Swizz Beatz Backtracks After Verzuz Announces Paid Subscriptions

BYAron A.13.2K Views
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Swizz Beatz reacts to backlash after Verzuz announced that Anthony Hamilton vs. Musiq Soulchild wouldn't be streaming for free on Instagram.

There are a handful of good things to come out of the pandemic and most would agree that Verzuz is one of them. The Swizz Beatz and Timbaland-led platform has produced some incredible moments celebrating living legends who've blessed us with countless records. The best part about it? It was free. Fans were able to tune in from the comfort of their home in the wake of lockdown and the absence of live music. 

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The platform went from partnerships with Apple to Triller while still remaining accessible on Instagram for the masses to view. Unfortunately, it seems that they attempted to fully monetize the event with a paid subscription, beginning with Anthony Hamilton vs. Musiq Soulchild. Additionally, the event would not be streamed on Instagram like previous Verzuz. "This Verzuz will not be on IG. Watch on VerzuzTV.Com with #TrillerVerzPass," the post read.


Twitter immediately predicted the downfall of the platform if they were serious about the paid subscription. Since many have tuned in via Instagram, the accessibility of the event was a huge selling point. The subscriptions included a 14-day free trial with members being charged $2.99 a month afterward.


Swizz Beatz immediately backtracked this morning after the backlash that he, Timbaland, and Verzuz faced from the announcement. He explained that he did not know who made the announcement, nor was he in the country when the announcement was made. The producer went to Instagram where he told his followers that he would "see y'all rite here tomorrow on insta" before plugging the HD version on the Verzuz website.

"I was out the country don't ask me who did it," he wrote with a laughing emoji. "It's fixed. Bless up."

Tonight, Musiq Soulchild and Anthony Hamilton will go hit-for-hit on Verzuz. The event will kick off at 8:30 EST tonight. Who's tuning in?

Check out Swizz Beatz' post below. 



About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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