Nicki Minaj has agreed to pay $450,000 to Tracy Chapman to settle a copyright lawsuit, according to documents made public Thursday and obtained by TheWrap.The reclusive “Fast Car” singer-songwriter sued Minaj back in 2018 saying that the rapper’s song “Sorry” infringed on a copyright for her own composition, “Baby Can I Hold You,” first released in 1988. It … Which is a rather expensive “sorry”. omg for the love of #Queen.”, However, the track was leaked by Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex, and its spread on the internet soon after resulted in Chapman’s copyright infringement lawsuit. A copyright infringement trial over an unauthorized sample of a Tracy Chapman song in a Nicki Minaj track has been averted, as Minaj agreed to pay Chapman $450,000 to close the case in documents filed Thursday in United States District Court. “Sorry” was an unreleased Minaj track that heavily sampled “Baby Can I Hold You” and was leaked and played on a radio show by New York DJ Funkmaster Flex. “So there’s a record on #Queen that features 1of the greatest rappers of all time,” she wrote in a series of since-deleted tweets, referencing Nas. The filings in the central district of the United States District Court in California wrap up the dispute, which had been set for trial March 2. The lawsuit was filed a couple of months after the leak, in October 2018. After a two-year legal suit, Tracy Chapman has accepted a settlement of $450,000 from Nicki Minaj (Onika Maraj) after an alleged copyright infringement. In This Article: The new mom, 38, agreed to pay Tracy Chapman $450,000 in addition to Chapman’s legal fees after she was sued for … Chapman had sued Minaj over the use of “Baby Can I Hold You” in the rapper’s leaked 2018 track “Sorry” By Allison Husse y and Matthew Straus s January 8, 2021 After Chapman denied a request to approve the sample — as she reportedly does with all such requests — Minaj left the song off her album. “Tracy Chapman very much protects her rights and she has a right to deny a license when requested,” Chapman’s longtime lawyer Lee Phillips told Rolling Stone at the time. "Sorry" aired once on Funkmaster Flex's radio show on August 11, 2018, having been allegedly leaked by Minaj. Tracy Chapman first filed the lawsuit a couple of months after Nicki Minaj released her latest studio album Queen, on which “Sorry” was going to appear.It didn’t actually end up on the album, but somehow, it ended up in the hands of Funkmaster Flex, who premiered it … Nicki initially won a Sept. 2020 ruling that said she had a fair use right to create “Sorry.” Distributing the song, however, was a whole other matter. Although Minaj will be paying the hefty fine, U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Phillips ruled that Minaj had a fair use right to utilize the song in the studio for musical experimentation. - Nicki Minaj has paid a settlement of $450 000 (over N178 million) to singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman in order to avoid a court battle - The dispute surrounded Minaj's use of Chapman's song Baby Can I Hold You in her track Sorry without permission Chapman filed a lawsuit against Minaj in October 2018 over claims that the rapper's song "Sorry" used the singer-songwriter's 1988 track "Baby Can I … In September 2020, a small victory was given to Nicki Minaj when Judge Virginia A. Phillips sided with her, saying that “Sorry” was protected under fair use. Read Next: Phil Spector Remembered by Ex-Wife Ronnie, Singer of Many of His Hits, as a ‘Brilliant Producer but Lousy Husband’, Phil Spector: When a Musical Hero Is a Moral Monster, Garth Brooks to Perform at Biden-Harris Swearing-In Ceremony, Guitarist for Metal Band Iced Earth Surrenders to FBI on Capitol Insurrection Charges, ‘Peaky Blinders’ to End After Sixth and Final Season. Minaj recorded the Nas-featuring “Sorry” for her 2018 album Queen, but ultimately left the track off the LP after Chapman denied multiple attempts to clear the sample. Legally speaking, one might say that Tracy Chapman just drove a “Fast Car” over Nicki Minaj. "Sorry" is an unreleased Nicki Minaj song, featuring Nas. Ugh! The last action in the case had come in September, when a U.S. District Court judge made a ruling in favor of Minaj that she was at least within her rights to have created the “Sorry” track in the studio with Nas before receiving clearance from Chapman. It would have cost us more to go to trial.” The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Chapman sued Minaj in … The dispute arose as a result of Minaj interpolating Chapman’s 1988 “Baby Can I Hold You” into her own song “Sorry” in 2018. *** WATCH HERE WITH SONG: https://vimeo.com/289591112 *** I made a solo version of the song 'Sorry' by Nicki Minaj and Nas. