S. Samuel
Days before Grammy-winning rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne album hits stores, tensions between the two mega stars are reportedly flaring.
While neither Jay or West have addressed the gossip, reports claim both artists are experiencing internal conflict.
“Jay-Z can’t deal with Kanye,” an insider told Page Six. “Jay is a stone-cold businessman. He wants to recoup all of his money from Live Nation. But Kanye wants to upstage rock stars with a blowout show. He doesn’t care about costs. He has a lot less to gain from the shows.” West is expected to agree to the conditions of the tour next week, but the business brouhaha between the powerhouse artists might have affected their backstage relationship. (New York Post)
Additional speculation has developed based on both artists’ decisions to perform separately at a recent New York City show.
Industry insiders were shocked to see West and Jay-Z perform separately with Young Jeezy last Monday night at the Highline Ballroom. “We were expecting them to come out together to perform a track from the album,” a source said. “They didn’t even go out together after the show.” “Jay-Z is fed up with West’s antics,” another source said. “He doesn’t even want to be around him.” However, the two are expected to perform together at a listening party tonight at The Rose Planetarium in Central Park, according to The Post‘s Dan Aquilante. A Live Nation rep said, “No comment.” The rappers’ reps didn’t get back to us. (New York Post)
The conflict allegations come just days after Jay and Ye formed a supergroup called, The Throne.
A week after debuting their new single, “Otis”, off “Watch the Throne,” Jay-Z and Kanye Westare joining forces to form the group ‘The Throne’ and announce their ‘Watch the Throne Tour,’ kicking off on Sept. 22, in Detroit. “Watch the Throne” will be available on iTunes on August 8. On the same day, tickets for The Throne’s tour, powered by VoyR, will be made available at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com. Fans who purchase their tickets online will receive a digital copy of the album. The album hits stores on Aug. 12. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Along with appearing on Ye’s solo albums, Jay recently proclaimed his protege’s artistic prowl.
“Kanye, I’ve seen him, he’s really like a brother to me,” Jay says in the documentary. “I’ve seen him from the beginning to where he is now and to see him as a producer and how he’s grown as a producer and an artist, for me, on another level, it’s enjoyable. I’m watching the guy I pretty much mentored become his own guy with his own opinion, it’s fantastic.” (“Watch the Throne” Mini-Doc)
Neither Jay-Z or Kanye West have addressed the alleged internal feud.
Check out some recent Jay-Z footage below:
