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Drake Sued Over Sample Listed as Being Properly Licensed

Drake, lawsuit

Realness, or Drake’s new-school conception of it, is central to his persona, but does that apply to liner notes? The Toronto rapper and singer may need to pay a pretty penny for “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2,” the expansive Jay Z collaboration from last year’s Nothing Was the Same. According to TMZ, a lawsuit claims Drake never got approval to use the track’s opening sample despite liner notes indicating he did get that permission. 

The lawsuit, filed by the estate of late jazz musician Jimmy Smith, concerns the use of Smith’s 1982 “Jimmy Smith Rap.” The complaint names Drake, label Cash Money, and others, and the estate reportedly wants more than $300,000. No word from the October’s Very Own camp just yet on the matter.

The case brings to mind a slightly different lawsuit, against Frank Ocean, who credited various other songwriters in the liner notes for “Super Rich Kids” but was hit with a claim by another relevant copyright holder. And while it can’t yet be said that every lawsuit is Drake v. Drake, the “Hold On, We’re Going Home” singer definitely is no stranger to legal paperwork. There was a Chicago touring dispute late last year, a whole mess over the woman’s voice on “Marvins Room,” and then who could forget Drake’s spat with Chris Brown?

In more recent Drake goings-on, watch him poke fun at himself with strangers’ help on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and catch him when he hosts the ESPYs on July 16.

“Jimmy Smith Rap”

//www.youtube.com/embed/pdbvOqeBkq8

“Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music”

//www.youtube.com/embed/lF7C8NFzAGQ