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Kanye West has opened up once again about the tension between him and Jay-Z, revealing what he believes reignited their highly publicized feud. The Donda rapper claims that their disagreements over political views, particularly regarding Jay-Z’s verse on their 2021 collaboration “Jail,” were the source of their falling out.
In a now-deleted tweet posted on April 20 on X, West explained that the tensions between him and Jay-Z flared up during the creation of the song, which was part of West’s Donda album. He pointed to a specific line in Jay-Z’s verse on “Jail,” where the rapper seemingly referenced West’s infamous support of Donald Trump by saying, “Told him, ‘Stop all of that red cap, we goin’ home.'” The line was a direct critique of West’s red “Make America Great Again” hat, a symbol of his controversial backing for the former president.
According to West, the disagreement was so intense that Jay-Z allegedly gave him an ultimatum while producing the track. He claimed that Jay-Z told him to either keep the “no red hat” line in the song or remove his verse entirely. West reflected on the emotional weight of the situation, writing on X, “That s*** tore me to my soul.” He added, “Me wearing the red hat was the most standout example of me going against ‘the program.'”
In his tweet, West also expressed feelings of betrayal, wondering whether Jay-Z was pressured into including the line in the song. He raised the possibility that someone else might have influenced Jay-Z’s decision, asking his followers, “Do you guys think he was instructed to say that?”
The tensions between the two have been ongoing for years, with political differences often at the center of their conflicts. Recently, West stirred further controversy with insensitive remarks about Jay-Z’s twins, Rumi and Sir, whom he shares with Beyoncé. He questioned the intellect of the children, prompting a response from Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, who addressed the situation with a calm and lighthearted Instagram post.
After facing backlash for his comments, West issued a half-hearted apology on social media, expressing regret in hindsight and reiterating that he still loved Jay-Z. Despite his apology, the strain between the two artists appears to be far from over, with political differences continuing to play a significant role in their strained relationship.