Many of us, Old Schoolers, remember multi-platinum selling artist, Tracy Chapman, for her rich contralto voice and melancholy songs. It’s been YEARS since we’ve heard from her, but now Nicki Minaj has given the “Fast Car” songstress “one reason” to “turn right back around” and re-enter the public eye after doing Tracy dirty, according to the singer. A judge has also just stepped in to try to resolve the situation.
What Tracy Chapman’s Accusing Nicki Minaj Of…
According to a lawsuit filed by Tracy Chapman, Nicki Minaj jacked her music without properly paying her compensation, as Hot New Hip Hop reported. Their legal tussle began in October 2018, when Tracy claimed that her song, “Baby Can I Hold You,” was illegally sampled on Nicki’s 2018 song, “Sorry,” which also featured a Nas collabo.’ Although Nicki’s team did admit that they’d used Tracy’s song, they stated that they repeatedly reached out to her to get clearance for the sample. Yet, Tracy never replied back to their requests.
So Nicki’s camp did not include the track on her “Queen” album. However, Nicki’s fans still got a hold of the song, somehow, and even hit up Tracy Chapman’s DM’s to beg the hitmaker to allow Nicki to release the joint. After getting radio silence from Tracy, Nicki’s “Sorry” track did, in fact, receive radio airplay…from Hot 97 DJ, Funkmaster Flex; as well as on Power 105’s ‘The Breakfast Club.’
All of the above is what prompted Tracy Chapman to file a lawsuit against Nicki Minaj. Her ‘suit claims that despite the song not making the final cut on Nicki’s “Queen” album, it still circulated heavily online and on radio, without Tracy’s consent.
What Nicki Minaj’s Team Claims…
Nicki’s team is trying to deny any liability for the heavily circulated illegal track, claiming that it was not their doing. Nicki’s people are also accusing Chapman of not owning the copyright to her hit, “Baby Can I Hold You,” and are instead saying they used the song under the “Fair Use” act.
FYI: The Fair Use law permits the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain instances —such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research purposes.
Not sure is Nicki was actually trying to teach, be a scholar, research, report news, comment about Chapman, nor criticize her track, when she sampled it for her song though.
Judge Issues Deadline…
At any rate, a judge has now issued a Summer deadline for Tracey Chapman and Nicki Minaj to hopefully come to an amicable resolution through arbitration. If not, they will be heading to court by February 2020 and the saga will continue.
