Last night (May 17), Jay Z treated TIDAL users to an exclusive "B-Sides" concert in NYC, in which he performed rare tracks from his extensive catalog. Also during the show, Hov kicked a freestyle that touched on just about all of the trending topics in the music world, including jabs at YouTube, Spotify, and Apple, his new streaming competitors.
During the freestyle, Hov mentioned how, in his efforts to bring TIDAL to fruition, he passed up offers from both Pharrell and Jimmy Iovine. He then situated his independent movement in the context of the killings of Freddie Gray, Mike Brown, and Trayvon Martin, insinuating a divide between his multi-billion dollar competitors and the issues people really care about.
Find the lyrics below, via Billboard:
"I don't need no middlemen to talk to my n----s / I understand if you don't understand I figure my n----a / That's where we differ / I take what's mine you accept what they give you / I get you/ I don't take no checks / I take my respect / Pharrell even told me "Go with the best bet" / Jimmy Iovine offered the safety net / Google came around with a crazy check / I feel like YouTube is the culp-a-rit /. N----s pay you a tenth of what you supposed to get / You know n---a die for equal pay, right? You know what i'm worth / I ain't your slave right / You know i aint shucking and jivin' and high fivin' / You know this ain't back in the days right / But i can't tell by the way they kill Freddie Gray right / Shot down / Mike Brown / Like the way they did Tray right? / Y'all gone' keep choking' n----s / we gon' turn style / I ain't your token n---a / You know i came in this game independent right / Tidal / My own label / same difference / Oh n----s is skeptical of they own shit / You bought nine iPhones and Steve Jobs is rich / Phil Knight worth trillions you still bought those kicks / Spotify's nine billion and they ain't say shit / 'Lucyyy you got some splainin' to do' / The only one they hatin' on look the same as you / That's cool / I know they tryin' to bamboozle you / Spending billions on meryin' to confusin you / I had to tell myself "Hov, get used to it" / It's politics as usual."
Does the freestyle signal a return to form for Hov? Anyone attend the special performance?
Watch the freestyle below.