Nicki Minaj was forced to dump her version of Tracy Chapman‘s hit song “Baby Can I Hold You” off her new album, Queen, after the alternative music legend denied her request to sample the song.
The 35-year-old rapper took to social media to inform her fans that Queen — originally scheduled to drop on August 10 — was delayed a week while she sought permission from Chapman to sample “Baby Can I Hold You” for her new song titled “Sorry”.
But Chapman, 54, refused to clear the sample for Nicki’s new song featuring her ex-lover Nas.
Permission was presumably denied because Chapman, a musical perfectionist, is not a fan of Nicki’s raps or her singing.
New York DJ Funkmaster Flex got ahold of the deleted album track and played it on his radio show over the weekend, prompting Nicki to post the now-deleted tweet “Sis said no”, suggesting Chapman didn’t like her rap track.
Queen is already a big hit among Nicki’s peers, with her mentor Lil Wayne praising Nicki’s work in a video released on Twitter. The “Lollipop” hitmaker, who is namechecked on the track “Barbie Dreams”, insisted Queen is an instant classic. But, like some of Nicki’s older fans, Weezy still yearns for the old Nicki.
Lil Wayne said:
“I’m not gonna go out there on a limb and say it’s her best album, because I can still listen to songs (from) when she was a teenager, and I still hear vocals and lyrics from there that are, to me, the best thing she’s ever said in her life. So, I’m specific like that, but to date, it’s one of the best albums yet – and I don’t mean out of her catalog. I mean period.”
Listen below to Nicki’s deleted track “Sorry” and Tracy singing “Baby Can I Hold You” live in concert.

Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
I love me some Tracy Chapman and good on her for not wanting to be associated with that trash Nicki.
had no IDEA that reggae song was a sample from Tracy.
I don’t blame Tracy. Everything about Nicki is trash.
I’ve read different places for years (about 25 to be exact, bc the song “Fast Car” recently this year turned 30) that Tracy is an egotistical bitch. Very much a mean person.
And Tracy had EVERY right to deny her request… AND don’t have to be a fan either…. She probably don’t want her music turned into trash…. Can’t blame her!
Ex-lover Nas… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ca67397ce0e334c11bb15cdf692dd0b222a7880dfb23b8f239b9faa27baa8c0a.gif
lolol
Damn. We need more men like Nas.
I wouldn’t want no affiliation with Nikki either.
The Dance Hall version of the song is a classic!
Queen gives us a lot of Old Nicki.
She did Dreams on her first Mixtape and revisited it in 18.
She even got tracks to make the “Better content” folk happy.
Sorry slaps …
Idk about nickis wack version, but I’m soooo damn glad she let Shelly thunda sample it! That reggae version is Everything!! ??
I guess you can’t always get what you want.
Chapman ain’t with nicks shit or antics… I still haven’t heard the album and don’t want too either I’m kinda tired of Nicki to be honest
now i have the song in my head
also, maybe tracy is “an artist [she is] sensitive about [her] sh*t”.
That’s too bad, because I actually like the track. It is what it is. That being said, I absolutely love Tracy Chapman..i’m a huge fan.
I can’t lie the album is ???.
Reminds me of when Sade said no to doing a song with Jay-Z
Yes we do! Love me some Nas… and was highly disappointed when I heard he was dating Nicki… It musta been a lonely moment…. because that’s how long it lasted… a moment… Thank God! Nas can do WAY BETTER than that!
What??? No to the king of the throne. Yasss Sade?!
LOL.. Money can’t buy everything “shrugs”
Yup and I wasn’t expecting much.
Shit slaps.
If this is what having competition gets us, I’m here for it!
how you snatch somebody shyt without permission anyways .. this old self centered heavy hipped demon can miss me…. Tracy aint fuggin with that .. The nerve …. icki is trash . .. talk bout a queen…. queen heavy hipped demonic pedophile supporting Ole I dyck ride for hits face azz!!!!!!!.. and your trash azz still leaked it. .. like so what.. … . bytch ? you have no respect for the true queen Tracy …. FOH!!!! The nerve ?
