Rapper Kanye West says that his latest album, titled "The Life of Pablo," won't be coming to Apple Music or iTunes. Currently, the album is only available to stream through the Jay Z-backed Tidal, where Yeezy plans to keep it:
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
West's abrupt decision comes after a turbulent release for the album, which was initially only supposed to be a Tidal exclusive for a week. Yeezy also originally planned to sell the album through his website, but has apparently changed his stance on that decision as well.
As for Tidal, West's exclusive release has helped the fledgling music streaming service see it's app rocketed to the number one spot on the App Store's Top Free Apps section. If you want to check out Tidal, along with West's latest album, you can grab the app and take advantage of a 30-day free trial at the App Store link below.
- Free - Download Now
Source: Kanye West (Twitter)
Reader comments
Kanye West says latest album will 'never never never be on Apple'
Dumb ***.
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LOL… dayum Mr West. no worries, Apple Music/Beats1 will be just fine without you. Good luck with that Kardashian curse 'tho :\
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No loss there in my opinion. One of the worst artist on the planet.
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That's why he's 53 million in debt. He sucks anyway!
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torrent the album, drop in itunes, hit match now....album is now "on Apple" lol
"Kanye West says latest album will 'never never never be on Apple'"
Why was it so important important important for Kanye to make this statement?
Kanye and Apple are never ever getting back together...
Isn't this the guy who is making a living off of trying to take down Swift and is best known as one of the Kardashian gal's husbands?
Isn't his tweet a rip off of a swift song?
Personally, this seems like a good reason to give Apple Music another look :)
Kanye just saved me the agony of running to my music player to skip his stuff.
He had one song I kinda sorta liked a little bit way back when. One. His personal antics make me not even want to listen to anything else he's made so I don't know the rest of his music stinx or not. There's just so much good music to listen to, why listen to him?
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Never, never, never would I listen to it anyway lol...
I'm 97% sure he doesn't care if I listen to his music anyway, I'm 100% sure I don't care for his music.
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Wow. Apple should be using that as a selling feature. Best reason to get Apple music I've seen yet.
Boo freaking hoo
Who cares about this *** clown - seriously!
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Who said what?
It's already been pirated half a million times. He's a troll and an annoying one. He and his **** star wife should go away
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Hahaha Tidal sucks. Is he and his loser friend Jay Z still trying to make Tidal happen because it's not going to happen
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Good I hope he just leaves the country too!
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It will just drive more traffic to The Pirate Bay. That's what happens when you don't allow pay streaming services access to your music. Are you listening, Adele and Kanye? You're missing out on royalties here. I pay for a streaming service, I'm not buying your albums.
i'm glad his music won't be on itunes
no1curr
/Kanye - apparently tons of talent
//Kanye - also a jackass
Who cares, racist pig.
And I will NEVER give two ***** about Kanye or his garbage music! He is an egotistical, pompous *******! His music is mediocre at best.
Who cares.
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Well that's just one more selling point for Apple Music.
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If artists want to play this game then do it. It's been years since I've bought music. I personally subscribe to Spotify and I'm happy with it. I hear all the music I want. One artist not willing to share with other streaming media applications won't move nations.
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Lmao this thread is hilarious. "Why should I care?" "He has no talent!" "Send him to Canada!" Lol despite how you feel about Kanye PERSONALLY, you don't want to be on the wrong side of history when we all look back at his catalog. This man is 7 for 7 on his albums which IS comparable to the greats and again, regardless of how you feel about his personal life, Kanye will go down in history as one of the greats to ever do it. People who are quick to say they don't like him, etc. don't even understand his influence. And to whoever made the hip-hop isn't timeless comment, careful, your narrow-mindedness is showing :)
But about the ARTICLE, I agree that it's a stupid move not to include other steaming services. I expected this when TIDAL was first announced. I respect exclusivity and the artists decision to do so, but I'm also not holding my breath that it WON'T hit shelves in physical format and be pushed to other services. Obviously TIDAL needs the promotion and to refer to my point earlier: if Kanye wasn't so great then TIDAL wouldn't have reached #1 on the App Store like it did. ;-p #PabloWest
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Selling well does not mean it will hold up in the future...
