Kanye West is being accused of copyright infringement after allegedly sampling Donna Summer’s music without permission.
According to a post on Summer’s official Instagram account on Sunday (Feb. 11), West initially requested to sample her 1977 hit “I Feel Love,” but was rebuffed.
However, upon the release of the song “Good (Don’t Die)” on Yeezy’s new Vultures album, Summer’s estate discovered that the rapper ignored their rejection, instead altering lyrics from “I Feel Love” and having them sung in a melody similar to that of the original.
“Kanye West… asked permission to use Donna Summer’s song I Feel Love, he was denied,” the post, which was shared on Summers’ Instagram Story, read. “He changed the words, had someone re sing it or used AI but it’s I Feel Love… copyright infringement!!!”
At one point on “Good (Don’t Die),” a voice sings “Oh, I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive” in a fashion said to be close to “I Feel Love,” resulting in the estate’s claim against West.
“I Feel Love” peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 23 weeks total on the chart. Released as a single from Summer’s fifth studio album, I Remember Yesterday, the song remains among the late disco legend’s most popular songs in her catalog.
Donna Summer’s estate’s accusations against West continue an ongoing trend of the hitmaker allegedly using other artists music without receiving clearance and despite his requests being denied outright.
Last week, rocker Ozzy Osbourne lashed out at West for sampling one of his songs during a Vultures listening session against his wishes, calling the rapper an antisemite who he “wants no association with.”
On Friday (Feb. 9), Ozzy’s wife, Sharon Osbourne, spoke with Billboard regarding her husband’s reasoning for not wanting West to use his music. “We get so many requests for these songs,” Sharon Osbourne told the publication. “And when we saw that request, we just said no way.”
She revealed that she’s reached out to West in an attempt to remedy the situation. “We’ve been in touch with his team… And it’s also an issue of having respect for another artist,” she continued.
See Donna Summer’s Instagram post below.
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