Kanye West Testifies, Denies $564K Sample Infringement
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Kanye West testified at a Los Angeles copyright trial, refusing to respond to the plaintiffs’ lawyer’s greeting and repeatedly answering “I don’t recall” when questioned about changing lawyers and licensing reps in 2022‑2023.
- Kanye West said his musical inspiration began with seeing Michael Jackson on TV and that his creative process includes singing in the shower and reworking songs through many versions.
- Kanye West asserted that he “went through the normal process” to clear the “MSD PT2” sample used in early versions of “Hurricane,” denying any stonewalling of the four composers.
- Artist Revenue Advocates alleges Ye owes $564,046 in damages for unlicensed use of the “MSD PT2” sample at his July 22, 2021 listening event at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, citing ticket, merchandise, streaming, and apparel revenue shares.
- Khalil Abdul‑Rahman transferred his copyright, along with Sam Barsh, Dan Seeff, and Josh Mease, to ARA to pursue the lawsuit.
Why it matters: The lawsuit could force Ye to pay $564k, boosting the four composers’ earnings and signaling stricter enforcement of sample clearance, while music labels may face heightened licensing scrutiny.