AOL was once the #1 internet provider, are we really going to remember it in the future?
Again, talent is subjective. What you find talent is all good, you cant bash others if they dont see what you do tho
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And #1 free, not #1 on appstore. And only recent too.
Any app can do that with a good few thousand push. Doesnt mean its good
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Kanye is just having a Charlie Sheen moment except he's not #winning
Good.Keep your crap away for Apple Music.Its too good for you anyway
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Bye Felicia!
Always a good idea don't put your music on the largest streaming services. I am sure tidal will help help dig him out of the financial hole he is in. Wait no they have 1 million subscribers vs the 20 on Spotify or the 10 million on Apple. Good call Kanye. Maybe he can beg Mark Zuckerberg or Larry Page to buy 1 million subscriptions.
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This guy is the antithesis of decent hiphop. There really are intelligent lyricists out there with things worth discussing but instead goofs like this guy get the limelight and fit the pop star trash role so very well. I'll never understand it, but maybe it's my age. I truly don't believe his little strike at Apple is going to amount to squat.
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He giving away on Tidal to save any investment he has in it, or they gave him a lot of money behind closed doors. He is rumored to be releasing two albums this year, so if he says this about this one I hope the other one doesn't get released on it either. I speak as a music fan, if he wants to be this dum let him.
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That's Great News!!! That way when I have suggestions show up in my Apple Music, I wont have see or hear that piece of sh*#!
Knowing that I won't come across any of this over-rated egomaniac's audio effluent is as good a reason as any to keep my Apple Music sub running then ...
I bet his tweet was sent from an iPhone..
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I'd be happy if stays exclusive to Kenya and no one else!
I remain unaffected. I don't use Tidal, I don't listen to Kra-Kra-Kanye. Never, never, never will I stoop so low.
Good. Next stop "will never never never be Anywhere".
MAYBE if he convinces Kim K to share a topless photo for every album download on Tidal... MAYBE it has a chance... MAYBE.
Then again, we've all seen her topless numerous times anyway.
I think id pass even more... I can 3d print a body more real.
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Who the **** cares
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Being exclusive to Tidal isn't exactly something to brag about...
Lots of BS from commenters here, it's mind blowing. He makes a business decision, albeit probably VERY idiotic, and all of a sudden he's trash and his talent's gone, he's the worst thing since Vanilla Ice. Grow the f**k up. I dont care about this guy one way or another, never listened to a full song of his, probably never will, but come on. If Apple had convinced him to release his material on Apple Music exclusively, most of the geniuses here would praise that decision. Reminds me what happened with Swift back in the day.
Yeah, we all know his move is highly questionable, and his album is gonna get pirated through the roof, but dont be **** hurt about it. The 'if you're not with me, you're against me' sh-t is getting old.
Really well said! I agree completely.
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Talent isnt gone, dont be silly, talent just doesnt go away!
.........he never had any.
And if you like him good for you, doesnt my or anyone elses opinions more or less bs than yours.
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What's your problem? What did he do to you? He never had any talent? It's crazy you actually believe that. Who does have talent to you then?
According to your own definition, only what i procieve as good and i cant do is talent.
I think i can do what he does better, you may not agree but thats why opinions are nice :)
It's my opinion that Kanye is one of the best to take a song, chop it up and flip it into something brand new. But I'm always open to those who can do it better and I've found some musicians that I'm quite fond of searching for those who do similar things. I might like your music if you believe you're better at what he does than he is. Where might I listen to your stuff?
I think your comment went a bit too far.
"You think you can do what he did better" that's only you think, no one else has openly agree with that. In contrast, the music industry had proven his success (in a way).
A psychiatric patient also think that they are very normal. Just that the rest of the world doesn't think so :)
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Theres always others who agree, and thats the point, what some like others dont. Not everyone has to conform to what you believe is right
Music? A guy that just dances and kind of sing? Please this is phenomenal garbage compared to real musicians or bands who do play instruments and are masters at their craft, he is just a FAD, no one remembers any rapper of yesteryear, they come and go and their "week hits" are forgotten forever. 50 years on we can hear the Stones, the beatles and manyothers. Memorable songs, melodies and interpretation, this clown, is just that, a clown. And besides, their "week hits" most times are samplers or covers of great songs from real musicians.
