Jay-Z & Kanye - Cracks in the Throne?

Rap stars 'Throne' by feud

Last Updated: 3:41 AM, August 1, 2011
Posted: 3:13 AM, August 1, 2011

A battle royal has broken out behind the scenes of Jay-Z and Kanye West's new album, "Watch the Throne."

Sources say the rappers -- who call themselves The Throne and are releasing their expected blockbuster collaboration Aug. 8 on iTunes and four days later everywhere else -- are barely speaking to each other as they iron out the details of their upcoming tour.

Live Nation's presale event on Thursday was delayed, but tickets for the tour are slated to go on sale today, with shows at the IZOD Center Sept. 27 and 28.

The sources say West wants flashy concerts with "next-level production," which would cost more than $400,000 per show. Jay-Z is said to be meticulous about costs and already has a larger, long-term advance from Live Nation that he has to pay back.

"Jay-Z can't deal with Kanye," an insider told Page Six. "Jay is a stone-cold businessman. He wants to recoup all of his money from Live Nation. But Kanye wants to upstage rock stars with a blowout show. He doesn't care about costs. He has a lot less to gain from the shows."

West is expected to agree to the conditions of the tour next week, but the business brouhaha between the powerhouse artists might have affected their backstage relationship.

Industry insiders were shocked to see West and Jay-Z perform separately with Young Jeezy last Monday night at the Highline Ballroom. "We were expecting them to come out together to perform a track from the album," a source said. "They didn't even go out together after the show."

"Jay-Z is fed up with West's antics," another source said. "He doesn't even want to be around him." However, the two are expected to perform together at a listening party tonight at The Rose Planetarium in Central Park, according to The Post's Dan Aquilante. A Live Nation rep said, "No comment." The rappers' reps didn't get back to us.


Jay-Z, Kanye party like pals

Last Updated: 12:58 AM, August 3, 2011
Posted: 12:05 AM, August 3, 2011

Jay-Z and Kanye West put aside their creative differences to celebrate the launch of their album, "Watch the Throne," Monday night. West attended the early listening party at the Hayden Planetarium. Then, Beyoncé and her pal Kelly Rowland came out to support Jay at a later listening party for music-industry insiders. Following our story about disagreements over the Live Nation tour, Jay told Hot 97: "Kanye is my brother. Yes, we get on each other's nerves, but that's part of pushing each other." He and West then went on to celebrate at The Darby until the early hours with Fabolous, Nas, Adrienne Bailon, Lindsay Ellingson, Jessica White and a gaggle of models who danced to "Throne" tracks mixed by DJ Jus Ske and DJ Mick Boogie. "There were a lot of girls all over Kanye," our spy said, adding that West was "on his feet all night chatting up models." He was last seen talking with stunning Romanian actress and Victoria's Secret model Alina Puscau.

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