Jay-Z's group paid about $56 million for Tidal's parent in 2015. Square paid $297 million for 80% of it in 2021. In between, Kanye said Tidal owed him $3 million, and Jay said he had given Kanye $20 million.
February 14, 2016. The Life of Pablo comes out on Tidal only. Kanye is one of the app's artist co-owners. That same day he tweets that he is $53 million in personal debt.
Reports said Pablo brought Tidal 1.5 million new subscribers. Kanye's camp said his contract paid a bonus for them.
The same year he got a reported advance for his Saint Pablo Tour. In November he cancelled the rest of the dates.
June 30, 2017. Jay releases 4:44 and raps about the $20 million. Days later TMZ reports that Kanye's lawyers sent Tidal letters claiming about $3 million. Tidal answers that he never delivered the videos the deal required.
Kanye's version came in May 2018: a Live Nation touring deal arranged by Roc Nation, not a gift. The framing "made me feel like I owed more than just the money itself."
Jay's version, on Rap Radar: "The $20 million thing shouldn't have been said. Sometimes you go too far."
Kanye had the better side of the $3 million fight. One album added a reported 1.5 million subscribers to an app that later sold for $297 million, and the bonus came to about 1% of that.