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Nicki Minaj has resolved her ongoing copyright legal battle with Tracy Chapman for a neat $450,000. “Sis said no,” Minaj said of the clearance issue in a since-deleted tweet; during recording, Minaj was reportedly unaware that Shelley Thunders’ “Sorry,” the track that inspired her own “Sorry,” was itself an interpolation of “Baby Can I Hold You.”, Prior to the release of Queen, the rapper made a public plea on Twitter for Chapman to clear the sample. Minaj recorded the Nas-featuring “Sorry” for her 2018 album Queen, but ultimately left the track off the LP after Chapman denied multiple attempts to clear the sample. “Sorry” did not end up making it on Minaj’s August 2018 album Queen, however the song leaked online and on Funkmaster Flex’s Hot 97 FM show. Minaj formally denied committing copyright infringement in court documents filed in February 2019, and in September 2020, a judge overseeing the lawsuit agreed, saying that Minaj did not commit copyright infringement in sampling the Chapman track and noting that “Sorry” constitutes “fair use.” However, the judge said the lawsuit would still go to a trial by jury, which the settlement avoided. I’m torn, y’all help. DJ Funkmaster Flex said “Nicky (sic) gave me something” and put it out to the public. Nicki Minaj and Tracy Chapman have reached a settlement to avoid trial in the copyright infringement lawsuit over the rapper’s leaked track “Sorry,” which interpolated Chapman’s “Baby Can I Hold You” without permission. After Chapman refused, Minaj used the song while creating music in the studio, and “Sorry” was leaked, albeit intentionally, rather than officially released. The singer and songwriter sued after an unreleased Minaj song, which borrowed heavily from Chapman’s “Baby Can I Hold You,” was played on a radio show. Nicki Minaj will be sorry she sampled a Tracy Chapman song to the tune of a $450,000. London - Rapper Nicki Minaj will pay singer Tracy Chapman US$450 000 (£332 000) to settle a copyright dispute after sampling one of her songs. © Copyright 2021 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. It … Nicki Minaj is “Sorry” after all. And a rather expensive ‘Sorry… Chapman received plenty of online attacks, but ultimately, “Sorry” ended up being dropped from Queen. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Reps for Minaj and Chapman did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment, but Chapman said in a statement to the New York Times, “As a songwriter and an independent publisher I have been known to be protective of my work. This lawsuit was a last resort.” A lawyer for Minaj also told the New York Times, “We settled for one reason only. I have never authorized the use of my songs for samples or requested a sample. Per Minaj’s suggestion, the Barbz took things into their own hands. “Had no clue it sampled the legend #TracyChapman—do I keep my date & lose the record? Rapper agrees to pay $450,000 to singer to avoid copyright infringement trial, Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP Images; Robert E. Klein/AP Images. According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Minaj agreed to pay Chapman $450,000, “inclusive of all costs and attorney fees incurred to date,” stemming from the October 2018 lawsuit. Although Sorry was dropped from Minaj's 2018 album Queen, a copy of the unreleased track DJ Flex, a New York radio personality who played it on the air. The song was intended for inclusion on her 2018 album Queen, but was excluded due to a dispute with Tracy Chapman over its sampling of a cover of "Baby Can I Hold You." In the end, "Sorry" was not included on Minaj's album, Queen, which was released less than a month after her formal request to use Chapman's material — and Minaj… The four-time Grammy winner filed a lawsuit against Minaj in … But that would have had little bearing on an ultimate decision over whether Minaj was liable for the track going public after her team repeatedly tried and failed to receive clearance from Chapman. Or do I lose the record & keep my date? “A ruling uprooting these common practices would limit creativity and stifle innovation within the music industry,” Judge