Jay-Z and Kanye’s disagreements on “Watch The Throne” Tour
A battle royal has broken out behind the scenes of Jay-Z and Kanye West‘s new album, “Watch the Throne.”
Sources say the rappers — who call themselves The Throne and are releasing their expected blockbuster collaboration Aug. 8 on iTunes and four days later everywhere else — are barely speaking to each other as they iron out the details of their upcoming tour.
Live Nation’s presale event on Thursday was delayed, but tickets for the tour are slated to go on sale today, with shows at the IZOD Center Sept. 27 and 28.
The sources say West wants flashy concerts with “next-level production,” which would cost more than $400,000 per show. Jay-Z is said to be meticulous about costs and already has a larger, long-term advance from Live Nation that he has to pay back.
“Jay-Z can’t deal with Kanye,” an insider told Page Six. “Jay is a stone-cold businessman. He wants to recoup all of his money from Live Nation. But Kanye wants to upstage rock stars with a blowout show. He doesn’t care about costs. He has a lot less to gain from the shows.”
West is expected to agree to the conditions of the tour next week, but the business brouhaha between the powerhouse artists might have affected their backstage relationship.
Industry insiders were shocked to see West and Jay-Z perform separately with Young Jeezy last Monday night at the Highline Ballroom. “We were expecting them to come out together to perform a track from the album,” a source said. “They didn’t even go out together after the show.”
“Jay-Z is fed up with West’s antics,” another source said. “He doesn’t even want to be around him.” However, the two are expected to perform together at a listening party tonight at The Rose Planetarium in Central Park, according to The Post’s Dan Aquilante. A Live Nation rep said, “No comment.” The rappers’ reps didn’t get back to us.
