For the longest I attributed the schism between Jay-Z and MAGA mascot Kanye West to a sibling rivalry of sorts. But it appears their rift is much deeper than we thought. Because on Friday, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Diamond and Silk’s sidekick filed a pair of lawsuits that could drive a wedge further between them.
Kanye West has filed a pair of lawsuits in what may be an attempt to extradite himself from contracts and reclaim control over his career. One lawsuit is against EMI, the song publisher that has administered the rights to his songs since 2003, shortly before the hip-hop star released his debut album, The College Dropout. The other is against Roc-a-Fella Records, UMG Recordings, Def Jam and Bravado International Group.
The complaints filed on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court are almost entirely redacted and so the basis of his legal actions are very mysterious. But there’s at least this...
“There now exists a dispute between Plaintiffs and Defendant EMI regarding the parties’ rights and obligations to one another under the EMI Contract and Extensions.”
Similar language is used to explain the controversy over his recording agreements.
Yikes.
Outside of a transfer of property, Kanye is seeking declaratory relief in addition to alleging “unjust enrichment on the part of the song publisher and record companies”.
Of particularly note, in heavily redacted court documents obtained by The Blast, the “I Love It” rapper takes credit for helping to “revitalize Jay-Z’s career” with his writing and production contributions to “The Blueprint”, an undisputed classic album that did exactly that.
But regardless of how this all turns out, it’s clear the Chicago native wasn’t playing when he warned us on “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” to wait till he got his money right.
He’s represented by Quinn Emanuel litigator Robert Schwartz.