Tracy Chapman Sues to Block Nicki Minaj Song

She accuses Minaj of copyright infringement
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 24, 2018 1:07 AM CDT
Updated Oct 24, 2018 3:03 AM CDT
Tracy Chapman Is Suing Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj attends the Oscar de la Renta show during Fashion Week on Tuesday Sept. 11, 2018 in New York.   (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Rapper Nicki Minaj is being sued for sampling a Tracy Chapman song without permission. Chapman filed a copyright infringement lawsuit Monday in a Los Angeles federal court. The Grammy-winning singer says Minaj's unreleased track, "Sorry," incorporates the lyrics and vocal melody from her 1988 single, "Baby Can I Hold You." The lawsuit states that the "Fast Car" singer repeatedly denied multiple requests to sample her song for Minaj's fourth album, Queen. "Sorry" was not included on Minaj's album but Chapman alleges the rapper gave it to a popular New York disc jockey, who played the song on the radio and posted it to his social media accounts in August, the AP reports. Chapman is suing for unspecified damages and wants to prevent Minaj from releasing "Sorry" commercially. (Minaj and Cardi B decided against filing police reports after a recent altercation.)

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