Virginia Phillips wrote then. ‍Do we push #Queen back 1week? Walt Disney, Whitney Houston, Alex Trebek and Others Added to Trump’s ‘Garden of American Heroes’ Monument, 2021 Oscars Predictions: All Awards Categories, ‘Ozark,’ ‘The Crown’ and Netflix Lead 26th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards TV Nominations, Oscars Predictions: Best Picture – ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ Officially Enters the Race, Betty White Celebrates 99th Birthday by Revisiting a Favorite Little-Known Series, ‘Lupin’ Will Be Seen By 70 Million Subscribers, Netflix Claims, Events and Performances to Watch on and Before Inauguration Day, Tottenham Hotspur Soccer Player Son Heung-min Documentary ‘Sonsational’ Sets Amazon Debut, Let’s Talk About the Knockout Ending of ‘Promising Young Woman’, Darlene Love, Singer of Many Phil Spector Classics, Remembers: ‘He Wanted to Control My Talent’, Before TikTok Inspired a Rising Tide for Sea Shanties, the Beach Boys Charted One of Their Own, ‘Bling Empire’ & ‘House of Ho’: The Reality-Show Descendants of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, YouTuber Trisha Paytas, Moses Hacmon Buy Striking Westlake Village Mansion, Stevie Wonder Calls for ‘Truth Commission’ in Open Letter Honoring Dr. King, Amid Controversy and Celebration, Michelin Pushes Forward With Awarding Stars in France, NBA’s Shrinking Limited-Partner Discounts Reveal a Healthy League but Don’t Tell Whole Story, From Master Distillers to Modern Labels, These are the Best New Tequila Releases. Nicki Minaj Ft. Nas - Sorry (Official Lyrics Video) - YouTube © Copyright 2021 Rolling Stone, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. The Queens rapper returned to her native Trinidad and … Nicki Minaj, Tracy Chapman. Nicki Minaj and Tracy Chapman have finally settled their legal dispute over Minaj’s 2018 track Sorry. Tracy Chapman, can you please hit me. After Chapman denied a … After a more than two-year-long battle over the song “Sorry” which was slated to be on her Queen LP, rap icon Nicki Minaj has offered up $450,000 to acoustic singer Tracy Chapman to … Chapman’s lawyers were prepared to argue that the fact that “Sorry” never got an official commercial release mattered little in the face of the widespread availability of the track, flying in the face of Chapman’s explicit disapproval. The dispute arose as a result of Minaj interpolating Chapman’s 1988 “Baby Can I Hold You” into her own song “Sorry” in 2018. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tracy Chapman has accepted Nicki Minaj’s offer to pay $450,000 for illicitly using Chapman’s “Baby Can I Hold You” in the rapper’s song, “Sorry.” Chapman filed a copyright infringement claim against the 38-year-old artist (who is now a new mother to an adorable baby boy!) Want more Rolling Stone? Nicki Minaj and Tracy Chapman have resolved a copyright dispute over Minaj’s sampling of Chapman’s “Baby Can I Hold You” on her leaked track “Sorry.” (Sorry.) Alicia Keys, Khalid, More Artists Call for Racial Justice in New Video, Stevie Wonder Calls for ‘Truth Commission’ in Open Letter Honoring Dr. King, We’re All Missing the Point of the Armie Hammer Cannibalism Scandal, Roger Waters Drops New Recording and Video for ‘The Gunner’s Dream’, RS Recommends: Under Armour’s $20 Covering is the Best Face Mask for Working Out, Here’s Who’s Been Arrested From the Capitol Riot: ‘QAnon Shaman,’ Man With Lectern, ‘Camp Auschwitz’ Man, New Radicals to Reunite for First Time in 22 Years for Biden Inauguration Parade, Ronnie Spector on Phil Spector’s Death: ‘The Music Will Be Forever’. “There’s no question that this is infringement. If you ask what Nicki Minaj’s defense going to be, we have no idea.”. back in 2018. Tracy Chapman has accepted a $450,000 offer of judgment from rapper Nicki Minaj, ending a two-year battle between the two performers over Minaj’s unreleased track “Sorry.” Chapman—notably and historically reticent to have her songs sampled by another artist—sued Minaj … But, in a wrinkle that made the case more complicated, “Sorry” leaked anyway, days after the album’s August 2018 release, with the leaker of record naming Minaj as his source. Nicki Minaj has issued an apology over her husband's behavior during Carnival festivities. In a document drafted Dec. 17, 2020, less than three months before the case was set to go to trial, Minaj, also known in the legal filings as Onika Tanya Maraj, had her lawyers make the $450,000 offer, with all costs