Kanye vs. Jay-Z: Is Live Music Priceless Art Or Just A Business, Man?

That question is apparently causing some problems between Jay-Z and Kanye West.

According to the New York Post, the two are at odds with each other about their recently announced tour.

“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.

It sure is interesting to watch Jay-Z and Kanye struggle with seeing live music from two different perspectives.

But I’m not sure why Kanye didn’t see this coming since Jay-Z once famously rapped that ” I’m not a businessman, but I’m a business, man.” And it’s no secret that Jay-Z is looking to make the most of his 360 relationship with Live Nation.

And on the flip-side, Jay-Z had to know that West once told Matt Lauer of the Today Show that “…I think my biggest disappointment in life is the fact that I will never be able to see myself perform live.”

Well, for the fan’s sake, I hope that in the end Jay-z and Kanye can work it out. Because the new album Watch the Throne (cover art above), and the following tour should be a great time if the two can iron out this minor live music business issue.

What’s your rap on this?

Is hip hop and live music experience priceless art or is just a business forever ruled by the bottom line?

How much would you pay to see a show knowing that the artist wanted to put on the most spectacular show just for you?