Hip-hop mogul Bryan 'Birdman' Williams sued Jay Z's Tidal Firm with a $50 million lawsuit for illegally streaming Lil Wayne's mixtape.
Williams, who is the co-founder of Cash Money Records, said the Tidal Firm's streaming of Wayne's album "Free Weezy Album" is illegal because they have exclusive rights on producing Lil Wayne's music, Business Insider reported. Birdman also threw jabs at Tidal, saying that they are doing the desperate and illegal attempts because they have to save their struggling music service.
The Tidal defended that Wayne gave them permission to stream his music in exchange of partial ownership but Williams said included in the contract is forbidding the rapper from licensing his music to other parties without the consent of Cash Money Records.
There has been a rift between Wayne and Cash Money Records. The rapper filed a $51 million lawsuit against Cash Money in January for delaying the royalties he is owed in his album, Tha Carter V, which was due to release months ago but the label withhold the album. Wayne has been upset with Cash Money and wants to be release from his contract, saying he is a prisoner to the label.
Cash Money said that Wayne's album only got tepid reviews and could hurt the label's attempt to promote Wayne's music and brand. Williams mentored young Wayne in his early career.
Back in April, it was rumored that Williams plotted to shoot down Wayne in his tour bus. He was also helped by Jeffrey Williams who is also known by his alias as "Young Thug." Jimmy Winfrey, also known as "Peewee Roscoe" was arrested for shooting Wayne's bus.
The indictment stated that Winfrey and his fellow Blood Gang Members entered Interstate 285 from Atlanta Road in Cobb County after the police discontinued their escort. The white sports car was in pursuit of buses contain Wayne's group. They were armed with a .40 calibre gun and a 9 mm handgun.
Wayne allowed his music to be streamed in Tidal app as the rapper agreed to join the likes of Jay Z, Beyonce, Madonna and Nicki Minaj as a co-owner of the music and video streaming venture, Philly reported.
Tidal was acquired by Jay Z's Project Panther Ltd. in the first quarter of 2015. The service provides over 25 million tracks and 75,000 music videos. Artists benefit from Tidal as the company claims to pay the highest percentage of royalties and to music artists and song writers within the music streaming market.