You just took an article about an ARTIST and extrapolated into a GENRE and subsequently, a CULTURE. Tread lightly, lest you expose yourself for more than you intended to.
Hip-hop is timeless in its own right; it was born of a fusion of music and the talent involved is no less painstaking than other genres. Have you ever seen Kanye (or any other hip-hop artist) create their music first hand? It doesn't just fall to them from heaven, but there is a process that is not simple, otherwise, anyone could do it and be rich and famous. No, there is an art to all music and to denigrate one based on your bias for another is foolish.
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Best reply here. By far.
Kanye West is fool we don't need his crap here at Apple, and we don't need Fagdroids here either.
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If he doesnt like it, he doesnt like it. Talent is subjective.
You have no idea the work i have to put into taking a crap, that doesnt mean what I produce is talent.
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He didn't simply say he didn't like it. He attempted to denigrate an entire genre of music, a central part of hip-hop culture. I don't like country but I can appreciate the that music and that Loretta Lyne and Johnny Cash aren't a fad and dead people nobody remembers. And just the same I can name rappers of "yesteryear" both dead or alive that are loved and revered from Melle Mell, to Big Daddy Kane, Moe Dee, Run, Pac, Big, Guru, Dilla, Bambataa, Big L, KRS, Cypress Hill, Lauryn Hill, etc. You can go on and on and on. Their music is still played. And i play an instrument and come from a family of musicians.
Amen.
People who say this have obviously never listened to a Kanye West album. Especially his new one. To say he's no musician is completely ignorant. Say what you will about his character. But his talents are undeniable.
People who say THIS are ignorant.
Saying everyone has to like what you like? His talent is subjective, liking or disliking him is an opinion.
I have heard some of the new stuff. I dont get it. No desire to hear any more of it.
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Wrong. To deny a man of his talents because YOU can't appreciate them is ignorant. There are many musicians whose music I don't enjoy but I'll never deny them of their talents. Millions of people enjoy these artists for a reason. Don't be a closed minded jerk your whole life.
Wrong. Again talent is subjective. Just because you find what someone to be doing is talented, doesnt mean everyone has to. I can throw a ball have it bounce 5 times and stop. Dont you dare deny me my talent!
Please, no one here denys him anything. (Except their money) he isnt reading this and thinking his talent is gone because somone didnt thing it was talent and denied him it!
Music production is a talent. Playing the piano is a talent. He's got production credits with some of the best in the industry from Madonna to Paul McCartney to Michael Jackson. The list goes on. Call it what you will. But with a production catalog as extensive as his you've got to be the definition of closed minded to call that man "untalented". I don't think anyone in the music industry would agree with that. We may all agree that his personal life makes him a jerk, egotistical and an *****. But talentless truly isn't something someone can call him. It's pure ignorance at that point. If you can make a ball bounce 5 times and I can't then you sir have a talent. And I would acknowledge that. Unless you can do what he's done...calling him talentless is the wrong label for you to use.
There, you said me bouncing a ball five times is a talent, i dont think it is.
Anyone can sing, but whats musical to your ear is different that others.
Anyone can produce, so if i like my production and you dont whos to say if the talent exists? You are saying its talent because you procieve him to be good at it.
Ignorance is not seeing that there are other views outside your own
Trash. Sometimes it ends up taking itself out...
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Well let's hope Kanye takes himself out then.
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Who cares if Kanye West's new album isn't coming to Apple Music? He isn't all that anymore, they can keep him on Tidal for all I care, his old stuff is better anyway.
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I applaud you bold decision! And please, take your other albums away too :)
You would like any at I Apple moron.
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Kanye West will never, never, never be out of debt…
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I'll be the contrary opinion on here. I thought the album was great. And I've been a tidal subscriber for a while on their student plan. Comparing Apple Music to tidal is a little unfair considering Apple has the allegiance of their device faithfulls. But tidal has surely been less buggy than Apple Music for me. And the album would be well worth the price of an album should he choose to sell it.
