Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is embroiled in legal trouble once again. DJ Khalil and three other artists have filed a new copyright infringement lawsuit against him over two tracks from his DONDA album.
The lawsuit, filed by the Artist Revenue Advocates (ARA) on behalf of DJ Khalil, Sam Barsh, Dan Seef, and Josh Mease, targets the tracks “Moon” and “Hurricane.” Notably, “Hurricane” won a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2022. The plaintiffs have previously collaborated with major artists like Eminem, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and The Weeknd.
According to Bloomberg Law, the conflict traces back to 2018 when the four musicians created a composer pack of ideas available for purchase. Ye allegedly expressed interest in using their work for “Hurricane.” However, his request was denied, yet the material was still utilized. The artists claim that despite their refusal, Ye proceeded to use their work without authorization and credited them as if an agreement had been reached. The lawsuit describes this as “an act of blatant brazenness,” emphasizing the artists’ right to control how their works are published and used.
ARA is demanding a jury trial and highlights Ye’s substantial earnings from the songs. They claim “Hurricane” and “Moon” have generated at least $15 million in streaming revenue as of March 1, 2024. Additionally, listening events featuring these tracks reportedly brought in about $14 million from merchandise sales. The lawsuit also accuses Ye of indirectly profiting through partnerships with Gap and Balenciaga linked to the album, alleging exploitation of the tracks. Named in the suit are Ye, Universal Music Group, G.O.O.D. Music, Yeezy LLC, and Universal Music Group.
This isn’t Ye’s first brush with copyright issues. Earlier this year, Donna Summer’s estate sued him over an interpolation of “I Feel Love” in his Vultures album, resulting in a settlement. Ozzy Osbourne has also threatened legal action over a sample of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.”