Kanye and Drake announce joint album amid Apple Music and Tidal rivalry

Kanye West and Drake could be sharing the mic together soon with the rappers announcing a joint album. The hip hop stars teased fans about the collaborative record while onstage together during the final night of Drake's OVO Fest 2016 in Toronto, Canada.

Alongside Rihanna, French Montana and Future, West, 39, made a surprise appearance at the annual music festival on Monday (1 August). Teasing the album news, the rapper asked the audience: "I got a question for you. Is y'all ready for this album? I wasn't talking about [The Life Of] Pablo. I wasn't talking about [Drake's album] Views. I wanna ask y'all right now: Are y'all ready for this album?"

West then pointed towards Drake who returned the gesture. Drizzy, 29, later addressed the collaboration, saying: "What my brother was asking you before was, are you ready if we make an album? That's what he was asking."

It would be the first time Drake and West have recorded an album together, though they have collaborated on several songs, including 2009's Forever and Big Sean's 2015 hit Blessings. The rappers also traded bars on the remix of Chris Brown's 2010 single Deuces, which featured T.I., Rick Ross, Fabolous and Andre 3000.

Both Grammy-winning rappers have released joint albums with other artists in the past – West recorded the iconic Watch The Throne with Jay Z in 2011 while Drake and Future dropped What A Time To Be Alive in September 2015.

In April, Drake revealed that he and West had been in talks to record together, telling OVO Sound Radio: "We're supposed to do a mixtape together. Maybe we'll get that done."

The joint album between Drake and West could also strengthen ties between rival streaming services Apple Music and Tidal.

In a Twitter rant posted on Saturday (30 July), West urged Apple Music to purchase Jay Z's service. "This Tidal Apple beef is f*****g up the music game. I need Tim Cook, Jay Z, Dez, Jimmy, Larry, me and Drake, Scooter on the phone or in a room this week!!! F**k all this d**k swinging contest. We all gon be dead in 100 Years. Let the kids have the music. Apple give Jay his check for Tidal now and stop trying to act like you Steve."

Jay Z relaunched Tidal in March 2015 and signed West and other musicians including Beyonce, Madonna and Rihanna as co-owners.

West initially released his seventh studio album The Life Of Pablo exclusively through Tidal in February 2016 before allowing other services to host the record. However, Drake has remained noticeably loyal to Apple Music and released his fourth album Views through the platform in April.

Drake is in the midst of his Summer Sixteen tour across North America with Future as a special guest. West made his first surprise appearance on the jaunt at the pair's Chicago show on 27 July and performed Famous, Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1 and Drake's Pop Style.