For years music shops, as many remember them, have struggled to stay open as the digital world, iTunes specifically, obliterates them one by one. Now these small shops are fighting back.

More than 1,700 owners have written letters to Jay-Z and Kanye West asking for a fighting chance against conglomerates like Apple and Best Buy, the Huffington Post reports. The tag team has a deal with iTunes to presale the album and release it to buyers four days before its expected August 12 official drop date. Best Buy has its own exclusive offer to sell the 16-track CD until August 23.

In the letter, they write, "As representatives of the independent record store music community, we are asking you to allow record stores and music fans equal access to your new album."

A few of these small retailers are threatening to remove some Jay and ‘Ye CDs off their shelves if they are not given the same privileges as the big vendors. Neither rappers' reps had comments on the matter.

(Photo: Walik Goshorn / Retna Ltd.)