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Kanye West Settles Lawsuit Over Boogie Down Productions Sample

August 22, 2024

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Source: Matthias Nareyek / Getty
It seems Kanye West has one less legal issue to worry about. The rapper is no longer liable in a lawsuit over a Boogie Down Productions sample.

As spotted on Digital Music News, Kanye has apparently come to an agreement over his song “Life Of The Party.” The track, which was recorded for the original version of Donda but saw daylight on the deluxe version, featured what seemed to be elements from Boogie Down Productions’ classic single “South Bronx.” Back in 2022, Phase One Network claimed that “Life Of The Party” featured an “exact reproduction” of horn parts, drums and a melody from BDP’s 1987 anthem. “This appears to be an ongoing practice of Mr. West, using other people’s music without paying for it,” Phase One’s attorney Gary Adelman of Adelman Matz said at the time. “Using music without permission violates the copyright law and hurts artists.”

In June, Kanye West’s legal team requested the artist be removed from the lawsuit citing that Ye was “creating the track and experimenting with it, with the intent to contact the license holder for approval as evidence by such act, is undoubtedly fair use.” On Monday, Aug. 19, Reuters reported that Kanye West and Phase One Network had agreed to dismiss him from the filing but will still pursue Kano Computing, the maker of the Stem Player.
You can listen to “Life Of The Party” below.

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Pet Shop Boys Says Drake Didn’t Clear “West End Girls” Sample On New LP

October 9, 2023

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Pet Shop Boys, a pop duo that dominated the charts in the ’80s and ’90s, says that Drake neglected to clear a sample of one of the United Kingdom group’s biggest hits. On Drake’s For All The Dogs album, the track “All The Parties” samples the song “West End Girls, one of the top songs from the Pet Shop Boys.
As reported by Deadline, Pet Shop Boys, which consist of bandmates Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, took to X to call out the fact that Drake sang a portion of “West End Girls” on “All The Parties,” an instance that apparently came as a shock to them.

Via their X page, Pet Shop Boys wrote, “Surprising to hear @Drake singing the chorus of “West End girls” in the track “All the Parties” on his new album. No credit given or permission requested.”
Given the fact that Drake worked on For All The Dogs up until its release last Friday (October 6), it’s possible that the proper paperwork didn’t make it to the band in time.
As we shared over the weekend, Drake has heard enough of the criticism from music pundits, lashing out at Joe Budden, who took shots at the rapper on his eponymously named podcast over the weekend.
It isn’t known if Drake settled the sample issue with the group as “All The Parties” is still present on his latest solo studio album.

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Photo: Getty

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Diddy Pays Sting $5K A Day For 26-Year-Old Sting Sample, Allegedly

April 7, 2023

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Source: Christopher Polk / Getty
The cost of a sample from one of British singer Sting’s most popular hits is costing Diddy $5,000 a day, the mogul recently revealed online in response to a viral video.

A clip from the singer-songwriter’s appearance on The Breakfast Club in 2018 resurfaced and went viral, in which Charlemagne Tha God asked Sting if Diddy shells out $2,000 a day to him for sampling “Every Breath You Take” from The Police without permission. “Yeah,” Sting replied. “For the rest of his life.” The Bad Boy Records founder saw the clip on Wednesday (April 5th) and corrected the record by quote-tweeting it and saying: “Nope. 5K a day. Love to my brother @OfficialSting!”

Diddy’s declaration surprised many online, but much of the background behind it is well-established. The sample was heavily used in “I’ll Be Missing You,” a tribute song for his friend and Bad Boy Records artist The Notorious B.I.G. who was shot and killed in Los Angeles in 1997. The song, which featured Biggie’s widow Faith Evans and 112, would go on to win a Grammy Award and be number one on Billboard’s Hot 100. Sting would even join Diddy, Fatih and 112
Diddy would be sued by Sting for not seeking clearance in 2002, and the singer would go on to win 100% of the royalties. In the interview with The Breakfast Club, Sting would say that Diddy eventually asked for permission “after the fact” and stated: “We’re very good friends now.” By some estimates, the daily amount would total a payment of $1,825,000 a year and $47,325,000 to date since the publication date of May 7th, 1997. Sting has since sold his songwriting catalog to the Universal Music Group in a deal estimated at $300 million which took place last February, which does include “Every Breath You Take,” meaning that the group would potentially receive most of the royalty payment going forward.
Sting had previously spoken about the situation in a Rolling Stone interview in 2003. “Those guys just take your s–t, put it on a record, and deal with the legality later,” he said. “Elton John told me, “You gotta hear [“I’ll Be Missing You”], you’re gonna be a millionaire!” I said, “I am a millionaire!” He said, “You’re gonna be a millionaire twice over!”