Kanye West, Drake being sued over hit songs 'Stronger,' 'Best I Ever Had'
An obscure songwriter and Playboy filed lawsuits over copyrights
Kanye West
Two of hip-hop’s biggest names right now are being sued, separately, this week, for two different, recognizable hits.
In a California federal court document filed June 25, Playboy Enterprises alleges that Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” infringes on their copyright of “Fallin’ In Love,” a track by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, which the company owns.
“Best” was released as part of a Drake mixtape and then his 2009 EP “So Far Gone” via Cash Money/Universal, which were also named in the lawsuit. Compare the two tracks below.
Meanwhile, more than two years after its release as a single, Kanye West’s “Stronger” is the center of a lawsuit from Vincent “Vince P.” Peters, a Chicago songwriter and producer. Peters alleges that he played and gave a copy of his version of “Stronger” to West’s manager John Monopoly in November 2006; seven months later, the hip-hop superstar released his “Stronger,” a track that ultimately hit No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Peters’ version is currently unavailable online; he’s seeking undisclosed damages and a trial.
News From Our Partners
-
Joe Satran: Who's Winning The 'Game Of Thrones'?
Andrew Jenks: Where Guns Are as Common as Cell Phones
Renee Graziano: Look Before You Love
-
FX's 'The Strain' Taps 'Alias' Mia Maestro as Female Lead
FX's 'Tyrant': Ang Lee Drops out of Directing the Pilot, Cites 'Life of Pi' Exhaustion
NBC's 'Siberia': New Reality-Skewing Drama Ordered for Summer
-
Ranking the Blockbusters with Summer Movie Scorecard 2013
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Last Stand and Side Effects
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Star Trek Softer Than Expected at #1
-
'Star Trek Into Darkness' Takes Box-Office Crown With $84 Million
'Arrested Development' Gang: Where Are They Now?
'Star Trek Into Darkness': What's Next For J.J. Abrams And The Cast?
-
The Telefile - Veep: The Episode's Best Insults
The Telefile - Saturday Night Live: Straight Outta 8H
The Telefile - Game of Thrones: Our Weekly Westeros Scorecard
-
What to Watch Tonight: The Season Finales of Rectify and Hawaii Five-0 and the Series Premieres of The Goodwin Games and Motive
Mad Men "The Crash" Review: Uppers Give You Wings!
News Briefs: CBS Is Pulling Mike & Molly's Season Finale Due to a Tornado Storyline
-
Ultra Music Festival Dates Announced, Tickets Go on Sale May 21
Girls' Generation's Jessica Poses With Purses in Vogue Girl [Pics]
Austin Mahone vs. Jonas Brothers – Pop Clash
-
'Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters': Jeremy Renner Never Read the Script Before Signing On
'Angry Birds' Movie Flies Forward
Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique: First Look at the Actress in 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'
Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupPinky's Brain
June 29, 2010 at 6:19PM EST Reply to CommentYeah, it definitely sounds like Drake sampled that other song and then didn't pay for the rights. I don't understand why a large music production company wouldn't pay for the rights to a song that isn't widely popular. It can't be overly expensive and now you end up in all of this shit. On a side note, this is the first time I've heard Drake and he's been talked up so much recently that I'm surprised that he is a pretty terrible rapper. Listen to some Felt, CunninLynguists, Black Milk, and Diverse. They're so much better but don't get nearly as much acclaim.
JA what trash bin artist are you spewin' out? you deserve mental aids or something
June 29, 2010 at 8:32PM ESTMs. Lanipop are you on crack? Drake is one of the best rappers in the game, why don't listen to his new ablbum or even Comeback Season before you continue with your blind opinions
June 29, 2010 at 10:49PM ESTZenora just the opening few seconds of falling in love are sampled in Best...the rest of Best sounds completley different from Fallin...
July 7, 2010 at 5:03PM ESTJohn
June 29, 2010 at 7:40PM EST Reply to CommentIn Drake's defense, I highly doubt he was the one to sample it, since this was produced by Boi-1-da.
Billy Dakota
June 30, 2010 at 12:47PM EST Reply to CommentThis seems like a much more obvious sampling then The Verve and The Rolling Stones suit. If that precedent is followed here Drake will definitely be paying out.
kanye west is in the building!!!!
June 30, 2010 at 7:44PM EST Reply to Commentthis is stupid, stronger was released 2 years ago!!! there just suing now to get an extra buck!
Mekisha.hale2006@hotmail.com
July 1, 2010 at 10:57AM EST Reply to CommentThey like this