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Drake's Sample Unlocks Belfon's Decades-Old Royalties
4 Aug
Summary
- Denise Belfon will receive royalties after Drake sampled her hit song 'Work'.
- For 28 years, the producer of 'Work' refused to pay Belfon her royalties.
- Belfon, 57, is preparing to release her debut album, 'Come Back', independently.
Trinidadian soca artist Denise Belfon is finally achieving a long-awaited legal and financial breakthrough, securing royalties for her iconic 1998 hit "Work." For nearly three decades, Belfon, now 57, was denied her rightful payments from the song, which has been sampled and remixed countless times across various genres.
The turning point arrived earlier this year when global superstar Drake sampled "Work" for his track "BBW." This move, facilitated by Drake's legal team, compelled the song's producer, Pupa Nas-T, to finally agree to Belfon receiving her share of royalties moving forward. This agreement also includes Belfon's songwriter, Harkness Taitt.
Despite this progress, Belfon is still pursuing backpay for over 8,000 previously released recordings. Pupa Nas-T has reportedly refused to agree to any back payments, leading Belfon to pursue legal action to ensure both she and Taitt receive what they are owed.
Residing between New York City and Trinidad, Belfon is also preparing to release her debut album, titled "Come Back." She has independently funded and produced the album, which will feature both new material and career-defining hits, marking a significant new chapter in her storied career.