Ganja Burns, Majesty(Eminem kills it) LLC, Hard White, Barbie Dreams, Sir, Coco Chanel, Come See About Me(been singing it all weekend) and I wish the interlude 2 lil 2 late was actually a song. The tracks I listed are my favs but the entire album is a bop.
ugh That’s a No ? shid ….nah
Can’t be calling other women “nappy headed” and then beg for a fellow “nappy head” to accommodate you……
you better come on with the T’s this ??
And it can burn in fire.. Certain shyt gets no play… I don’t care if its bumping …and that one … But rock on gal. ?
What makes me mad about Coco Chanel is that Rem ass ain’t want to do it. The three of them on that track would have eff the whole summer up .. smh I could hear her when the beat switched talking about killing folk … lol.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/194563052425cc41dda01b31500c8d35e4bb97d0e5f337fd4ad1e3478e7b633e.gif
Tracy is such a rare type of talent, I can understand.
fck Tracy Chapman ??? QUEEN is still numero uno ??????
I know that’s right Tracy! I’m glad you told her entitled acting asss “No.”
i believe it she should have been ecstatic for Nick to breathe some life in to her dry ass ????????
Prince sure knew how to toot that booty?…
New Post, Ms. Aretha!
I think some of her music is beyond dope. Her not so much.
Nas is FINE AF!!!! Hasn’t aged at all.
But Nicki Wants to Make her “Nappy head” some money off Tracy!!! Tracy was like, she gonna learn today, iiiiihaaaa.
and Tracy don’t owe Icki shyt … point blank
But Tracy would have made money too.. so whose the biggest loser? ?
So… this song can be played for folk to listen to AFTER Tracy said no?
That’s what I don’t understand
Onika. Onika is the loser.
Tracy has cleared samples before of her music to a hip hop artist. First thing comes to mind is Nice and Smooth. Sometimes I Rhyme Slow. Fast Car sample
+1
Everyone doesn’t want to be attached to silly chit. Onika thinks she can be vile but still respected. It doesn’t work like that! When you lick your own ?, you run the risk of being denied opportunities ?
Wayne look HORRIBLE in that video btw. Life has surely caught up with him. Can’t believe all them women had his babies. I started itching just looking at him.
Luh U????????
Same!! Those 2 songs are my absolute favorite of hers!!! ??
Nicki. In the vein of Ms. Badu…Tracy is an artist. And she is sensitive about her shit.
I dont think its about money for some of these artists. Im still surprised Santana cleared Wild Thoughts. Its just strange on what gets clearance and what doesnt.
Yes! I loved the song too! Nice and Smooth. Bringing back some memories this good am! ???
Wayne needs rehab really badly. Real bad. That lean done did him durty
I had to go play it lol. I loved them!!!
I guess she’s more musician than broke. Eh. It is what it is. Patrice Rushen, who hadn’t worked in YEARS, said she got a call from Will Smith to sample “Forget Me Nots” for his track “Men in Black” and says it was the best decision she ever made because she was able to retire and not have to work again from that one sample.
Gambling with Sampling
Sampling Hip HopIt’s a bit of a gamble because normally an artist has no clue what it’s going to cost to use a particular sample. Sometimes an artist will take even more of a gamble and just deal with it when they get caught. The problem you’ve got here is that a lot of record labels won’t dare take that chance.
In general you can be pretty sure that it’s going to cost you more to use a Michael Jackson sample than it would some obscure sample from a record nobody has ever heard. There’s also the fact of who you are. If you’re a new artist with not much heat, the copyright owners of the sample you used might go easy on you, but if you’re a big name then it’s time to add some zero’s to the licensing fee.
To further complicate matters, your song might even offend the copyright holders of the sample and they could refuse to license the sample to you no matter how much you offered to pay. This is a situation you really want to avoid if possible.
