What's Behind the Kanye-Jay-Z Feud

Sources say it has to do with Kanye's concert rant, not Tidal dispute
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 3, 2017 3:48 PM CDT
What's Behind the Kanye-Jay-Z Feud
In this July 1, 2012, file photo, Kanye West, left, and Jay-Z accept the award for best group for "The Throne" at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

Things are not going so well between Jay-Z and Kanye West, as evidenced by Jay-Z's rant about Kanye that showed up on his new album 4:44. But, though news came out Sunday that West has left Jay-Z's Tidal streaming service over a money dispute, sources told TMZ Monday that the real problem stems from Kanye's concert rant in November, when he dissed Beyonce and accused Jay-Z of ditching him. "Kanye was days away from going to a psych ward with some really serious mental issues" at the time, one source says. "We get why he [Jay] was upset, but give Kanye a break." West was said to be "shocked" when he heard Jay-Z's lyrics about him on 4:44.

As for the aforementioned Tidal dispute, sources say that West says he is owed more than $3 million by the streaming company, and that his lawyer sent Tidal a letter a month ago saying West's contract with the company was terminated as a result of the money owed. Sources say West knew nothing of the 4:44 lyrics when he terminated his contract, and that both sides have tried to resolve things with no success. The money West says he is owed comes from subscribers he says his Life of Pablo release brought Tidal, for which he was due a bonus, as well as reimbursement for music videos. In the latest letter between the two camps, Tidal reportedly threatened to sue West if he went with another streaming service. But sources also tell TMZ West the bad experience with Tidal has turned West off from entering into an exclusive agreement with another streaming service. (More Kanye West stories.)

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