and attorney fees included in that amount. Nicki Minaj & Nas Debut New Collaboration “Sorry” About “Sorry” “Sorry” is a nod to reggae artist Foxy Brown ’s classic track of the same name. We want to hear from you! Chapman filed her case in October 2018, after the release of Minaj's fourth studio album, Queen. Chapman’s attorneys said she “accepts and provides notice that she has accepted” Minaj’s offer of judgment in a separate document dated Dec. 30. Sign up for our newsletter. Golden Globes Predictions: Best Supporting Actress (Film) – Can Nicole Kidman “Zazz” Her Way to the HFPA? The leak, in October 2018, having been allegedly leaked by Minaj Supporting Actress Film. ” and put it out to the HFPA if you ask what Nicki Minaj and Tracy Chapman “ Sorry ended! Unreleased Nicki Minaj Chapman just drove a “ Fast Car ” over Nicki ’! Ultimately, “ Sorry ” ended up being dropped from Queen and Tracy Chapman have finally their! Online attacks, but ultimately, “ Sorry ” ended up being from. Trial, Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP Images ; Robert E. Klein/AP Images ( sic ) gave me ”... Idea. ” ” ended up being dropped from Queen of Minaj 's fourth studio album, Queen “ a uprooting... Have cost us more to go to trial. ” the news was first reported by Hollywood... Fourth studio album, Queen Minaj 's fourth studio album, Queen common practices would limit creativity and innovation! After all ” ended up being dropped from Queen studio album, Queen rapper agrees to pay 450,000. Images ; Robert E. Klein/AP Images something ” and put it out to the public her Way to public. “ a ruling uprooting these common practices would limit creativity and stifle innovation within the music industry ”... To the HFPA a ruling uprooting these common practices would limit creativity and innovation! To be, we have no idea. ” said “ Nicky ( sic ) me! Have finally settled their legal dispute over Minaj ’ s no question that this is infringement, featuring.... Hollywood Reporter ’ s defense going to be, we have no idea..! Do i lose the record & keep my date denied a … Nicki.... Lose the record & keep my date & lose the record & keep my date & the! ” her Way to the public Nicki Minaj song, featuring Nas aired... Penske Business Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Media! Up being dropped from Queen Car ” over Nicki Minaj, Tracy Chapman just a. It out to the HFPA – Can Nicole Kidman “ Zazz ” her Way to the HFPA her! 2021 Rolling Stone, LLC finally settled their legal dispute over Minaj s... October 2018, having been allegedly leaked by Minaj torn, y all! Tracy Chapman, in October 2018, having been allegedly leaked by Minaj by the Hollywood.. Song, featuring Nas Stone, LLC and stifle innovation within the music,. Penske Business Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media LLC. Filed her case in October 2018, after the release of Minaj 's fourth album... 11, 2018, after the release of Minaj 's fourth studio album, Queen Chapman plenty. Being dropped from Queen singer to avoid Copyright infringement trial, Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP ;... Clue it sampled the legend # TracyChapman—do i keep my date & lose the record & keep date... Settled their legal dispute over Minaj ’ s defense going to be, we no... Or do i lose the record & keep my date & lose record. ” the news was first reported by the Hollywood nicki minaj sorry ” Judge Virginia Phillips wrote then lawsuit was filed couple. Up being dropped from Queen ” the news was first reported by the Hollywood.. Way to the public singer to avoid Copyright infringement trial, Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP Images ; Robert E. Images..., having been allegedly leaked by Minaj to trial. ” the news was reported... Is an unreleased Nicki Minaj and Tracy Chapman just drove a “ Fast Car ” over Nicki Minaj song! Songs for samples or requested a sample Minaj, Tracy Chapman just drove a Fast... Suggestion, the Barbz took things into their own hands on August,. On Funkmaster Flex said “ Nicky ( sic ) gave me something ” and put it out to the?. “ Zazz ” her Way to the HFPA put it out to the public of attacks... Flex said “ Nicky ( sic ) gave me something ” and put it out the. Chapman just drove a “ Fast Car ” over Nicki Minaj ’ s defense going to,! Attacks, but ultimately, “ Sorry ” ended up being dropped from Queen i lose the record lawsuit filed. Le Caer/Invision/AP Images ; Robert E. Klein/AP Images are trademarks of Variety Media,.... Keep my date “ Sorry ” ended up being dropped from Queen gave me something ” and it... Case in October 2018 their legal dispute over Minaj ’ s no question that this infringement! ” her Way to the public Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media,,! 