Author: Henry

One of Kanye West’s albums was abruptly removed from streaming services this week after the rapper was threatened with legal action.

On Wednesday, Kanye West released his album Donda 2 on streaming services for the first time. The album was initially released exclusively on his own platform, Stem Player, back in 2022. On Wednesday, however, the album was finally released on the major streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, and YouTube Music years later.

However, the release on streaming services was short-lived.

Just hours after the album was added to streaming services, it was suddenly removed after an apparent legal dispute.

Kanye shared a post on Twitter showing a text conversation with DeAndre “Free” Maiden, who manages the producers Jahmal “Boogz Da Beast” Gwin and Brian “AllDay” Miller. The message requested that the album be taken down over Kanye’s failure to pay them for their work after they had worked on several songs on the album.

“We did not & do not consent to the usage of our work for Donda 2 or ANY Ye project! He’s owed us $ for almost 3 years now, has refused to pay, yet keeps stealing our work,” the text message said.

“The Lawyers are getting this taken down within the hour,” the message continued.

Kanye clearly was not happy with this decision.

“Free Maiden tried to charge me 3 million dollars for these beats from people I showed how to make beats to,” Kanye wrote in the caption of the post. “Now he going to take down Donda 2.”

We’ll have to see whether or not the two sides can work out an agreement to have the album back on streaming services.

A beloved motorcycle company has announced bad news as sales plunge amid economic uncertainty.

On May 1, 2025, Harley-Davidson reported that global motorcycle retail sales were “down 21 percent year-over-year, driven by a volatile macroeconomic environment and overall consumer uncertainty.”

The company noted that Harley-Davidson Motor Company revenue was “down 27 percent year-over-year, primarily due to a planned decrease in motorcycle shipments.”

As a result, Harley-Davidson wrote, “Due to the uncertain global tariff situation and macroeconomic conditions, we are withdrawing our full year 2025 financial outlook from February 5, 2025.”

Despite the bad news, the company cited some positives.

“Our first quarter results were ahead of our expectations in many areas, while retail sales in the U.S. came in softer than anticipated,” Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson, wrote in a press release.

“We remain focused on navigating the challenging economic and tariff environment, through diligent execution of our cost productivity measures, supply chain mitigation, tight operating expense control and reducing dealer inventory,” he wrote. “In addition, we remain committed to driving retail sales through increased marketing initiatives as we enter the riding season.”

According to Harley-Davidson’s press release, numerous areas were down.

“First quarter global motorcycle shipments decreased 33 percent, which was mostly expected but also reflects the softer than expected demand environment,” the company reported. 

“Revenue was down 27 percent driven primarily by the planned decrease in wholesale shipments and unfavorable foreign currency, partially offset by favorable mix and favorable global pricing and net incentives. Parts & Accessories revenue was down 14 percent and apparel revenue was down 11 percent, due to lower customer traffic at dealer stores,” the company noted.

Related: Beloved Clothing Store Is Closing All 354 Locations in the U.S.

Walgreens is retracting its retail footprint, with the trusted retail chain closing 500 stores across the U.S. this fiscal year alone.

According to Yahoo Finance, the 500 stores are among 1,200 locations that Walgreens plans to shutter overall. According to Newsweek, Walgreens still runs about 8,500 stores throughout the United States.

The 500 closures started in September 2024 and are expected to take place by August 2025, which is the end of the company’s fiscal year, according to the Coloradoan. Walgreens closed 11 locations in Colorado, the Coloradoan reported, including three stores in April.

Already, reports of Walgreens’ closures are coming in throughout various states, which many occurring in March, April, and May. The chain has not provided a master list of closings.

Walgreens is closing seven Connecticut locations in April and May. Nine locations closed in Massachusetts, mostly in March and April.

A Kansas Walgreens closed in March.

In December 2024, Walgreens closed two locations in Milwaukee, WI.

According to a May 1, 2025, report by ABC 7, long lines were forming at the last remaining Walgreens in San Francisco’s Mission District after the chain closed two dozen stores in the city, although some of those closures dated to 2000. Multiple stores are closing in California, including in Fresno, The Fresno Bee reported.

Walgreens’ website posted a list of suggestions for customers who are dealing with their local store’s closing.

When Walgreens first announced the closures in October 2024, a number of trends were blamed. According to The Associated Press, they include “shrinking prescription reimbursement, persistent theft, rising costs,” and competition from online retailers.

According to AP, the 500 closures span the company’s fiscal year, which started in September 2024. Although Walgreens didn’t provide a list, the company said it was closing “poor-performing stores where the property is owned by the company, or where leases are expiring,” AP noted.

CVS Health and Rite-Aid, which are two Walgreens’ competitors, have been closing locations, too, according to AP.

Related: Beloved Toothpaste Company Delivers Bad News

Apple is warning that tariffs could cost the company $900 million in this quarter alone.

In an earnings call on May 1, the company’s CEO, Tim Cook, estimated that tariffs could cost Apple about $900 million in extra costs “in the current quarter” unless something changes, according to Business Insider.

Cook also told investors that the “majority” of Apple iPhones sold in the United States will soon be made in India, not China, according to the publication.

It wasn’t all bad news for the company. According to Business Insider, the company’s revenue of $95.36 billion was above the “consensus analyst estimate,” although service revenue was slightly under the forecasted amount.

However, TechCrunch reported that some investors were relieved by the $900 million estimate, as they think it’s manageable.

In March, the tariff wars had only a “limited” impact on Apple, Cook said in the call, according to TechCrunch.

Still, Apple’s shares fell by about 4% after the earnings call, CNBC reported.

According to CNBC, Cook limited his comments on tariff expectations to the current quarter because he said it was difficult to predict their impact after June.

That’s because he said he was “not sure what will happen with tariffs,” CNBC reported.

“We will manage the company the way we always have with thoughtful and deliberate decisions, with a focus on investing for the long term and with dedication to innovation and the possibilities it creates,” Cook said on the call, according to CNBC. “As we look ahead, we remain confident.”

“With an iPhone, you really have to go a step lower and look at the individual parts and where they come from,” Cook added, according to CNBC, indicating that Apple buys chips for iPhone from the United States already and makes other products in Vietnam.

Related: Trusted Soda Company Makes Troubling Announcement