testified that he feels 'like a lot of people try to take advantage of' him as he took the stand in a copyright case in federal court on Wednesday.
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Kanye West Suits Up for LA Court Battle
Kanye West testified that he feels 'like a lot of people try to take advantage of' him as he took the stand in a copyright case in Los Angeles federal court on ...
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West, 48, is entangled in ongoing litigation over an early incarnation of his Grammy-winning single Hurricane from the 2021 album Donda.
Producers DJ Khalil (Khalil Abdul-Rahman), Sam Barsh, Dan Seeff and Josh Mease have claimed in legal filings reviewed by the Daily Mail that West used a piece of their material without their authorization ahead of time.
The producers, who sued West under the business Artist Revenue Advocates LLC., told the court that West used a piece of their track MSD PT2 in a version of Hurricane played at a listening event in July 2021 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The native, clad in a gray suit for the court appearance, said that he's historically been 'very generous' with musical artists he's worked with.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for West for further comment on the story.
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Kanye West testified that he feels 'like a lot of people try to take advantage of' him as he took the stand in a copyright case in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday
The Chicago native, clad in a gray suit for the court appearance, said that he's historically been 'very generous' with musical artists he's worked with
'As I sit in this courtroom today, I just think people are trying to make more than they otherwise would because it's me,' West told jurors, according to Billboard.
The producers told the court that West used a piece of their track MSD PT2 in a version of Hurricane played at a listening event on July 22, 2021 Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
West noted that as an artist who often works with other artists, he takes pride in 'giving people what they deserve'
Samples can be litigated, the judge ruled in court filings, but not musical interpolations, the court said.
The producers are seeking money from the cash West earned amid the Atlanta event, merchandising and an Apple Music deal he inked for $750,000 at the time.
West testified that the song Hurricane was irrelevant to the demand for tickets to listening party the plaintiffs are asking for a percentage of, Billboard reported.
'People came to hear whatever I was going to play that was new,' West said. 'Often people buy merch before they even hear the music.'
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