Kenya West may soon get some fresh air as he and Donna Summer’s estate have reached a deal on the rapper’s Vultures 1 album’s alleged “illegal” use of I Feel Love.
When Kenya West’s Vulture 1 album was released, it caused quite a stir due to a copyright dispute and denial.
Back in February, a complaint was brought against West and Ty Dolla $ign, alleging that the rappers’ joint album used a disco song sample from 1977 without their consent.
In his capacity as Donna’s executor, Bruce Sudano filed the copyright infringement case in federal court in Los Angeles, California.
Kanye’s managers allegedly requested permission to use the sample on his song Good (Don’t Die), but the late singer’s estate rejected their request, stating that they “wanted no association with West’s controversial history.”
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Sudano further stated that West and Ty made another attempt to obtain authorization by approaching Summer’s record label, Universal Music Enterprises, but were turned down.
The two rappers then “shamelessly,” according to him, added rerecorded portions of the hit that were “instantly recognizable” to the Vultures 1 cut.
Good (Don’t Die) was taken down from Spotify and other streaming sites not long after the lawsuit surfaced.
However, a number of news sources this week said that Donna Summer’s family, Ye, and Ty had struck a deal.
In a status report filed on May 15 in Los Angeles’ federal court, a lawyer representing Donna’s estate stated that the parties involved came to a “global settlement” and began gathering signatures to officially resolve the lawsuit.
“According to reports, the latest filing, which was signed by estate attorney Stanton L. Stein, stated that the plaintiff anticipates that the final settlement agreement can be executed shortly. Thereafter, the parties will be in a position to file a stipulation for dismissal of the action in its entirety.”
“Should the parties fail to reach a settlement by June 14, 2024, the plaintiff plans to pursue the case with utmost diligence against each and every defendant. Plaintiff therefore asks that the dismissal be denied at this time”.
This was by no means the only infringement accusation that surfaced after “Vultures 1” was released as it was alleged back in December that West sampled Backstreet Boys’ song Everybody as well.
