Nicki Minaj Exposes TIDAL’s Payout Scandal While Clashing With Jay-Z Over the Super Bowl

So much for fair artist payouts.

The choice of Kendrick Lamar for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show has opened up a can of worms in the music industry. Nicki Minaj has used this moment to bring up a long-overdue issue with TIDAL, which was previously owned by Jay-Z.

As one of several high-profile artists who co-owned TIDAL, Minaj claims she “didn’t even get one red penny” after Jack Dorsey’s Block bought the company in 2021.

Minaj’s Financial Dispute With Jay-Z Over TIDAL

In 2015, Jay-Z acquired TIDAL (formerly Aspiro) for $56 million. And, to promote the platform, he teamed up with famous artists like Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, and Beyoncé. They were promised a 3% stake in the company in exchange for exclusive content.

Back then, TIDAL was marketed as a platform offering top-quality music and better artist royalties, as it tried to compete with Spotify and Apple Music.

But, despite its ambitious goals, TIDAL struggled to gain a substantial user base and suffered heavy losses, with only 2.1 million subscribers by 2020.

So, in March 2021, Jay-Z sold TIDAL to Jack Dorsey’s mobile payment company Block (formerly Square). Yet, the exact sale price wasn’t revealed, with reports ranging from $237.3 million to $396 million.

Either way, some sources claimed that each artist received approximately $9 million from the deal while retaining their stakes.

But now, three years later, Minaj finally spoke up against this narrative, claiming that she received no compensation at all.

Making things worse, Rihanna, Madonna, and Beyoncé not only kept their stakes but became the second-biggest shareholders in the company after the sale. So, it’s not hard to see why Minaj might be feeling a bit… sidelined.

Super Bowl Halftime Show Controversy

Minaj’s revelation about the TIDAL dispute came during an ongoing controversy involving Jay-Z’s role in selecting Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show.

To give a bit of background, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has been partnering with the NFL since 2019, advising on entertainment choices, including the halftime performers.

Here’s the thing: many expected local talent, particularly New Orleans native Lil Wayne, to headline the show.

After all, there’s precedent.

Super Bowl had previously showcased local talent when it was held in other locations. For instance, during Super Bowl LVI in California, the halftime show featured California-based artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar.

So, naturally, many thought a Louisiana artist would get the nod for New Orleans.

But, as we all know, that didn’t happen.

When Lamar was announced as the headliner, Minaj didn’t waste time voicing her displeasure.

She took to social media, accusing Jay-Z of snubbing Lil Wayne due to personal beef. According to Minaj, it’s all tied to Jay-Z’s long-standing feud with Birdman, Lil Wayne’s mentor, dating back to 2009.

However, Minaj later clarified that her criticism was not aimed at Kendrick Lamar personally.

Reactions From the Hip-Hop Community

After Minaj’s claims, several artists and fans have also backed Lil Wayne, questioning why the New Orleans native wasn’t picked to headline the halftime show in his hometown.

For one, DJ Akademiks didn’t pull any punches, labeling Jay-Z a “legendary hater” for the decision. Cam’ron also pointed to a longstanding feud between Jay-Z and Lil Wayne as the reason behind the selection of Lamar over Wayne.

Even Master P, another New Orleans rapper, chimed in. While he said Lamar “well deserved” the role, he argued that Lil Wayne should have been part of the show.

Other artists also expressed frustration.

Boosie Badazz, a rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, called the decision “a smack in the face to every hip hop legend from Louisiana,” saying local culture should be celebrated on such a big stage.

And, even Drake also showed subtle support for Minaj’s stance by liking her tweet.