Dear Yeezy,
I hope this letter finds you well. I hope that North is still sassy and healthy, and I hope that Kim K is as radiant as ever.
I don't mean to add insult to injury by putting more burden on you; I know the lack of that $53 million isn't easy. Nevertheless, something has been weighing heavily on me recently and I felt like I owed it to you to come directly to the source to address it.
You know, I've suffered through my fair share of heartbreak. I've undergone many trials and tribulations of life. Nothing, though, and I mean nothing, has ever cut me deeper or broken me down harder than these eight simple words that I read on February 15, 2016.
"My album will never never be on Apple." -Kanye West
Oh, and it got worse. "And it will never be for sale..." -Kanye West
Wait for it... "You can only get it on Tidal." -Kanye West
Quite frankly, I'm pissed.
Tidal? Ten dollars a month?? How could you be so heartless?
Kanye, I respect your wanting to indulge in Jay-Z's ghost town of a streaming service, but come on. Tidal offers no free subscription packages. This is a massive deterrent for so many of your fans, me included.
Additionally, Tidal isn't even releasing their streaming data, so Billboard won't be able to include The Life of Pablo in the charts. I know you don't really need the gratification, but wouldn't you love to see your sweet Pablo topping all the other albums that pale in comparison? Wouldn't that feel good? It sure would to me.
Listen, I could just pirate it like more than a million people have already done. But, 1. I respect you too much to do that. 2. My computer's a piece of shit and it will most definitely crash if it gets a virus. Not worth the risk.
People are saying great things about this work of art you've created, and it's not that I don't take their word for it, but I would just love to be able to participate in the discussion...
"His ability to package hundreds of stray threads into a whole that feels not just thrilling, but inevitable—at this, he is better than everyone, and he throws all of his best tricks into The Life of Pablo to remind us." - Jayson Greene, Pitchfork
"He’s synthesized a phenomenal career on a single record." - Peter Tabakis, Pretty Much Amazing
I am not asking, I am begging. You just released "Famous" as a single on Spotify on March 28th (which was brilliant, by the way, so amazing, 10/10). So, that's a start. It's a total tease, but at least we're 1/18th of the way there.
I need those other 17 tracks, Kanye.
I am too broke, and I have too much pride (much like you) to continuously spend $10 a month in order to stream your new album whenever I want.
Wake up Mr. West, and come through. The world needs Pablo.
With endless love and admiration and praise,
A Groveling Disciple
