Kanye West is going to bat for artists around the world, claiming that he is the “only person” who can speak on the issue of masters ownership without being canceled.
Some artists have been lucky enough to buy back their masters, including Yo Gotti, Ciara, Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, Rihanna, and more. The vast majority of working recording artists who are signed to a major label do not own their music though, and that’s incredibly troubling.
In recent days, Kanye West has made it his mission to fight for those people, since he is included in the bunch. With his claims this week that he will no longer be releasing music until he’s out of his lifelong deal with Sony/ATV and Universal, the Jesus Is King artist started reaching out to the billionaires behind the record companies to pitch a new system that birthed companies like Airbnb and more, which would make contracts more transparent.
During his stream of consciousness last night, which continued into this morning, Kanye said that he is the “only person” that can speak on such a topic and actually command change because he has made billions of dollars outside of music. He also claimed that Michael Jackson and Prince were both killed because they had ownership of their masters.
In the streaming world master ownership is everything… that is the bulk of the income … in COVID artist need our masters … it’s more important than ever before
I got J Cole number waiting for Kendrick and Drake
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
Che Pope got Dave Free’s number … will have Kendrick’s numbed shortly … I’ll keep you guys updated 😉 Remember they cut our tongues when we were on the boat … but noooooow…. slaaaaaavery iiiiiiiiis aaaaaaaaa chooooooooice 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
No more killing each other No more threatening to take each other’s girls and wives … let’s show the world how great we truly are 🕊 we are God’s chosen people
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
The artist deserve to own our masters … artist are starving without tours … Ima go get our masters … for all artist … pray for me
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
Let’s get it big bro … you and Michael passed so we can live pic.twitter.com/GIEWDhyepw
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
“The artist deserve to own our masters … artist are starving without tours … Ima go get our masters … for all artist … pray for me,” wrote the Chicago native in one of his tweets before making the claim about MJ and Prince. “Let’s get it big bro … you and Michael passed so we can live,” he posted with a picture of Prince.
He went on to clarify how artists have no control of their actual music after signing a deal, saying: “When you sign a music deal you sign away your rights. Without the masters you can’t do anything with your own music. Someone else controls where it’s played and when it’s played. Artists have nothing accept the fame, touring and merch.”
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
When you sign a music deal you sign away your rights. Without the masters you can’t do anything with your own music. Someone else controls where it’s played and when it’s played. Artists have nothing accept the fame, touring and merch
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
This is how it be when artist try to get our masters … the stairs are covered with lotion pic.twitter.com/1pyNK0xkWW
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
We’ve gotten comfortable with not having what we deserve … they allow us to have a little money from touring get some gold chains some alcohol some girls and fake numbers that feed our egos … but we don’t own our masters 🤔
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
We our supporting other people’s kids … we could spend our whole life in the music industry but our kids gotta go work for another company when they grow up
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
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I am the only person who can speak on this because I made multi billions outside of music no musicians make billions inside of music I’m going to change this
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
I know a lot of musicians are not allowed to say anything but I can’t be muted or cancelled so I’m going to say everything as always
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
Finally, he mentioned Nick Cannon, who was recently canceled over anti-Semitic comments he made on his podcast, and the NBA, who has been operating inside of a bubble in Orlando.
We sat back and watched Nick Cannon get canceled and we go to play ball in a bubble with black lives matter on our backs … brothers let’s stand together for real … there is no NBA or music industry without black people … fair contracts matter … ownership matters
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
We used to diss Michael Jackson the media made us call him crazy … then they killed him
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
The media tries to kill our heroes one at a time
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
“We sat back and watched Nick Cannon get canceled and we go to play ball in a bubble with black lives matter on our backs … brothers let’s stand together for real … there is no NBA or music industry without black people … fair contracts matter … ownership matters,” said Kanye. “People say it’s enough and I got my point across … the point isn’t across until we cross the point. We used to diss Michael Jackson the media made us call him crazy … then they killed him. The media tries to kill our heroes one at a time.”
UNIVERSAL WONT TELL ME WHAT MY MASTERS COST BECAUSE THEY KNOW I CAN AFFORD TO BUY THEM 🙏🏾
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
Everyone please cover me in prayer … I AM ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PEOPLE ON THE PLANET AND UNIVERSAL WONT TELL ME WHAT MY MASTERS COST BECAUSE THEY KNOW I CAN AFFORD THEM … BLACK MASTERS MATTER
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
MY CHILDREN WILL OWN MY MASTERS … NOT YOUR CHILDREN … MY CHILDREN … MY CHILDREN … MY CHILDREN
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
SONY YOU NOT OFF THE HOOK EITHER … ONE BATTLE AT A TIME
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
