While some artists are sued for allegedly copying other songs, one famous rapper is hit with a lawsuit for featuring an AI-generated voice of a late artist without consent.
- Dec 8, 2024
AceShowbiz - It's not rare for an artist to be sued over their music after they launched it. In 2024, a number of famous artists are facing legal problems over their works. While some were slapped with lawsuits months following the release of the songs, a few others faced legal problems over their tracks years later.
Reasons behind the lawsuits vary. Many artists were sued for allegedly copying other songs. Meanwhile, one was hit with a lawsuit for featuring an AI-generated voice of a late artist without consent. The other, on the other hand, allegedly received help to manipulate the success of their hit track.
AceShowbiz has listed artists who faced legal problems over their songs in 2024.
1. Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign's 'Good (Don't Die)'
Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign faced legal problems after Donna Summer's estate filed a lawsuit against them due to copyright infringement. In February, the "Heaven Knows" singer's estate accused the rappers of using vocals that resemble her hit song "I Feel Love" on "Good (Don't Die)" despite the estate's previous rejection.
The estate attempted to remove the track from music streaming platforms several times. They also sought major damages and an injunction, which would block the distribution of the song moving forward. Fortunately, in May, Donna's widower Bruce Sudano reached a "global settlement" with Ye.
2. Missy Elliott's 1990s Songs
In August, a man named Terry Williams filed a lawsuit against Missy Elliott over five of her 1990s songs, which are featured in "4 All the Sistas Around Da World". Terry alleged that he co-wrote the tracks with the 53-year-old raptress without being credited.
However, Missy's attorneys insisted that she didn't meet him until after the songs had been produced. Meanwhile, she claimed that they worked together between 1993 and 1996, and had "refused" to credit him. While a federal judge has ordered her to face a copyright trial, the judge has dismissed allegations over one of the five songs, "Heartbroken" by Aaliyah.
3. Quavo's 'Bubble Gum'
Quavo was sued by Louisiana rapper Lamount London, who is also known as L.Mont, over "Bubble Gum" that was released in 2018. Quavo was accused of stealing L.Mont's own "Bubble Gum", whose lyrics, arrangement and melody allegedly significantly resemble the Migos rapper's track.
L.Mont, who is seeking damages for the alleged infringement, also claimed that he handed Quavo a CD containing his track after opening for Migos and 2 Chainz at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans. At that time, he was hoping for potential collaboration opportunities.
4. Megan Thee Stallion's 'Savage'
Megan Thee Stallion had been in a legal dispute over her hit song titled "Savage" until June, when a lawsuit over the track was dismissed by a New York federal court. Previously, she was accused of copyright infringement by hip-hop producer James Greene.
James alleged that Megan's 2020 song lifted elements from his 1999 instrumental track titled "It's About to Be On". He claimed that he sent CDs containing his music to figures in the music industry, including a mentor of "Savage" producer J. White Did It, back in the early 2000s.
5. Travis Scott's 'Stargazing' and 'Til Further Notice'
This year, Travis Scott (II) faced legal problems over two of his songs. He was slapped with a lawsuit by songwriter Dion Norman and rap producer Derrick "Mellow Fellow" Ordogne over "Stargazing" and "Til Further Notice".
Dion and Derrick alleged that Travis uses unauthorized samples of "B***hes (Reply)", which the plaintiffs wrote, on the two tracks. They claimed that Travis copied the phrase "alright, alright, alright", which is featured in the beginning of "B***hes (Reply)".
6. Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign's 'Fuk Sumn'
Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign were sued by Criminal Manne, DJ Squeeky and the estate of late rapper Kilo G over "Fuk Sumn". The two rappers were accused of incorporating unauthorized samples from DJ Squeeky's "Drank a Yak (Part 2)" and Kilo G's lyrics.
The plaintiffs claimed that they attempted to negotiate sample clearances through Alien Music services in March. However, Ye's team allegedly stalled negotiations in June following the departure of several high-level executives from Ye's record label Yeezy.
7. Beyonce's 'Break My Soul'
It was reported in May that former New Orleans group Da Showstoppaz had filed a lawsuit against Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z over "Break My Soul". The group of plaintiffs, consisting of Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs and Brian Clark, accused the couple of doing "copyright infringement and stealing their intellectual property."
Da Showstoppaz alleged that "their unique phrases, melody and musical arrangement" on "Release a Wiggle" was sampled without their permission, "any authorization, acknowledgment, or payment." The song itself was created back in 2002. Meanwhile, "Break My Soul" was released in 2022.
8. Miley Cyrus' 'Flowers'
In September, Miley Cyrus was slapped with a lawsuit, which was filed by Tempo Music Investments, over her hit song "Flowers" that was released in January 2023. The company accused Miley of "intentionally copying" Bruno Mars' 2012 song "When I Was Your Man" that allegedly has "so many musical similarities" with her track.
Upon learning of the lawsuit, the "Wrecking Ball" singer and her team vehemently denied any wrongdoing. They filed a motion to dismiss in a Los Angeles federal court, arguing that Tempo Music's case is flawed due to their partial ownership of the track's copyright.
9. Drake's 'Taylor Made Freestyle'
Drake launched "Taylor Made Freestyle", a diss track against Kendrick Lamar and a response to "Like That", on social media during their rap beef in April. On the song, Drizzy features an AI-generated voice of late artist Tupac Shakur. "You seem a little nervous about all the publicity/ F**k this Canadian lightskin, Dot/ We need a no-debated West Coast victory, man/ Call him a b***h for me," the AI Tupac raps.
Upon learning the AI usage on the track, Drake was slammed by Tupac's brother, Mopreme Shakur. Later on, Tupac's estate, represented by attorney Howard King, issued a cease-and-desist letter to Drake, giving him 24 hours to take down the controversial song. As of April 25, "Taylor Made Freestyle" has been removed from his social media accounts.
10. Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us'
In November, Kendrick Lamar's nemesis Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group and Spotify over "Not Like Us", which K.Dot dropped in May to diss Drizzy. The Canadian star accused UMG and Spotify of wrongdoing during his feud against the "Like That" rapper.
Drake alleged that UMG engaged in a "scheme" to manipulate the success of "Not Like Us". The "Hotline Bling" hitmaker's petition claimed that UMG used bots, payola and other deceptive practices to boost the song's streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify. In the wake of the lawsuit, UMG denied the allegations, calling them "offensive."
