A rep for Kanye West is reportedly calling foul on a recent report alleging the G.O.O.D. Music boss is holding Yandhi hostage. According to XXL, the rep denied The Blast’s exclusive report claiming there’s a third and singular lawsuit with Def Jam Recordings.
“The Blast article has the unredacted complaint but it’s not a new lawsuit,” the statement read. “It’s the unredacted version of the previous filing. Also there’s another inaccurate portion about him holding up the ninth album. That’s not in the complaint and untrue.”
Kanye, however, did file a recent lawsuit against Roc-A-Fella Records and EMI Recordings. He claims they owe him money.
Yandhi was originally expected to arrive last September. Following multiple delays, a new release date has yet to be announced.
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[This article has been updated. The original version was published on January 27, 2019 and can be found below.]
Kanye West has been teasing Yandhi for months, but after multiple delays, the project has yet to materialize. According to The Blast, the reason for the lag is due to a label dispute. Shortly after ‘Ye filed a lawsuit against Roc-A-Fella Records, his legal teamed set its sights on Def Jam Recordings and EMI.
The legal documents reportedly take aim at Bravado merchandising and Island Def Jam, alleging both companies have been exploiting “one of the world’s most iconic, multi-faceted, and productive talents.”
The polarizing Hip Hop figure is asking a judge to free him from any obligations he has to Def Jam, the label he’s been tied to for the past 17 years.
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“Even if the contracts were not unfair (they are), even if their terms valued Mr. West’s contributions in line with the breathtaking success he has achieved for these companies (they do not) and even if the companies had not unpaid Mr. West what they owe him (they have), he would be entitled to be set free from its bonds,” the document read.
The G.O.O.D. Music mastermind is also asking for ownership of his master recordings.
“At no point since the commencement of Mr. West’s services under the recording agreement and extensions in 2002 has he enjoyed any ‘moment of freedom’ that is, any moment during which he was freed from his obligations under the contract and able to offer his services to anyone else, take a break from his recording career, or even retire from it altogether,” the doc stated.
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Kanye’s team insists he’s owed a “substantial amount” of money, although the number isn’t specified. They suggest Def Jam “has unjustly earned millions of dollars by binding Mr. West’s recording talents to [Island Def Jam] for an unlawful term.”
‘Ye reportedly doesn’t want Yandhi held up in any contractual obligations. Therefore, he’s refusing to release it.
At this point, there’s no telling if the album will ever surface. For now, all his fans will get are his weekly Sunday Service series.
