Kanye West was sued on Wednesday for allegedly sampling a song by musician Marshall Jefferson without permission.
According to reports, Ultra International Music Publishing LLC said “Flowers” by the rapper, producer and entrepreneur
who legally changed his name to Ye last year, from album Donda 2 includes a sample from Jefferson’s 1986 dance song “Move Your Body” that is repeated at least 22 times.
The parties in the suit have so far declined comment to the media.
Jefferson is a pioneer of house music from West’s hometown of Chicago. According to the lawsuit, West and his representatives acknowledged during talks with Jefferson that “Flowers” sampled “Move Your Body”, but did not take a licence.
“West advocates for artists’ rights with one hand, yet has no shame in taking away rights from another artist with the other,” the lawsuit said.
West released Donda 2 in February exclusively through his Stem Player, a handheld device that allows users to isolate and recombine song parts.
West, who has reportedly settled previous infractions, was sued by Texas pastor David Paul Moten in May for allegedly sampling one of his sermons without permission.
