Ye on Samples Dispute in Court
Ye recently took his dispute regarding sample usage from his album, *Donda*, to a federal court in Los Angeles, asserting that his celebrity status was influencing the scrutiny he faced.
In his testimony on Wednesday, the artist previously known as Kanye West shared that he followed the “normal process” to clear samples in question from early versions of his popular tracks “Hurricane” and “Moon,” part of his 2021 album.
“We handled the matter through normal procedures,” Ye stated, dressed in a gray suit.
A lawsuit has been filed by four music producers—DJ Khalil, Sam Barsch, Dan Thief, and Josh Mees—who allege that Ye incorporated parts of their instrumental piece “MSD PT2” during a demo played at a highly publicized listening event in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium back in July 2021.
This event became a cultural phenomenon, attracting fans nationwide as Ye showcased unfinished songs ahead of the album’s release. The final versions of “Hurricane” and “Moon” later gained significant popularity, with “Hurricane” featuring The Weeknd and Lil Baby even securing a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
Ye contended that his team diligently attempted to license the samples but claimed the producers were slow to negotiate and declined the typical royalty arrangement.
“I feel like a lot of people are trying to take advantage of me,” he remarked in court. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring fair credit and royalties, suggesting that some are looking to profit more from him due to his fame.
Reflecting on the situation, Ye shared, “As I sit in this courtroom today, I think people are trying to make more money than they normally would because it’s me.”
This lawsuit is among several copyright disputes Ye has encountered over unlicensed samples throughout his career. Unlike previous cases that often ended in settlements, this one has advanced to trial.
A judge had already dismissed a good portion of the case, determining that the plaintiffs only held rights to the *MSD PT2* master recordings, not the underlying songs. This distinction focused the case on a *Donda* demo from the Atlanta event, rather than tracks from the final album, which achieved millions of streams.
The producers are seeking damages from the event, including proceeds from ticket sales, merchandise earnings, and a $750,000 livestream agreement with Apple Music.
Ye challenged these claims from the witness stand, explaining, “People came to hear whatever new stuff I played. Many people buy merchandise before they listen to music.”
