Kanye West goes on strike against Sony and Universal

Kanye West has said that he will not release any new music until his contracts with Sony and Universal run out. 

In January last year, Kanye West filed two separate lawsuits against both record labels, in an attempt to cut loose from his publishing and label deals. The first lawsuit targetted Sony/ATV’s EMI Music Publishing, while the second was against Universal Music record labels Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella, in addition to UMG's merchandise business Bravado.

The lawsuits filed in Los Angeles Superior Court have been described as “almost entirely redacted”. but the following sentence is clear: “There now exists a dispute between Plaintiffs and Defendant EMI regarding the parties’ rights and obligations to one another under the EMI Contract and Extensions,” and a similar statement is applied to his label agreements.

In non-redacted portions, the legal team of West mentions “a dispute between the parties’ rights and obligations to one another under the Recording Agreement and Extensions.”

Taking to Twitter earlier today, Kanye tweeted, "I’m not putting no more music out till I’m done with my contract with Sony and Universal ... On God ... in Jesus name ... come and get me."

In a series of follow-up tweets, Kanye expressed his disdain for the music industry. "I refuse to argue with black men on labels we don’t own," West wrote, before going on to compare the music industry to modern-day slavery.

"I need to see everybody’s contracts at Universal and Sony I’m not gonna watch my people be enslaved I’m putting my life on the line for my people," he wrote. "The music industry and the NBA are modern day slave ships.

"I’m the new Moses."

I’m not industry bro ... I don’t care... I’m in service to Christ ... we need world healing ... I miss my brothers... I refuse to argue with black men on labels we don’t own... even twitter

— ye (@kanyewest) September 15, 2020

I need to see everybody’s contracts at Universal and Sony

I’m not gonna watch my people be enslaved

I’m putting my life on the line for my people

The music industry and the NBA are modern day slave ships

I’m the new Moses

— ye (@kanyewest) September 15, 2020