Now Kanye Is Saying His Record Label Released Donda On Their Own Without His Consent And He's Pissed

I know everybody can't get enough of the daily Kanye blogs. Lucky for you all he continues to give us plenty of fodder.

NME - Kanye West has claimed that his label’s parent company, Universal Music Group, released his new album ‘DONDA’ without his approval.

West has now taken to social to media to claim that Universal, the parent company for Def Jam Recordings and West’s own G.O.O.D. Music imprint, put the album out without his approval.

“Universal put my album out without my approval,” he posted on Instagram, before adding that the company allegedly “blocked” ‘Jail, Pt. 2’, his controversial new collaborative track that features DaBaby and Marilyn Manson, from being on ‘DONDA’.

When ‘DONDA’ first dropped, ‘Jail, Pt. 2’ was showing on streaming platforms but it was coming up as “unavailable” to play. As of this evening, the track is now available to listen to.

This is not the first time Kanye has been pissed off with Universal Music, the parent company of Def Jam.

Everybody remembers Kanye's famous rant back in September of 2020 where he went nuclear on Universal on social media.

His twitter tirade went after all record labels he's been associated with in his career. Including Roc-A-Fella and his 2005 deal which transferred his first handful of albums and stated they were “entirely [Roc-a-fella’s] property … throughout the world and in perpetuity.” 

He went off on Universal Music Group, which acquired Roc-A-Fella in 2004 and released his first six albums, and said he will do “Everything in my legal power and use my voice until all artist contracts are changed starting with getting my masters for my children.”

Last year he also sued Roc-A-Fella, as well as Universal and his publishing company, EMI, which holds the masters.

(Sidebar - it's hard to feel sympathetic for Kanye here vs. say a Taylor Swift, who has also coincidentally been one of the main voices leading the charge against one-sided record deals, because Kanye's deal wasn't so "one-sided". He got a fuckin $8 million advance for Yeezus in 2013, not including an additional $4 million to clear samples and "make" the record. They also paid him a $3 million advance, plus a $3 million recording/clearance budget, for The Life of Pablo in 2016.

Now this claim this afternoon that the record was released without his consent…

Universal hasn't commented on the allegation, so who knows what the story is. But could anybody blame them if they just said enough is enough and dropped it this morning to give the album a week head start vs. Drake's Certified Lover Boy (Sept 3)? 

p.s. - Yes that is Marilyn Manson on the hook in "Jail Pt 2". Actually sounds really good.

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