Celebrity Feuds

The $20 million Jay-Z fronted Kanye West was NOT a gift -- as Jay insinuated on his album 4:44 -- it was all part of Live Nation's deal with 'Ye.

Sources with direct knowledge of Jay and Kanye's business relationship tell TMZ, the $20 million was a payout advance which could also cover expenses -- including the floating stage -- for Kanye's "Saint Pablo Tour." The money is sometimes used to cover various production costs and staff.

It's actually standard for artists at Kanye's level to get such an advance. It's part of the deal.

Jay certainly made it sound like he and Roc Nation gifted Kanye the dough. In the song, "Kill Jay Z" Jay raps ...

"But you got hurt because you did cool by 'Ye // You gave him 20 million without blinkin' // He gave you 20 minutes on stage, f*** was he thinkin'? // 'F*** wrong with everybody?' is what you sayin' // But if everybody's crazy, you're the one that's insane."

We broke the story ... Kanye bailed on Jay-Z's streaming service, Tidal, over a money dispute. Kanye's decision to leave had nothing to do with the $20 mil. He claims he's owed unrelated millions for subscription bonuses and music video expenses.

Jay has threatened to sue Kanye if he make an exclusive deal with another streaming service, but we're told Kanye's done with exclusive deals.

Jay and 'Ye were once like brothers, and they still are ... Cain and Abel.

Jay Z's attack against Kanye West on 4:44 has nothing to do with Kanye bailing from Tidal ... it's all about Kanye's concert rant ... and Jay clearly does not think Kanye's mental condition at the time was an excuse.

Sources connected to the 2 moguls tell us Jay was enraged when Kanye went on stage November 19th in Sacramento and first went after Beyonce with thoughts that were difficult to understand and then calling out Jay for shutting him out of his life.

As one Kanye source put it, "Kanye was days away from going to a psych ward with some really serious mental issues. We get why he [Jay] was upset, but give Kanye a break."

We're told Kanye had no idea Jay would go after him on 4:44 and when he heard it he was "shocked."

Jay's new album contains the lyrics, "I know people backstab you I felt bad too. But this f*** everybody attitude ain't natural. But you ain't a saint, this ain't kumbaye. But you got hurt because you did cool by 'Ye. You gave him $20 million without blinkin'. He gave you 20 minutes on stage, f*** was he thinking'? f*** wrong with everybody is what you sayin'. But if everybody's crazy, you're the one that's insane."

Kanye West isn't interested in bonuses from Apple, Spotify or any other streaming platforms ... 'cause he's done with exclusive releases.

Sources with knowledge of the conflict between Kanye and Tidal tell us Kanye does not want to enter into any more exclusive album releases or contracts with streaming services to host any upcoming projects of his, because he wants to avoid what happened on Tidal ... too limited access for far too long.

We're told when Kanye does drop new material, he plans to make it available on as many music platforms as possible ... so more people can listen as soon as it's released.

We broke the story ... Kanye has split from Tidal over a money dispute, and both parties face possible legal action if he goes to another streaming service. His last album, "The Life of Pablo," was exclusively on Tidal for about a month and a half, and we're told that's affecting his decision to widely release his music.

As we reported ... Kanye's business beef with Tidal predates the release of Jay-Z's album "4:44" ... in which he disses 'Ye.

The bottom line, though ... new Kanye music should be coming to a streaming service near you in the near future.

Kanye West, a key player in Jay Z's Tidal stable, has left the company over a money dispute and Tidal has threatened to sue him ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to Tidal tell TMZ, Kanye has been unhappy with the company for a long time. We're told Kanye has complained the company owes him money -- more than $3 million.

Our sources say a month ago Kanye's lawyer sent a letter to Tidal, saying the company was in breach and the contract was terminated. Over the next 2 weeks lawyers for both sides tried to resolve the conflict but failed. We're told 2 weeks ago Kanye's lawyer fired off a second letter declaring again the contract was over.

Kanye's decision to split from Tidal predates the release of Jay Z's album in which he trashes Kanye, and we're told Kanye had no advance knowledge of Jay's lyrics.

