Lennon and McCartney. Jagger and Richards. Jay Z and Kanye.

Why is it that the best songwriting teams always start off with close friendships, and end with both parties firing hilariously bitchy potshots at one another?

For years, we were under the impression that Jay and ‘Ye were the best of friends.

Jay gave Kanye his first big break in hip hop when he hired West to produce several tracks on his acclaimed 2001 album The Blueprint, which is still one of the most highly-regarded hip hop records of all time.

The two went on to collaborate on dozens of tracks and one platinum-selling joint album, 2011’s Watch the Throne.

But for years, fans have been taking note of subtle indications that all is not well between, such as when Jay and Beyonce declined invitations to Kanye and Kim Kardashian’s wedding.

Most people who have been famous for as long as these four know how to keep their personal feuds private, but Kanye’s mentality is that of a 4-year-old who’s been handed a microphone and millions of dollars, so he slammed Jay during an onstage tantrum on Wednesday night:

According to the tirade, Kanye is pissed at Jay for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that Jay didn’t pay him a visit in the days after Kim Kardashian was robbed at gun point in Paris:

“Don’t call me after the robbery and say, ‘How you feelin’?’ You wanna know how I’m feelin’? Come by the house.

“Bring the kids by the house like we brothers … Our kids ain’t never even played together.”

A Kanye source ran damage control yesterday, not going so far as to say claim that Jay and Kanye are still friends, but insisting that “Jay appreciates Kanye’s genius.”

However, it seems Jay’s team won’t even grant that small concession:

“That’s just perception,” a source tells Page Six.

“The reality is that Jay doesn’t want that much to do with him. 

“He likes his own space and is private. They’re very much not the same person. Jay’s immediate circle is very insular, and Kanye is just a guy who always wants something in the spotlight.”

A second Jay insider goes even further:

“Jay can’t stand him,” says the source.

“He looks at him as this crazy, eccentric motherf - - ker he can tolerate in small doses. Kanye is a nut job. Everyone knows that.”

Yes, it seems Jay Z is now speaking for all of mankind.

And for that, we thank him.

The Kanye source continues to insist that all is well between the hip hop megastars, issuing a statement moments ago, saying:

“It didn’t seem like Kanye was dissing Jay at all.

“They are brothers, closer than friends. Jay appreciates Kanye’s genius, understands his passions and eccentricities and is accepting of it all.”

Is it just us, or is this rep way too level-headed to be speaking for Kanye?

He could at least issue his statements in all caps.

Source: celebweddings