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| Ye, left, and Ty Dolla $ign are shown in a composite of separate archival photographs. The rappers face a federal copyright lawsuit alleging unauthorized use of a recording on their song "Vultures." (Composite by Célestin Denis via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0) |
Producers Jaraed "Jae Deal" Deal and Marlon "Marlonwiththeglasses" Barrow filed the complaint Friday in Los Angeles, alleging the rappers incorporated a recording the producers created in 2018 into multiple versions of "Vultures" without securing a license or properly compensating them.
The lawsuit names Ye, formerly known as Kanye West; Ty Dolla $ign, whose legal name is Tyrone Griffin Jr.; Yeezy Record Label LLC; Yeezy LLC; and distributor Create Music Group.
According to the 24-page filing, Deal and Barrow jointly created a track called "Joint 2," including separate instrumental recordings featuring piano, brass, strings, flutes and Rhodes keyboard.
Barrow had known Ty Dolla $ign for years, the lawsuit says.
During a telephone conversation, Ty allegedly heard the recording playing in the background and expressed interest in using it. He later visited Barrow's studio and requested a copy.
Barrow sent him an MP3 by text message, the producers say, with the understanding that higher-quality audio files and individual instrumental tracks would be delivered only after a written agreement was negotiated.
That agreement never materialized.
The producers allege that Ty Dolla $ign subsequently shared the MP3 with Ye and that portions of the recording appeared in multiple commercially released versions of "Vultures" beginning in November 2023.
Barrow received a production credit but no compensation, according to the lawsuit. Deal alleges he received neither credit nor payment.
The producers say they objected shortly after learning the song had been released and sought to have it removed from streaming platforms.
They also describe a January 2024 discussion with producer 88-Keys, identified in the complaint as Yeezy's head of music, during which they asserted their ownership of the underlying recording.
Nevertheless, the disputed material allegedly continued appearing in subsequent versions of "Vultures," including releases connected to the duo's chart-topping "Vultures 1" album.
The filing also describes an October 2024 attempt to resolve the dispute.
According to the producers, a Yeezy attorney offered to buy out their rights. Deal rejected the proposal, arguing that it failed to reflect the music's value or address the disputed credits.
The complaint does not reveal the amount offered.
The plaintiffs are pursuing copyright infringement, vicarious infringement and contributory infringement claims. They seek monetary damages, legal costs and an injunction that could restrict further distribution of recordings containing their work.
They also want a share of profits they argue are connected to the allegedly unauthorized use.
In an unusually expansive argument, the complaint attempts to connect the recording to revenues from "Vultures"-branded merchandise and ticketed listening events.
It alleges that merchandise sales exceeded $100 million, although that figure has not been independently substantiated, and the lawsuit has not established how much of any such revenue would be attributable to the disputed recording.
The producers are seeking actual damages and related profits, or alternatively statutory damages under copyright law. No damages have been awarded.
The case adds to the legal disputes surrounding music on Ye and Ty Dolla $ign's "Vultures" projects, which have previously drawn complaints from other artists and rights holders over allegedly unauthorized samples.
The allegations in the new lawsuit have not been proven. No response from the defendants to this specific complaint was established at publication.
Barrow sent him an MP3 by text message, the producers say, with the understanding that higher-quality audio files and individual instrumental tracks would be delivered only after a written agreement was negotiated.
That agreement never materialized.
The producers allege that Ty Dolla $ign subsequently shared the MP3 with Ye and that portions of the recording appeared in multiple commercially released versions of "Vultures" beginning in November 2023.
Barrow received a production credit but no compensation, according to the lawsuit. Deal alleges he received neither credit nor payment.
The producers say they objected shortly after learning the song had been released and sought to have it removed from streaming platforms.
They also describe a January 2024 discussion with producer 88-Keys, identified in the complaint as Yeezy's head of music, during which they asserted their ownership of the underlying recording.
Nevertheless, the disputed material allegedly continued appearing in subsequent versions of "Vultures," including releases connected to the duo's chart-topping "Vultures 1" album.
The filing also describes an October 2024 attempt to resolve the dispute.
According to the producers, a Yeezy attorney offered to buy out their rights. Deal rejected the proposal, arguing that it failed to reflect the music's value or address the disputed credits.
The complaint does not reveal the amount offered.
The plaintiffs are pursuing copyright infringement, vicarious infringement and contributory infringement claims. They seek monetary damages, legal costs and an injunction that could restrict further distribution of recordings containing their work.
They also want a share of profits they argue are connected to the allegedly unauthorized use.
In an unusually expansive argument, the complaint attempts to connect the recording to revenues from "Vultures"-branded merchandise and ticketed listening events.
It alleges that merchandise sales exceeded $100 million, although that figure has not been independently substantiated, and the lawsuit has not established how much of any such revenue would be attributable to the disputed recording.
The producers are seeking actual damages and related profits, or alternatively statutory damages under copyright law. No damages have been awarded.
The case adds to the legal disputes surrounding music on Ye and Ty Dolla $ign's "Vultures" projects, which have previously drawn complaints from other artists and rights holders over allegedly unauthorized samples.
The allegations in the new lawsuit have not been proven. No response from the defendants to this specific complaint was established at publication.