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And so again, the loose cannon roared... And again, nothing of value was lost.
I'm using this quote from this day forward.
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The self proclaimed god (little g of course) is 53 mil in debt, begging for money and now makes this proclamation about not putting his music on iTunes. If you a close high why you a begging guy? Lol!
Who cares Kanye is an *****.
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Cool.
Im assuming the itunes trash bin was full, so there was no room for his "album"
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LOL check out that twitter feed. Peeps posting pics of his album (downloaded illegally) in their iTunes library. What a moronic 13 year old boy in a grown man's body. And he's immature even for a 13 year old. Just sad.
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He'll change his tune soon enough
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Haha!!! No one gives a s**t! You suck anyway!!!
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Who is "Yeezy" and why should I care?
This man became so sad. Tidal promised to take care of artists and customers but if that means picking one service over the other they are in big trouble. JZ should start distancing this himself from this dude. No one likes a showoff and this kid is really pushing it. He clearly doesn't have great support system or someone to tell him "NO" and open his eyes. It reminds me of the same sad life and death of MJ. Kanye was one of the greats and he needs help and fast before he becomes a complete joke.
Before he becomes a joke? My friend, he became one the day he got with that Kardashian.
Good. he's a piece of trash anyways. Please go away and fall off the face of the earth West.
This guy really is a dolt.
They could have 1000 exclusive albums and I'm still not getting tidal the name sounds like bad 80's hair band. But then again I'm not going to subscribe to music no matter what they offer or who they blow for exclusive content.
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******* iSheep
This is a marketing ploy for an immature platform. So he can use Apple hardware to create this art, and Apple hardware to tweet etc., but not Apple software to share/sell it...
We are witnessing the rants of a guy who is fake deep and has little to no emotional intelligence, who lately more not than often makes good music. Funny that Rhianna (who is Tidal affiliated) and dropped her latest on iTunes/Apple Music. I bet Jay-Z 's next album will be sold by Apple.
so you're saying that if i create music using LPX, i have to share it on apple music? that's stupid.
No, but why limit your platform to sell your art? I thought artists want to touch as many people as possible with that art? People are downloading Tidal just to stream/pirate this. I don't think they will see a massive surge in paid membership since they don't have a mature catalog versus most other services, yet.
Self curation of you ask me! Good luck staying off iTunes/Apple Music, Kanye.
What? Oh, yeah, fine dude. Good luck.
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Who is Kane West?
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He's the Voice for angry little boys everywhere.
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Actually, his album exclusivity is one LESS reason to check out Tidal.
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Maybe that is why he is $53 million in debt.
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My goodness this guy is desperate. He invested in Tidal, which is turning out to be a financial disaster.
Best of luck brah. Stick to making music, not playing armchair venture capitalist.
...and this threatening behavior of his will result in, well, ARRR. You can't give the internet an ultimatum, Yeezy.
Exactly right on the pirate. The funny thing is that the MORE POPULAR the album is, the more likely it will be pirated.
Who gives a $#¡+?? I thought I read recently he was threatening to move to Canada.
We don't want him.
~TheRealFixxxer
Canada doesn't want him either.
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We'll keep Kanye if you take back Justin.
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I meant we as in Canada. We have enough horrible musicians here. It's likely higher per capita than the US.
Glad to here Kanye's album has already been pirated half a million times. Stupid male sexual organ that he is.
~TheRealFixxxer
Only two or three songs are good. Rest is trash.
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I honestly don't understand what's so special about his music that people would flock to Tidal to just get one of his albums. Maybe I'm already too old for this kind of music and I don't get the phenomenon...
Also, do I understand correctly that he doesn't want to SELL his album at all? That's a real bummer for his fans. Personally I like to buy music to have it - as a material disk in my hands. Of course I use music streaming services, but the fact I could never own it deters me a little from such a performer. I am rather leaning towards music industry where customers can still own their music and if anything changes, that would be reducing the meaning of the industry itself to bring more money to the performers.