We're told Kanye's beef with Tidal is twofold -- his The Life of Pablo album resulted in 1 1/2 million new subscribers to Tidal, for which he was supposed to get a bonus but the company hasn't paid. Kanye also says Tidal reneged on reimbursing him for music videos.

Our sources say Tidal's position is that Kanye didn't deliver the videos required by the contract. Kanye's response ... I'll deliver the videos when you pay me what I'm owed.

We're told Tidal fired off a letter to Kanye, saying as far as the company was concerned it still had an exclusive contract with the rapper and if he tried to go to another streaming service they'd sue him. We're told Kanye's willing to walk away, but if Tidal sues him, he'll sue them right back.

Akon's got some advice for anyone Jay-Z puts on blast -- just let it go.

We got the singer at LAX Friday and asked him about Jay firing off at people like Kanye and Eric Benet on his new album, "4:44" ... he thinks it's so rare that anyone getting heat should just take it -- or it could get worse for them.

Kanye West isn't sweating Jay-Z's diss ... unless he just hasn't heard it.

Yeezus was at his studio in Calabasas Friday looking happy, healthy, and oblivious to Jay's new lyrics ...

“I know people backstab you, I feel bad too / But this f*** everybody attitude ain’t natural / But you ain’t the same, this ain’t KumbaYe / But you got hurt because you did cool by ‘Ye / You gave him 20 million without thinkin’ / He gave you 20 minutes on stage, f*** was he thinkin’? / ‘F*** wrong with everybody?’ is what you sayin’ / But if everybody’s crazy, you’re the one that’s insane" on Jay-Z's new "4:44" album.

We broke the story ... Kanye's goal is to get back on tour as soon as early 2018, so maybe he's just got bigger fish to fry. And, he's writing new music.

Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough are firing right back at President Trump ... claiming he reached out to help them fend off an unflattering report about their relationship, but with a major string attached.

The co-hosts/engaged couple claim several Trump administration officials called them repeatedly with the offer over a National Enquirer story about them having an affair -- but they said Joe had to call the President first.

They made it seem like the offer was ... grovel to Trump, and he'll have the story killed.

Joe and Mika dropped the bombshell allegation on "Morning Joe" Friday morning. They actually canceled vacation plans so they could be on the air to respond to Trump's Thursday morning tweets -- where he claimed Mika was bleeding from a facelift when they begged him to attend a party at Mar-a-Lago.

As for that claim ... they addressed it straight on, and told a much different story about how they ended up at the President's New Year's bash -- and the facelift? Mika copped to having a procedure, but added ... that's far from the biggest issue here. She's right.

Interestingly, she also did exactly what Trump did -- plastic surgery shaming. Poor form?

Trump has already responded on Twitter, calling them liars.

But wait ... there's more. Joe just responded and said Trump's lying and he can prove it.

Mika Brzezinski has gone to the dogs -- in a good way -- after Donald Trump viciously attacked her.

The MSNBC anchor was out walking her 2 pooches Thursday in NYC ... with a curious letter emblazoned on her sweatshirt.

In case you've been under a rock all day ... Trump went on a tantrum Thursday morning, calling Mika stupid and crazy before saying she was "bleeding badly from a face-lift."

Mika was back to normal just a few hours later.

Dr. Terry Dubrow thinks Donald Trump not only acted un-presidential by calling out Mika Brzezinski for allegedly showing up at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Eve and bleeding from plastic surgery ... he says it's flat-out body shaming.

The "Botched" star makes it clear ... Trump has no evidence Mika had plastic surgery. What's more, he says someone showing up bleeding from the face is dealing with issues other than plastic surgery.

On all counts, Dr. Dubrow joins the chorus slamming Trump for his tweets.

Even Kellyanne Conway has NO defense for President Trump's verbal attack on Mika Brzezinski ... because she tried every possible tactic to avoid the topic.