I found this for people who dont understand sample clearance
actually Niki minaj didn’t want to wait a week to see if Tracy Chapman would clear. Most Artist clear nowadays it is a quick payday
I don’t even dig him like that…but I didn’t believe they were lovers one bit…
I love love love Tracy Chapman!
Thank u
Interesting! Had no clue.
Yup! He couldn’t even think. I was like dayum he used to have a high IQ and now he has Alzheimer’s.
I started itching just looking at him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOLLOLLOL!!!
I didn’t know about that. Chileee I can’t even dirty whine but when Fox come on my arse be trying ???. Can’t help it. Sn, u think she talking about Safaree in #ComeSeeAboutMe
Come thru with the Patrice Rushen!! ? It’s not hard to believe I want you and I need you so I’m…sending you forget me nots ? ??
LMAO @ Solstice!
The icon Tracy Chapman is way bigger than Beyonce. And her songs are timeless, powerful, and deals with social issues unlike Beyonce hits that you forget after a day or two
Lol i giggled out loud. ?
Nikki’s version is good but I like Tracy’s Chapman’s version better… Ten years from now I’ll still be listening to Tracy’s..
Thank you Tracy ! Someone still stands for something in this world.
?? I am over here jammin ok ?? lol
Repeating that Erykah Badu on the Tyrone track…lol
considering Kelis left him when she was 8 months pg that says a lot about Nas…he ain’t no prize hun
Nas killed it
Ion blame Ms.Chapman!!take you and yo samplin ass on!
For real! All I could think about were the females and what they contracted simply by sleeping with him.
I don’t blame Ms. Tracy at all. Did anyone hear the song
Nas was never her ex-lover. She pretends to date an artist if she has a song with them that’s coming out. Just like with Eminem and people fall for it it.
I love that song by Tracy Chapman. And Nicki sampled song is hot, I like it. But I’m glad in a way that Tracy Chapman denied her request. The way she or one of her team called out Tracy Chapman on social media about clearing the sample was ghetto. I believe she kind of threatened Tracy with “It’ll be your fault if the album is pushed back.” Who does Nicki think she is?
Tracy Chapman is a REAL ARTIST. This was a REAL ARTIST power move. Someone has got to stand up for quality music. If Nicki was smart, she would use this rejection as a foundation to become a better quality artist.
Nothing wrong with being a musical purist who puts your art and integrity over money. Good for her!
I get what he saying. I was a huge Nicki fan when she dropped her second mixtape and right before Beam me up Scotty. Back then she was the underdog and she used to say the best lines. Everyone was confused because she was very feminine but very raw.
Her first album was so good. And I’ve supported her with each album but it’s not the same. I like when she puts out the ratchet music versus the pop.
Really?? Haven’t been shocked in a while, but ??
Bwahahaha. I love Tracey. Clearly Nikki has never listened to Tracey’s “All that you have is your soul” because she sold hers.
I like Nicki as an artist, but it’s Tracy’s right to say no if she wants too. Life goes on…..
What many don’t understand is that hip hop back in the day had so many great competitors which made the music stronger because you had to be creative for your life. Look around who does Nikki or pretty much anyone have as competitors. The music labels just hand out money because you look retreaded now. Bring back competition bring back the music
I don’t blame her either. Prince didn’t allow people tampering with his music neither.
Good for you Tracy. These “new day” artist are sooooo not talented.
Tracy is a serious musician she’s not interested in that whole scene. You rarely see her at anything and I’m sure she prefer to keep it that way. She’s about her music. I heard a recent new version of Fast Car by another group. It was fast with an upward beat. Good to dance to with good singing.
the one that lacks integrity … ? bye ?
Mmm hmm…Issa no for me. But I am not really into Nicki’s music. I maybe liked one song from her a few years back.
What does Beyoncé have to do with this? Sorry but Beyoncé is a bigger Artist then Tracy. No shade against Tracy ?????
if its leaked but not on her official album.
I’m not into her music either.
