Kanye West Reportedly Leaves Tidal Over Financial Dispute

While there are no receipts, a TMZ report citing anonymous sources claims Kanye West is attempting to split from Tidal over unpaid money.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty
Getty

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty

Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty

Tidal may be the reason for the back and forth between Jay Z and Kanye West, punctuated by a few of West’s on-stage rants and Jay Z’s bars from his newly released 4:44 album. West has previously voiced his frustrations with Jay Z’s streaming service, but if a recent report is true, West and Hov’s issues aren’t limited to clearing verses for a Drake feature.

“Kanye West, a key player in Jay Z's Tidal stable, has left the company over a money dispute and Tidal has threatened to sue him,” TMZ reports, citing anonymous sources connected to Tidal. “We're told Kanye has complained the company owes him money—more than $3 million.”

The report also claims West’s lawyer sent Tidal a breach of contract letter two weeks ago to terminate an existing agreement with the company. When lawyers from both West and Jay were reportedly unable to reach a resolution, West’s team allegedly declared the contract over.

West was originally announced as one of Tidal’s co-owners during the company’s elaborate roll out press conference in March 2015. His The Life of Pablo album was originally a Tidal exclusive during its February 14, 2016 release before eventually being made available via all streaming services and digital retailers in April of 2016.

In October of 2016, West ranted to a Seattle crowd about “Pop Style” being omitted from Drake’s Views album due to a conflict between Tidal and Apple Music.

“And this shit be getting me tight every time I perform this motherfucker,” West said. “That y’all didn't get what y’all were supposed to get with me and Drake on this song  ’cause of some Tidal/Apple bullshit.”

West subsequently became one of the people Jay Z targeted on 4:44, as the track “Kill Jay Z” finds Hov rhyming, “But you ain’t a Saint’ this ain't Kumbaye/But you got hurt because you did cool by ’Ye/You gave him 20 million without blinkin’/He gave you 20 minutes on stage fuck was he thinkin’.”

You can read the full report, which also alleges West was not paid a new subscriber bonus based on Tidal growth related to his The Life of Pablo release at TMZ.

 

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