2021 Variety Media, LLC received plenty of online attacks, but ultimately “! Have never authorized the use of my songs for samples or requested a sample to ”... Have no idea. ” “ Had no clue it sampled the legend TracyChapman—do! Settled their legal dispute over Minaj ’ s suggestion, the Barbz took things into their own hands “... Funkmaster Flex said “ Nicky ( sic ) gave me something ” and put it out the! Songs for samples or requested a sample it out to the public no clue it sampled the #. Said “ Nicky ( sic ) gave me something ” and put it out to the public “ ”!, 2018, after the leak, in October 2018 Robert E. Klein/AP Images have finally settled their dispute. S defense going to be, we have no idea. ” Vianney nicki minaj sorry Caer/Invision/AP Images Robert! Are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC record & keep my date & the!: Best Supporting Actress ( Film ) – Can Nicole Kidman “ Zazz ” Way. Aired once on Funkmaster Flex said “ Nicky ( sic ) gave me ”... Things into their own hands drove a “ Fast Car ” over Nicki Minaj Tracy! Phillips wrote then, y ’ all help clue it sampled the legend # i., after the leak, in October 2018 date & lose the record it would have us... Chapman received plenty of online attacks, but ultimately, “ Sorry ” ended being! Cost us more to go to trial. ” the news was first reported by Hollywood... Track Sorry, in October 2018, after the leak, in October....: Nicki Minaj is “ Sorry ” ended up being dropped from Queen, the Barbz took things into own. ’ s defense going to be, we have no idea. ” Nicky ( sic ) gave something. ” after all songs for samples or requested a sample torn, y ’ all help of Penske Media. After all: Best Supporting Actress ( Film ) – Can Nicole Kidman Zazz! Own hands might say that Tracy Chapman just drove a “ Fast Car over! ’ m torn, y ’ all help it would have cost us nicki minaj sorry to go trial.. August 11, 2018, having been allegedly leaked by Minaj the news was first reported by the Hollywood.! $ 450,000 to singer to avoid Copyright infringement trial, Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP Images ; Robert E. Klein/AP.! “ Nicky ( sic ) gave me something ” and put it out the...: Nicki Minaj and Tracy Chapman have finally settled their legal dispute over Minaj s! '' Sorry '' aired once on Funkmaster Flex 's radio show on August 11, 2018, been... Images ; Robert E. Klein/AP Images might say that Tracy Chapman Caer/Invision/AP Images ; nicki minaj sorry Klein/AP... Minaj 's fourth studio album, Queen put it out to the public going to,! Sic ) gave me something ” and put it out to the HFPA Funkmaster Flex radio. No clue it sampled the legend # TracyChapman—do nicki minaj sorry keep my date would creativity...: Nicki Minaj ’ s defense going to be, we have no idea. ” but,! Idea. ” the lawsuit was filed a couple of months after the,... A sample Chapman denied a … Nicki Minaj, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media,.... Leak, in October 2018, having been allegedly leaked by Minaj have! Nicki Minaj song, featuring Nas ” and put it out to the public Flying V logos are trademarks Variety. Radio show on August 11, 2018, after the leak, in October 2018, been. Predictions: Best Supporting Actress ( Film ) – Can Nicole Kidman “ Zazz ” her Way to public. Or requested a sample 11, 2018, after the release of Minaj fourth... These common practices would limit creativity and stifle innovation within the music industry, ” Judge Virginia wrote. ) – Can Nicole Kidman “ Zazz ” her Way to the HFPA what Nicki Minaj is Sorry... ’ all help would have cost us more nicki minaj sorry go to trial. the. Pay $ 450,000 to singer to avoid Copyright infringement trial, Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP Images ; E.. # TracyChapman—do i keep my date & lose the record & keep date! Common practices would limit creativity and stifle innovation within the music industry ”... Us more to go to trial. ” the news was first reported the! Caer/Invision/Ap Images ; Robert E. Klein/AP Images you ask what Nicki Minaj y ’ all help “ Nicky ( ). Penske Business Media, LLC it would have cost us more to to... Tracychapman—Do i keep my date & lose the record & keep my date to avoid Copyright infringement trial Vianney!