Tell me a Beyonce album that sold ten million like Tracy Chapman debut did? And like I said Tracy songs are timeless Beyonce are not
Right. Nicki can’t earn any money from the track.
Yesss, Tracy. Ms. Chapman is a real artist. Nicki, learn to make real music, and only then can you hang with the big girls.
Tracy said she does not want to be attached to any of that hood or trap shit….she is a REAL artist. and ain’t got time for that……
It would make sense if this article was about Beyonce and and Nicki, but to just come out of the Blue talking about Beyonce on a non-Beyoncd post is weird.
GET.IT.PRINCE! shaking them mini buns and all!!
yes, but Nicki can’t profit from the song.
alternative pop? Wtf? Tracy is blues/rock.
I salute Tracy Chapman. These artist always want to sample legendary artists. SMH!
yes, I love Shelly’s version too
I don’t think so. He don’t either. I was thinking Meek ass …
Everyone isn’t all about money. Some people live with integrity and principles.
Well Nicki not on Beyonce level and Beyonce not on Tracy Chapman level I was educating the 80s babies
DAMN YOU SAID IT EXACTLY FOR ME!!!! TRACY IS NOT HERE FOR THE BS JUST FOR MONEY. CRAZY I WAS JUST LOOKING AT MY TRACY ALBUMS 3-4 DAYS AGO. TIME TO PLAY THEM. LOL!!!!………JENNY JONES!!
Tracy is an artist and most artist are sensitive about their shat. * in my Badu voice* The album was cool. Has some bops on it. I would like to see Nicki venture into other avenues though like Rihanna and become a mogul for real.
SALUTE to TRACY
TRACY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT NICKI AND HER BARBS. NICKI SLICK THREATENING TRACY WILL ONLY TURN OFF OTHER ARTIST SHE MIGHT WANT TO SAMPLE B/C THOSE TYPE OF ARTIST HAVE A COMRADERY AND DON’T APPRECIATE BULLYING………..JENNY JONES!!!!
SHE NEEDS TO BLAME HER PEOPLE FOR NOT GETTING AN APPROVAL B4 THEY SAMPLED A SONG AND PUT IT ON AN ALBUM. GUESS SHE/THEY THOUGHT SHE WAS SOOOO BIG & H0T THAT NO ONE WOULD DENY HER. SIKE!!! LOL!!!!!………..JENNY JONES!!!!
Video removed ?
And those of us who came up in he 90s are not surprised that a raw talent artist like her said no to this. Folks remember how good she is.
BUT BEYONCE AIN’T BEGGING AND THREATENING FOR A SAMPLE HMMM THAT WAS NICKI. NOW YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT TRACY BEING THE ISH YOU CAN STILL PLAY HER STUFF NOW AND IT’LL FEEL FRESH. I’M SURPRISED A KARDASHAIN WAS MENTIONED B/C THEM AND BEY ARE ALWAYS SOMEONE’S GO TO TO MAKE A DRY POINT. LOL!!!!……..JENNY JONES!!!
It’s not always about money. Tracy Chapman has a reputation to uphold as well. It would be a loss if she allowed her music to be sampled in such a way.
ME TOO AND I SEE HER ALBUM SALES RESURGING. NICKI THINKING SHE WAS CALLING TRACY OUT TO THREATEN HER INTO APPROVING THE SAMPLE ONLY GIVES TRACY HELP SHE DIDN’T ASK FOR OR NEED AND STILL GETS NICKI NOTHING BUT A SONG SHE CAN ONLY LISTEN TO AT HOME OR IN HER CAR. LOL!!!!!……….JENNY JONES!!!!
Are you a teenager suga?
AHHHH WHO SAYS TRACY IS BROKE????? JUST B/C SHE DIDN’T WANT TO SAMPLE HER CLASSIC DOESN’T MEAN SHE’S BROKE. WOW!!!!………JENNY JONES!!!
pahahahahahaha….Tracy was probably like….NOPE…. you wont be shetting on my music! NEXT!!!
