Kanye West Album Leak Sparks Outrage From Def Jam, Calm Reaction From Rapper

Def Jam Is Angry About 'Yeezus' Leak, But Kanye Isn't
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 09: Rapper Kanye West performs during the 2013 Governor's Ball Music Festival at Randall's Island on June 9, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 09: Rapper Kanye West performs during the 2013 Governor's Ball Music Festival at Randall's Island on June 9, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)

As anyone would expect, Def Jam is none too pleased about the leaking of Kanye West's "Yeezus" -- and the record label is on the hunt for the guilty party.

But perhaps as equally unsurprising, West himself is reportedly carefree about the news of the leak, which sparked a firestorm on Twitter and across the Internet upon its outbreak Friday afternoon. The term #Yeezus is still a trending term as of Saturday morning.

Sources reportedly tell TMZ that special procedures are in place so Def Jam can track down the sources of leaks when they occur. The label says it already has a lead on the suspect and will seek appropriate consequences.

West, on the other hand, remains unfazed, saying he was well aware this may happen, given the album's buzz. His reactions are aligned with comments he made at the beginning of the week during the "Yeezus" listening party in New York City.

"I have a new strategy, it's called 'no strategy.' I have a plan to sell more music -- it's called 'make better music,'" he said. "I had to learn about giving, this whole album is about giving -- this whole process is about giving ... no f--ks at all."

Still, West must realize the leak could impact his album sales come Tuesday, even if his current mantra indicates he is unconcerned with such statistics. Prior to the leak, industry insiders predicted a 500,000-copy debut. That figure is just slightly higher than the number "Watch the Throne" -- an album that managed to avoid a leak -- saw when it bowed in 2011.

Keith Caulfield, associate director of charts and retail at Billboard, tweeted yesterday in response to Los Angeles Times music writer Todd Martens:

.@Toddmartens Everything leaks or streams early. They knew it would happen.

— Keith Caulfield (@keith_caulfield) June 15, 2013

The Huffington Post reached out to Caulfield to see if the 500,000 prediction has changed following the leak. HuffPost also asked Def Jam to comment on the matter but has not yet heard back.

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