles” are lyrics many fans believe are a dig at West, in reference to his first album, “College Dropout.”
Hov also seems to address West by name, rapping, “But this f--k everybody attitude ain’t natural/But you ain’t the same, this ain’t KumbaYe.”
Back in November, West addressed JAY-Z directly in a bizarre onstage rant in Sacramento, Calif., urging the star to call him and talk to him “like a man.”
Neither West nor Tidal responded to requests for comment.