Kanye Tweets Out Alleged Record Contracts Amid Dispute With Label
On Tuesday, September 15, Kanye West started posting to Twitter about his relationship with Universal Music Group, the parent company to his label G.O.O.D. Music and Def Jam Recordings. Among other things, West addressed his desire to buy back his master recordings from the company, claiming his efforts are being obstructed by several contracts he signed. He then proceeded to tweet images of what he claimed to be 10 recording contracts between himself and Universal: “I need every lawyer in the world to look at these,” he wrote.
Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for Kanye West and Universal for comment.
Last night, prior to sharing the documents, West expressed a desire to speak with people at Vivendi, the French media conglomerate that majority owns UMG. He initially said he wanted to meet with CEO Arnaud de Puyfontaine, before stating that he’ll meet with the company’s president Vincent Bolloré.
In addition to sharing legal documents, West has been calling on other artists to back him and open up about their experiences. “Bono can I get a retweet Love you Paul [McCartney] can I get a retweet love you Drake Kendrick even Taylor,” he tweeted, hinting at Swift’s similar dispute with her former label. “ALL THE MUSICIANS WILL BE FREE.”
Producer Hit-Boy, who has frequently collaborated with Kanye, posted on Instagram to back West’s complaints against the industry. “If they’re doing this to me with all I’ve accomplished through hard work,” he wrote, “I can only imagine the kids who don’t have big placements/proper guidance.”
Amid his tweets about his situation with UMG, Kanye West shared what appears to be the phone number of Forbes COO and editor Randall Lane. The tweet was taken down. A Twitter spokesperson tells Pitchfork that the tweet was removed for posting private information, and West’s account has been temporarily locked in accordance with the site’s Private Information policy.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