So what! Tracy’s “no” makes a profound statement, which is that everybody can’t be bought. It takes some kind of arrogance to make a record off somebody else’s work before it’s even approved. And I don’t care to hear about how everybody else does it. It’s an arrogant move.
Dangerous in love has sold almost 11 million….. bloop
That’s subjective and you’re opinion. Try again. You can congratulate without bring up another artist!!! This was between Nicki and Tracy, let it stay that way
LOLOL!
Boo-Boop!
I had no idea Tracy wrote this song. I love the reggae version by Sanchez and play it regularly. Whether she changes her mind and clears it for Nicki or not, I will continue to listen to a different cover of the song.
As she should, sick of this sampling sh!t. Go ahead Tracy perserve your work. ” Sorry” was that song back in the day. I remember when someone redid it with a reggae beat way back in the early 90’s.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ead459979b0055cbcfef480e1a628e86b2f72d67da3cb89e77e19bd4a64ec62d.png
Okay. I so hope the screen shot actually populates but u can read Minaj’s comment I based my observations on, on the internets.
So major Merp here folks.
1. Why in the actual hale would she record a track with a sample without knowing she had approval from the original artist. I mean. She says she’s been the game for so long…you would think she would know the rules. ?
2. So funny. But not really funny at all. Mianj says she has this dope ass track she recorded…with a fly sample…yet she admits she didn’t know who was singing it…and then calls her a legend. And then blames her late ass record on Chapman.
?
But yet she’s steady workin’.
She is a less than mediocre musician. There are many aspects in entertainment but a musician has expertise and mastery in an art form. Notbey
Way to go Tracy!!
Nicki “had no clue” it was even her song.
Smh. All these antics for this subpar mediocre ass album.
Omg i feel in love with her album as a kid bc my mom wud play it nonstop lol i can still hear it? Lol
That’s subjective and your opinion. This was A&B so C ya ?? Thanks
It wasn’t needed…I really love this album u don’t have to skip a track!!!
Tracy is a idiot. Why mess up mechanical publishing money? She needs to counsel with Sir Mix A Lot on how to do it right!
Ho, jealous, looks better than you? This is your takeaway from a remark based upon common sense? Take your derogatory remarks toward a Black woman over to ratchet asss Mediatakout where you belong. Contrary to your simple mind, every Black woman isn’t a paid prostitute “ho,” jealous of the next, in competition with the next. Surface ninjas like you are part of the problem in our community. Grow up!
It’s Is Not All about the Money!!! Tracy Probably Didn’t Need the Money. Some things Money Can’t Buy. And this Is one of them.
Look here “Mental Case Will” go find somebody else to troll.
Look here “Mental Case Will” go find somebody else to troll.
She must not be a Nickki fan because I know for a fact that song has been sampled before but the name escapes me. I THINK it was a reggae singer. That’s my song it was a club banger back in the day.
She don’t need nothing from Nicki…Tracy was brilliant in that decision!!!!
Nikki trying to out sell Cardi, this isn’t about her being able to sample, Nikki picked a fight with the wrong somebody and they are starving her out. She won’t get the hype Drake did. Kim’s old joints is popping again, Remy signing major deals, reward for Sheater,
Yup you right!!!!! I think it was Ghost!! People really dont like Nicki attitude and personality???????????????you know what they say when more than one person says something there might be some truth behind it!
My personal feelings about an artist would never have anything to do with me clearing them to use a sample and earning some extra money. Why do people ALWAYS feel like money is evil, the LOVE of money is EVIL. We need money to survive and pay bills, Tracy you could’ve donated those royalties to charities. Your track, Fast Car, talks about money struggles and hustling through life any way you can. It just seems hypocritical you wouldn’t clear a sample over opiniated feelings.
Tracey needs money, no human living is beyond that. Sign off on the mechanical, Tracy’s original song will become popular and she can also make royalties and performance fees. Pride is a bigger killer than disease I tell ya…
Tracy Chapman is a millionaire many times over. Her songs are still getting radio play. She is getting paid just for breathing.