Kanye West Claims The Life Of Pablo Will Never Be Available For Sale
Released Saturday (February 13), Kanye West’s seventh solo album may have a quality different than his other six, as well as the Cruel Summer and Watch The Throne collaborative projects. The album, which features Kendrick Lamar, Chance The Rapper, and Young Thug, may not be available for purchase of any kind.
In a series of tweets yesterday (February 15), the artist claimed that the LP will remain exclusive to streaming platform, Tidal. Upon release, the album was not available for purchase via iTunes, or on rival streaming platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music.
My album will never never never be on Apple. And it will never be for sale… You can only get it on Tidal.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 15, 2016
Please to all my friends fans and music lovers. Sign up to Tidal now.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 15, 2016
Although West named iTunes by name, he also said that the work “will never be for sale.” This appears to indicate that CD and vinyl editions of the album will not be available at retail.
Eleven months ago, Kanye West was present for the Tidal Launch Event. The artist joined Lady Gaga, J. Cole, Daft Punk, Rihanna and others at an event to publicize the platform which Jay Z invested in. On the previous six Kanye albums were all released through Roc-A-Fella Records, a company that Jay co-founded in the mid-1990s.
Another multi-platinum producer, Dr. Dre, released his third solo album, Compton, exclusively to the Apple digital platforms in 2015. However, that Grammy-nominated Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records release is also available on physical formats.
West, whose first six albums are all platinum or better, will still be eligible for certification from the RIAA—thanks to the new streaming rules.
The decision comes amidst West’s public revelation of a $53 million debt.
For the past 3 years people who knew about the debt tried to use it against me in negotiations …
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 16, 2016
You can’t control me or use the debt against me no more …
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 16, 2016
Money doesn’t make me who I am…
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 16, 2016
I wanted the world to know my struggle…
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 16, 2016
Def Jam Records has not publicly responded to West’s claims.
Related: Kanye West Introduces The Life of Pablo As a Living, Breathing Visual Experience (Videos)