Never thought I'd see the day when someone has an issue with an artist who doesn't want to SELL their music. That's a new one. I'd have to imagine he isn't going to make nearly as much money off this decision.
Why not just let people have their opinions?
Are you having an afair with the guy or something?
Sometimes people make statements that just don't make much sense. You're one of those people. It's one thing to dislike a person. But to disregard a whole catalog of accomplishments because of some dislike of that person is ridiculous to me.
Ah the old 'ill back away from a comment by saying it doesn't make sense' defense. Good one.
And that is your opinion, no one is bashing your opinion, why are you bashing theirs just because its not the same as yours? They are intitled to have one
Not bashing anyone's opinion. Merely trying to understand a train of thought that seems crazy to me. You stated you can do what Kanye does better than Kanye. I asked to listen to your music so I could understand where you're coming from. Unless you're just calling the man talentless without having taken the time to understand his work.
I dont like his work, at all. I dont understand the train of thought saying i have to admit someone has talent at something that i believe they are horrible at.
And i dont understand people that want everyone else to conform to their belief instead of their own opinions.
And by all means listen to my music, ill be performing in the shower every morning this week, front row may get wet, and bring a rubber duckie.
Honestly I don't care if people like what he does. There are many people who make music that I don't like. It's just not my place to tell anyone whether or not they are talented. I believe everyone is talented in their own right. That is the point it was arguing with you. That is it's absurd to call him talentless. But hey, do you. Enjoy your bathroom concerts.
Point is tho to be talented you have to be good at something. If one doesnt believe someone to be good at something how can talent exist? You believe he is good at what he does and therefor had talent. Your problem is you cant accept others have opinions too
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You don't like him. That's fine. But you literally can't sustain as long as he has sustained without talent. You can't do what he's been able to do in music and fashion without talent. You can't get respect from the most respected names in music and fashion without talent. This isn't a one hit wonder we are talking about. His catalog is as extensive as many of the greats in music. You can't still be as successful musically as you were 12 years ago without talent. It is you who refuses to acknowledge what is so blatantly obvious all because YOU dislike what he does. And that is perfectly fine. You don't have to like what he does. But you're argument is that he lacks talent and that just isn't true. Whether his talent is musically, fashion or just his staying power...talent exists. You just refuse to see it.
Im not arguing against or for him having talent. My argument is for you telling people they have to agree to you thinking something or someone is talented simply because you or other people believe that is the case.
People will agree with you that he does, and others will say he does not, it's subjective and not for YOU to decide what their opinion is.
If your rating seccessfulness by wealth, then it sounds like hes really in dept from what people have said.
If you measure seccessfulness by how known he is then yes seems everyone knows of him.
But you cant tell others what to think based on the rules you set up for it.
You've got to see the hypocrisy in what you're saying. I didn't tell anyone they couldn't have an opinion. I simply stated that it didn't make sense to me. We are on a public forum where everyone has the right to express their opinions. And I expressed my opposition to an opinion in a respectful way. So now you're saying that I'm not allowed to express my disagreement to someones viewpoint? Everyone can have their opinions...but if there is never any discussion on a differing view nobody will get anywhere in life. I'm not telling others what they shouldn't and should think or believe. I'm simply saying, "I don't agree and here is why". My argument to you has always been that it isn't for you to determine who does and doesn't have talent. Talent is not subjective. The things that talent creates is. But the talent itself is measurable by many factors. You just refuse to acknowledge it. I'm personally not measuring it by wealth or who "knows" him. But that wealth is obtained by the millions of people he's reached through his work. Being able to move people is a talent. Not everyone could do that. If everyone could you'd probably have more important things to do right now and you wouldn't be singing in your bathroom still.
Talent is to be good at something.
If there is a debate on whether someone is good at something then there can also be a debate on the so called talent.
But as you just said other opinions are allowed finally, and you are no longer forcing people to conform to your view that they have to say he has talent. Then we are good now. Thank you for finally opening up and allowing people to have opinions :) good day!
Kanye IS selling his music, ON TIDAL. I appreciate supporting his brand, but this just encourages people to pirate the music. Who's paying $20/month for Tidal? Oh yeah, no one