Suite 411 » Kanye West

Kanye West and Jay-Z sued over ‘The Joy’

allison — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:41:02 +0000

A federal lawsuit was filed Friday by a Chicago producer claiming his 1967 song “Different Strokes” was illegally sampled on “The Joy,” a song by rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z that is featured on their album, “Watch the Throne.”

Veteran soul singer Syl Johnson, whose real name is Sylvester Thompson, produced, sang, and recorded the 1967 song, “Different Strokes,” which has been sampled by other artists including Michael Jackson, Kid Rock, Tupac Shakur and rap group NWA, according to a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

The suit claims that Kanye West and Jay-Z did not obtain permission from Johnson’s Syl-Zel Music Company to use a composition excerpt in the “The Joy,” a song featured on their “Watch the Throne” album.

Johnson owns the copyrights of the song and claims that West initially attempted to obtain permission to use a “Different Strokes” sample in the release of his 2010 album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” but was unable to obtain permission in time for its release, the suit said.

The “Watch the Throne” album was released about August 2011 with a song entitled “The Joy,” which featured a sample of “Different Strokes” that was not authorized, the suit said.

The five-count suit claims copyright infringement, unfair competition, and fraud. It seeks a jury trial, permanently restraining the rappers from performing the song “The Joy” in concert or distributing the recording. The suit also requests an order to impound all recordings of the song, an accounting of the revenues and a judgment for the balance due Johnson. It also seeks punitive damages, attorney fees and court costs.

So does he have a case? Take a listen.

Suge Knight sues Kanye West over party shooting

allison — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:02:56 +0000

Isn’t this a switch. Suge Knight, founder of Death Row Records, is suing Kanye West for hosting a Miami Beach party that produced a “dangerous environment” in 2005. Knight was shot in the leg by an unknown gunman during the pre-MTV Video Awards party West hosted at the Shore Club. Knight– who is experiencing financial troubles– is seeking $1 million in damages from the rapper and the club, reports the Associated Press.

West and Knight sat down Friday in a New York office with their lawyers during a six-hour session to settle the dispute. But were unable to finalize the matter.

“I figured I could sit him down, man to man, and get this resolved,” Knight said after the closed-door session at a Fifth Avenue office. “I’m disappointed.”

Kanye West celebrates birthday with Lupe, Common and Chicago high school fans

allison — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 05:58:22 +0000

Kanye West celebrated his 33rd birthday Monday by performing for three Chicago Public High Schools. West along with fellow Chicago rappers Common and Lupe Fiasco visited students at Farragut Career Academy, John Marshall Metropolitan and Percy L. Julian high schools. As part of the Kanye West Foundation’s 3rd annual “Stay in School” event, West honored the students for improving their grades, behavior, and attendance, reported the Chicago Tribune.

Fiasco opened the show with “Superstar,” followed by Common performing “Universal Mind Control.” West then performed four songs including “Run This Town,” “Good Life,” “Touch the Sky,” and his new single “Power.”

West didn’t say much during the show but Common addressed the crowd.

“We want to congratulate you on the incredible job you’ve done in school,” said Common, later adding “Whatever you do, be the best at it.”

New Track: Kanye West feat. Dwele – ‘Power’

allison — Sat, 29 May 2010 06:05:36 +0000

Kanye is back with the uptempo track, “Power,” from his upcoming album, Good Ass Job. Soul singer Dwele joins him on the song that was produced by Symbolyc One and samples British rock band King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man.”

“Power’s” title comes from the song’s chorus in which Kanye says, “I guess every superhero needs his theme music/No one man should have all that power.”

West also hits back at Saturday Night Live for the show’s skit about the rapper’s incident at the MTV awards last September in which he interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech. “F— SNL and the whole cast,” he says.

Hear the new song after the jump…

Kanye West’s L.A. House for sale

allison — Mon, 10 May 2010 05:29:38 +0000

Kanye West is putting his 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom Hollywood Hills home on the market for nearly $4 million. The rapper has been recording his fifth studio album in Hawaii. More pics of his home after the jump.

Source

Kanye West prepares new album

allison — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 05:08:23 +0000

Kanye West is collaborating with rappers Q-Tip and RZA as he readies his new album tentatively titled, “Good Ass Job.” West is recording at his Diamond Head, Hawaii home and recording studio. The new release is slated for June, reports Billboard.

Video: Kanye West ‘Coldest Winter’

allison — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:06:19 +0000

Kanye West has released a video for “Coldest Winter,” which is on his 808s and Heartbreak CD. He does not appear in the video, which kind of reminds me of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Remember those creatures on horseback chasing the hobbit? So what do you think of Kanye’s newest video?

Kanye feeds the homeless

allison — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:32:24 +0000

According to Kanye West’s blog, the rapper helped feed the homeless during the holiday season. Here’s what Kanye posted along with this pic of himself:

The day after Christmas, Amber, my cousin Ricky, and I went to feed the homeless at the LA Mission. It was really humbling and emotional for us. I wanna thank Mari Ronquillo and the LA Mission for allowing me to participate.

Kanye apologizes on Jay Leno show

allison — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:00:44 +0000

Kanye West apologized for his outburst on the MTV Video Music Awards during his scheduled appearance last night on the premiere of “The Jay Leno Show.”

Later, West performed “Run this Town” with Rihanna and Jay-Z.

MTV Awards Wrap Up

allison — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:30:00 +0000

Last night at the MTV Music Video Awards, Janet Jackson performed a posthumous dance with her brother Michael to their hit single “Scream.”

MTV Shows

Kanye West later apologized for interrupting Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video and Pink took to the air to perform her hit “Sober.” Other highlights included a disturbing performance by Lady Gaga of her single “Papparazi” and Lil Mama deciding to join Jay-Z and Alicia Keys uninvited for their performance of the rapper’s song, “Empire State of Mind.”

Beyonce gave a rousing performance of “Single Ladies.”

Beyoncé - New Music - More Music Videos

Check out a quick wrap up of the night:

MTV Shows