Kanye West's ongoing feud with Taylor Swift intensifies as he claims to outsell her on Spotify

Kanye West began verbally confronting Taylor Swift back in 2009. Then, he infamously interrupted her acceptance speech for the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA's) Best Female Video for "You Belong with Me." Ever since, West has repeatedly targeted Swift, including his contentious song "Famous."

Taylor Swift's musical journey took off in 2006, following the release of her debut album appropriately named "Taylor Swift". When she won the VMA award in 2009, she was the first country artist to do so. This award marked one of many accolades Swift would soon gather. However, this triumph was spoiled by none other than Kanye West, who seized the microphone from her to state, "Yo, Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I'ma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!". West was referencing the music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", which was also nominated in the same category.

Swift later told reporters: "I stood on the stage, and I was initially excited because I had just won. Then, I was doubly thrilled because Kanye West was on stage. And then that excitement evaporated." Following West's interruption, she was unable to complete her speech. Beyoncé eventually saved the moment by inviting Swift back on stage while accepting her Best Video award and saying, "I remember when I won my first MTV award when I was 17 with Destiny’s Child, and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life. So I would like Taylor to return here and have her moment".

West later tendered an apology to Swift in a blog post, which was hastily taken down. His behavior was publicly criticized by numerous show-business personalities, including then-president Barack Obama. West delivered a personal apology to Swift two days later, in the wake of her appearance on "The View".

Despite the initial resolution of their differences and a seeming truce, the peace between Taylor Swift and Kanye West was shattered in 2016 with the release of Kanye's song "Famous". In the song, West raps, "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that b*tch famous". Swift reportedly agreed to a version of the lyrics that left out the phrase "I made that b*tch famous". West took things further with a music video featuring a nude figurine of Taylor Swift. Kim Kardashian, among others, defended Kanye's actions.

In reply to "Famous," Taylor Swift answered with her own song, "This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things," featured on her album "Reputation." It wasn't until 2023 that Swift confessed to the strain the feud with Kanye had put on her mental health.

Currently, Kanye West is on the frontline, bragging about his recent victory over Taylor Swift on Spotify. He's referring to global streaming numbers that change constantly. As of February 13, Swift came in second place, losing only to The Weeknd. Kanye West topped the category of most streamed albums: "Vultures 1" was the chart leader. Swift's "Lover" followed, standing at third place. However, this wasn't the end for Swift's entries in the global chart. Other albums in the ranking were "Midnights" in fifth place, and the sixth spot held by "1989 Taylor's Version".