While Jay-Z and Kanye West’s highly anticipated collaborative album, Watch The Throne, is set to be released next week, rumors of a rift between the two have been running rampant across the internet. But according to Jay-Z, there is no feud between him and West.
News of a rift came Aug. 1 via The New York Post’s Page Six, who reported that Jay-Z and West are “barely speaking to each other” as they fight over the costs of their upcoming tour. A source claimed that the artsy West wants an over-the-top show which would cost more than $400,000 per night while Hov, the more frugal and business-minded of the two, is arguing against it.
However, according to MTV News, later that day, Jay-Z sat down for an interview with New York City’s Hot 97 host Angie Martinez and explained that rumors are far from true.
“I kinda want to spend a gazillion dollars. They got it backwards, but it’s all good,” Hov said with his trademark laugh during the interview. “I know that we’re doing something right now. When I woke up to all that, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, we must be really hot right now.’ ”
Jay-Z, however, did admit that he and West do have their behind-the-scenes squabbles, but nothing more than the minor spats between two passionate “brothers.”
“Yes, we get on each other’s nerves, but that’s part of pushing each other. We push each other. The people who have a problem with Kanye or myself are the people that are complacent in life,” he said. “People don’t like to be pushed. It’s, like, annoying. It’s a thing when people are pushing you to be greater, and we push each other to be greater. So of course there are times when we’re in the studio and we’re yelling, but that’s about it.
“I would never disrespect that man. I have so much respect for him. Put my hands on him?” Jay questioned rhetorically. “And if I did, it would be like the backyard, like brothers, and you would never hear about it.”
It’s good to know that Jay-Z and West are watching each other’s backs as well as the their thrones. Watch The Throne goes on sale on iTunes on Aug. 8 and hits stores Aug. 12. –nicholas robinson
