Nicki Minaj settles Tracy Chapman for Copyright suit

Nicki Minaj and Tracy Chapman

Two years ago,Singer-songwriter ,Tracy Chapman claimed in a lawsuit that Rapper,Nicki Minaj used her work without her permission.

The song titled “Sorry” which she collaborated with Nas,had both the lyrics and vocal melody from “Baby Can I Hold You,” a song Chapman released in 1998.

Though Minaj’s song was never officially released, but it had been played on the radio by celebrity disc jockey Funkmaster Flex on New York radio station Hot 97.

California’s federal Central District Court on Thursday and Minaj offered a $450,000 settlement to Chapman.

In a statement on Friday,Tracy said she was pleased with the settlement ,adding that
“affirms that artists’ rights are protected by law and should be respected by other artists.”

“As a songwriter and an independent publisher I have been known to be protective of my work,” Chapman stated. “I have never authorized the use of my songs for samples or requested a sample. This lawsuit was a last resort.”

Nicki’s attorney Peter W. Ross, said that his client “settled for one reason only. It would have cost us more to go to trial.”

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