Tidal Magazine

by Photos: Cover art for Kelela/PinkPantheress and Hollow Hand One of Tidal’s founding principles is that we do not rank creativity. To each their own, in terms of what constitutes a great song or makes one song “better” than another. However, each week there are a few tunes that really test our belief system, and we can’t help but elevate them above the thousand-plus tracks we’re pitched across genres.

by Nas and Jay performing together in New Jersey, 2005. Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images Let’s not bury the lede: Nas has curated a playlist for Tidal of some of his favorite JAŸ-Z tracks. That’s an incredible gesture by the king of Queens toward Brooklyn’s finest-ever — one of the ultimate game-recognizes-game moments in music history. Speaking of history, the two have it, but we’re long past that now.

by Photos: Cover art for Fania All Stars and Rovi The greatest of all time is getting ready to perform his greatest-of-all-time albums at the greatest-of-all-time sports stadium to the greatest sold out crowds. If you need help deciphering: JAŸ-Z is doing Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint at Yankee Stadium on July 10 and 11. Then, on July 12, he’ll do an “Extra Innings” show. Mr. Shawn Carter has New York City — and the world, really — in a frenzy.

by In 2006, Beyoncé’s now-multi-platinum second album, B’Day, gave us the hits “Irreplaceable,” “Ring the Alarm” and the JAŸ-Z-assisted “Deja Vu.” (The Shakira-featuring “Beautiful Liar,” from the deluxe version, went to No. 3, as well.) And now, with the LP’s 20th anniversary fast approaching in September, we have an extra reason to get excited: the hypnotic, simmering “MORNING DEW (DONK)” was released on July 4.

by Thirty years ago today, De La Soul released Stakes Is High, and it remains the uncomfortable one in their catalog. Every legacy act with a decade or more on the clock has such an album: not the hits, not the beloved classics, but the edgy, career-defining piece that in hindsight exists to reposition rather than be loved.

by Michelangelo didn’t stop at the Sistine Chapel ceiling — he later turned his attention to architecture, overseeing the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s hard to duplicate majestic perfection in any form of art. Nasir Jones can relate to that dilemma. After releasing his 1994 debut, Illmatic, widely regarded as the best hip-hop album ever made, Nas was left to follow it up at the age of 22.

by Photo: Dante Velasquez Jr. JORDY is an L.A.-based artist originally from Illinois. His latest single is “SICK!” and his new album, In Retrospect, is out July 10. Do you want to tell me about the first time you experienced resistance as an LGBTQ artist?

by Tidal is not here to bash technological advancement, with today’s launch of our AI policy. Let’s make that clear. We understand how advances in technology offer myriad options for artists who want to better understand their fans’ behavior, build new tools for recording and engineering their music, and automate their workflow. Hell, they can even build their own instruments.

by Photos: Cover art for Muni Long and Ryan Beatty One of Tidal’s founding principles is that we do not rank creativity. To each their own, in terms of what constitutes a great song or makes one song “better” than another. However, each week there are a few tunes that really test our belief system, and we can’t help but elevate them above the thousand-plus tracks we’re pitched across genres.

by Our "Songs on repeat" section from the Staff Picks page. The one overriding characteristic of the editorial team, beyond the superficial — good looks and sense of humor — is our love of, and obsession with, music of all genres. Forget politics, we’re the people that will argue with our relatives over holiday dinners about the greatest Michael Jackson album or which member of the Beatles was the most culturally significant. So, in other words, our opinions matter — at least to each other.