Kanye West Claims Artists Try to 'Take Advantage'

Kanye West, legally known as Ye, appeared on the witness stand in a Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday, testifying in a copyright infringement trial. The lawsuit, filed by Artist Revenue Advocates (ARA) on behalf of four composers, claims Ye owes $564,046 for the unlicensed use of a sample in his song 'Hurricane.'

During his testimony, Ye displayed frustration when questioned by the plaintiffs' lawyer, repeatedly stating, "I don't recall." However, he appeared more relaxed when his own attorney questioned him, discussing his musical inspirations and creative process. He asserted that he and his team followed standard procedures to clear the sample used in an early version of 'Hurricane' played at a 2021 listening event.

Ye expressed his belief that some individuals attempt to take advantage of him because of his public profile. ARA, a company formed to represent musicians who struggle to enforce their rights, is pursuing the case. The initial lawsuit also included claims related to the underlying composition of the sample, but a judge previously dismissed these, ruling that the musicians had signed away their composition royalty rights.

Ye's legal team argued that the musicians ultimately received songwriting credit on 'Hurricane,' with their share of composition royalties being substantial. One of the composers, however, testified that he had only received minor payments despite the song's success, contrasting with industry standards for compensation.