A Kanye West fan from California filed a fraud lawsuit against the rapper artist and Jay Z's company, Tidal. The hip hop stars allegedly deceived their fans to pay-to-sign up on its music streaming service, telling it is the only way to purchase West's latest album when it can also be found on other outlets.
According to the class-action lawsuit filed by Justin Baker-Rhett at San Francisco Federal court, he paid $9.99 a month to subscribe to the rappers' music streaming service, Tidal, after Kanye West informed them through his Twitter that his album, "The Life of Pablo" is exclusively available only at the said service, Yahoo News reported.
However, the said "exclusivity promise" was a just a way to gain million subscribers to the collapsing Tidal service, Rhett's suit alleges. A month and half after the announcement, the album was made available on Apple Music, Spotify and West's own website, the complaint added.
Baker-Rhett said the fraudulent scheme has boosted Tidal's subscriber base to millions, in which he claimed, could have valued at $84 million, according to Sky News. He seeks a court judge order to remove users' information by forcing them to turn over credit card and other personal information.
"We fully support the right of artists to express themselves freely and creatively, however creative freedom is not a licence to mislead the public," Baker-Rhett's representing lawyer, Jay Edelson stated. Edelson also added he believes they will be able to prove that the rapper artists conned their fans.
Jay Z, born as Shawn Corey Carter, owned a company, S. Carter Enterprises that controls Tidal, NBC News reported. Baker-Rhett claimed it is "quietly teetering on the brink of collapse" and uses the fraudulent scheme to boost up its subscriber base.
Jay Z's Tidal and West had not yet commented on the lawsuit. Tidal describes itself as "artist-owned" service and is supported by West, Jay Z's wife Beyonce, Deadmau5, Alicia Keys, Madonna, Chris Martin, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Jack White and many other artists.
