Kanye West Hit with New Lawsuit Over Alleged Unauthorized Sample in 'Donda 2' Track

The ever-evolving saga of Kanye West's (now known as Ye) musical ventures has taken another turn, this time into the legal arena. The prolific artist is facing a fresh copyright infringement lawsuit, alleging the unauthorized use of a vocal sample in his 2022 album, 'Donda 2'. The lawsuit centers on the track 'Lord Lift Me Up,' claiming it features an uncredited and unapproved snippet from a sermon by Bishop David Moten.

Filed by Bishop David Moten, the legal complaint asserts that a distinct vocal segment from his 2011 sermon was sampled without permission or proper licensing.

Specifically, the lawsuit highlights the phrase, 'Lord, we know you're the Most High,' which Moten claims is clearly identifiable and repeatedly used throughout West's track. This phrase, according to Moten, forms a recognizable and integral part of the song's composition, constituting a direct infringement of his intellectual property rights.

Moten's lawsuit isn't limited to Kanye West alone.

It also names several other major players in the music industry, including Universal Music Group, Def Jam, and G.O.O.D. Music, as co-defendants. This broad scope suggests that Moten's legal team is pursuing accountability from all entities involved in the production, distribution, and release of 'Donda 2,' implying that these parties either knew or should have known about the alleged unauthorized sample.

This isn't Bishop Moten's first foray into copyright litigation regarding samples.

He has previously filed similar lawsuits against other high-profile artists, including Travis Scott, for comparable allegations of unauthorized sermon sampling. This history indicates a consistent effort on Moten's part to protect his intellectual property and ensure proper attribution and compensation for the use of his spiritual works in commercial music.

The legal battle over 'Lord Lift Me Up' adds to the ongoing scrutiny faced by artists who incorporate samples into their work.

While sampling is a fundamental element of modern music production, particularly in hip-hop, the legal ramifications of unauthorized usage remain a significant concern. The outcome of this lawsuit could potentially set new precedents or reinforce existing standards regarding the diligent clearance of samples, especially when originating from spiritual or spoken-word content.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the music world watches closely.

The case against Kanye West and his associated labels underscores the critical importance of robust clearance processes and highlights the complexities of intellectual property rights in an era where digital sampling is both ubiquitous and easily accessible. It serves as a stark reminder that even the most celebrated artists are not immune to the legal challenges posed by copyright infringement allegations.