Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Jay Z and fellow music mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs AP Photo/Kathy Willens
hard knock life

Jay Z has compared everyone else's music streaming services to slavery

“YouTube is the biggest culprit, them n*****s pay you a tenth of what you supposed to get.”

MUSIC MOGUL JAY Z has delivered a slap-down to music streaming rivals at an exclusive concert for subscribers of his embattled Tidal service.

Everyone from YouTube to Spotify and Apple came in for a verbal tirade from the microphone-wielding rapper at a show broadcast live for supporters.

In the performance, ironically uploaded to YouTube not long after the event, Jay Z also likened streaming sites to slavery and invoked the fight for equality:

You know n*****s die for equal pay right? You know when I work I ain’t your slave right?,” he rapped.

“You know I ain’t shucking and jiving and high-fiving, and you know this ain’t back in the days right?”

Tidal music service launch Yui Mok / PA Wire Yui Mok / PA Wire / PA Wire

No Tidal wave

Tidal, which is co-owned by Jay Z, his wife Beyonce, Daft Punk, Alicia Keys and Madonna, with the support of other high-profile artists, has done little to dethrone the dominant players like Spotify or Youtube’s since its launch in late March.

While it promises premium-quality audio and subscriber-only content, it comes with a high pricetag attached – up to €19.99 per month. That compares to Spotify’s “freemium” model for which only about one-in-four of its 60 million global users pays anything.

In return for the extra cash, Tidal has been promising more money for artists – but that hasn’t stopped performers like Mumford & Sons and Lily Allen branding it too pricey and elitist.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala - New York Jay Z and Beyonce Doug Peters / EMPICS Entertainment Doug Peters / EMPICS Entertainment / EMPICS Entertainment

In response, Jay Z has previously tweeted critics under the hashtag #TidalFacts.

Here’s some more of what Jay Z’s lyrics had in store for his rivals:

I take what’s mine, you accept what they they give you, I get you;
I don’t take no checks, I take my respect;
Pharrell even told me go with the safest bet;
Jimmy Iovine on for the safety net;
Google dig around a crazy check;
I feel like YouTube is the biggest culprit;
Them n*****s pay you a tenth of what you supposed to get;
You know n*****s die for equal pay right;
You know when I work I ain’t your slave right?
You know I ain’t shucking and jiving and high-fiving, and you know this ain’t back in the days right?
Well I can’t tell, how the way they killed Freddie Gray right?
Shot down Mike Brown, how they did Tray right?
Let them continue choking n*****s;
We gon’ turn style, I ain’t your token n*****.”

And you can watch the performance here:

MyHoodBK / YouTube

READ: Taylor Swift asked ALL of her celebrity friends to be in her Bad Blood video >

READ: Jay Z and Beyonce ‘bailed protesters out after Ferguson and Baltimore protests’ >

Your Voice
Readers Comments
71
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.