Which Kanye West album was initially released exclusively on Tidal in 2016?

The Kanye West album initially released exclusively on Tidal in 2016 was The Life of Pablo.

West premiered an early version at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2016, during the event that introduced his Yeezy Season 3 collection. The album then arrived on Tidal on February 14, following his Saturday Night Live appearance. Its first release was streaming-only, although it was briefly offered for purchase.

The Tidal exclusivity became part of the album’s story because West initially described it as a permanent exclusive and urged listeners to subscribe to the service. That plan changed quickly: an updated version reached Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play and other outlets on April 1, 2016. West also continued revising songs after the first release, calling the project a “living breathing changing creative expression.”

A common mix-up is confusing the album with Yeezus, West’s 2013 predecessor, or Ye, his 2018 follow-up. The Life of Pablo is also notable for becoming the first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 primarily through streaming.