We got Trump's Counselor Thursday morning on Capitol Hill -- just a few hours after his brutal tweets about Mika. We barely got the question out when she launched into every pivot in her arsenal.

Her agenda for the day, her "bipartisan hug" with Rep. Debbie Dingell ... and when an elevator couldn't come quickly enough, she tried the ole ... how's the weather tactic.

Yeah, "It's a gorgeous day here" ... isn't gonna make this one go away.

Case in point, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan took issue with trump's "tone."

Mika Brzezinski took plenty of jabs at President Trump Thursday on "Morning Joe" ... and it appears this is what sparked his Twitter attack.

Mika and her co-host/fiance, Joe Scarborough, went off on Trump over several topics -- from the healthcare bill to "teensy hands." Shortly thereafter, POTUS fired off his tweets about "low I.Q. Crazy Mika" and "Psycho Joe."

The reality is Joe and Mika were just doing their show. It's not like this was their first time being critical of the Donald. Maybe it was just his first time watching, but the news desk banter doesn't seem to justify the President's personal and petty response.

7:08 AM PT -- An MSNBC spokesperson tells TMZ, “It’s a sad day for America when the president spends his time bullying, lying and spewing petty personal attacks instead of doing his job.”

If Donald Trump were a doctor this could be a HIPAA violation ... calling out an MSNBC anchor and claiming she was bleeding profusely from a facelift.

It's shocking ... the President of the United States fired off the tweet Thursday, saying Mika Brzezinski and fiance/co-anchor Joe Scarborough were at Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve and he noticed blood and somehow determined it was a reaction from a facelift.

Trump also called her stupid, claiming she has a low I.Q. and Joe is a "psycho."

Mika just fired back -- somewhat obtusely -- with a pic of a box of Cheerios, with the words, "Made For Little Hands" on the box.

A spokesman for NBC also tweeted:

Karrueche Tran's not getting involved in the Chris Brown-Migos drama ... even if she's at the center.

Karrueche was flying out of LAX Wednesday when we asked about Chris and Migos squaring off during a BET Awards after-party.

Chris is undeniably pissed Quavo's hooking up with his ex, despite Offset saying the brawl had nothing to do with her.

Watch Karrueche dodge the questions ... but the expressions and body language are interesting.

Karrueche's got her own issues with Chris ... which she handled with a restraining order.

Chris Brown just ain't on the same level as Migos ... at least according to Offset, who says he's not sweating the fight they got into with Chris after the BET Awards.

We got Offset Tuesday on Rodeo and asked him what really set off the melee. There's obvious speculation it was about Quavo dating Breezy's ex, Karrueche Tran. Offset didn't exactly deny that when he blamed it on a "whole lotta paper, whole lotta haters, man."

But you gotta see what happened when we asked if he's got a message for Chris.

He also had an awesome reaction to the other BET weekend fight -- Meek Mill and Safaree. #LMFAO

Sarah Huckabee Sanders went on the attack over "fake news" -- citing the CNN debacle -- then got raked over the coals by a White House reporter.

The Deputy White House Press Secretary chastised CNN over its retracted story ... which connected a Trump aide to a Russian investment fund. She started attacking the media in general too, and that's when The Sentinel reporter Brian Karem went off.

Nicki Minaj couldn't care less about her 2 exes' drama over BET weekend ... 'cause she's got a new hip-hop king to occupy her mind.

Sources close to Nicki tell TMZ she hasn't batted an eyelash over news Meek Mill might have ordered his goons to jump her other ex, Safaree. And the reason is simple ... Nas.

We're told Nicki doesn't feel anything about the fight, mostly 'cause it's not her problem ... and both of those dudes are in her rearview. More importantly ... she's happily moving on with her new man, Mr. Jones ... although it's still in the early stages.

As we reported ... Safaree challenged Meek to a 1-on-1 fight after he claimed Meek orchestrated the attack on him. Meek denies that.

Either way, the bottom line here ... Nicki's over both Meek and Safaree, and their beef is theirs alone.

Somewhere, she and Nas are playing the Counting Crows -- looking deep into each other's eyes.