Months after rejecting Nicki Minaj‘s request to use her sample, Tracy Chapman has filed a lawsuit accusing the rapper for using the sample without clearing it first.
Minaj blamed Chapman for the delay in releasing her album Queen. Minaj recording the song “Sorry,” without first obtaining Ms. Chapman’s permission to use a sample from her hit song “Baby Can I Hold You”.
Minaj tweeted then deleted about the sample dispute before the track leaked online.
Now Chapman is suing Minaj, saying the rapper failed to clear the sample before the track leaked.
According to Chapman, she did hear from Minaj’s team in June. She said they made “multiple requests” to use the sample, all of which Chapman denied.
Chapman is notorious for protecting the quality of her music and keeping it out of the hands of rappers.
Chapman alleges in her lawsuit that New York DJ Funkmaster Flex played the song on his popular radio show. She said, because Flex obtained permission from Minaj’s camp to play the song containing her sample, the song was then widely spread without her consent.
Chapman is suing for damages in the millions of dollars. She is also asking a judge to prevent Minaj from releasing the track anywhere, including overseas.
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