September 30, 2012 10:49

Kanye West hit with lawsuit over 'illegal' use of song sampling

Record label sues the rapper over samples used in 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' album

Photo Gallery: Kanye West
Photo: PA

Kanye West is being sued by a US record label over samples he used on his 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' album.

TufAmerica claim two tracks on the rapper's 2010 record illegally sample a bit from New Orleans singer Eddie Bo's 'Hook and Sling: Part 1' and have filed a lawsuit, reports Billboard.

The record label, who bought the rights to the 1969 single more than 15 years ago, says the track appears on West's 'Who Will Survive In America?' and 'Lost In The World'.

In its complaint, TufAmerica says Roc-A-Fella and parent company Universal Music Group paid a licence fee of $62,000 for the track but "failed and refused to enter into written license agreements that accounted for their multiple other uses of 'Hook and Sling'".

The sample also appeared in the 'Lost In The World' video and a short film based on West's song 'Runaway'. The label is seeking undisclosed damages for copyright infringement.

This isn't the first time this year, TufAmerica has made the news for hitting an artist with a lawsuit for copyright infringement. In May, the label hit the Beastie Boys with a lawsuit the day before Adam 'MCA' Yauch passed away.

The US label submitted a lawsuit claiming the rap group had illegally sampled 1980s outfit Trouble Funk's 'Say What' and 'Drop The Bomb' on 'Shadrach' and 'Car Thief' from the Beasties' second album 'Paul's Boutique', and the tracks 'Hold It, Now Hit It' and 'The New Style' from their debut record 'Licensed To Ill'.

The world's greatest music magazine is now available as a digital edition! For exclusive content you won't find on NME.COM, download here on your iPad/iPhone and here on your Kindle Fire or Nook.

Share on Facebook