Ye, the rapper, clothing icon and mogul formerly known as Kanye West, is being sued for copyright infringement related to allegations that his hit song “Life of the Party” copies a track by rap pioneers Boogie Down Productions without consent.
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Phase One Network Inc, which said it owns copyright interests in Boogie Down’s “South Bronx,” sued Ye and his former label Universal Music Group in New York federal court on Monday. The lawsuit alleges “Life of the Party” includes an “exact reproduction” of drums, horns and a melody from “South Bronx.”
A spokesperson for Kano said that the company is investigating the claims, and that it had been “assured repeatedly that Kanye” and his company Yeezy Tech “provides music with ‘all intellectual property rights, licenses and consents.'”
“This was important to us, because STEM is built from the ground up as a more fair and immersive alternative to the current music business,” the spokesperson stated.
According to the suit, representatives for Ye reached out asking to approve the use of “South Bronx” last July, but the parties never successfully reached terms on an agreement.
The complaint claimed Ye “retracted” the license request in November, shortly after the deluxe version of “Donda” came out.
Phase One requested the court block Ye’s use of the sample as well as an unspecified amount in damages.
This is the second suit Kanye and Kano face together, after a suit in June allege they used a sample of house musician Marshall Jefferson’s “Move Your Body” in his “Donda 2” track “Flowers.”
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