An Ohio singer responsible for the 1971 song “Bound” has filed a lawsuit against Kanye West for sampling his original without permission.
The song in question, “Bound 2,” appears as the final track on West’s latest album, Yeezus, and was released as the album’s second single this past August. The song received a popular set of accompanying visuals featuring the rapper and his wife Kim Kardashian which was spoofed by comedians James Franco and Seth Rogen and separately on the adult animated sitcom South Park. “Bound 2” peaked at #12 on Billboard’s Top 100 and at #3 on the company’s list of Hot R&B/Hip Hop songs earlier this year.
As per a report from the New York Daily News, Ricky Spicer, the Ohio man whose voice, as a part of the group Ponderosa Twins Plus One, is sampled on “Bound 2,” has filed an official lawsuit against Kanye West and his label for the unauthorized sample. The original song, which can be streamed via Youtube below, was recorded when Spicer was twelve years old.
As per the Daily News’ article, “Spicer is demanding that West compensate him or cease and desist from using his voice. Besides West, the suit names recording labels Roc-A-Fella Records, Island Def-Jam Music, Rhino Entertainment and Universal Music Group as defendants.”
The Daily News’ article also cites the suit’s reference to the sample’s recognizability on Kanye West’s “Bound 2.” “Mr. Spicer’s voice is sampled exactly as he recorded it and his voice…is heard several times,” the suit, which was reportedly filed Monday (December 23) in a Manhattan Supreme Court, says. The vocal portion in question—in which Spicer sings “fallin’ in love” throughout the song’s refrain—appears repeatedly in West’s song. Some sources, including TVGuide.com, have speculated that the Chicago producer was unaware of the sample’s illegal use on his latest hit.
West, whose early legacy was built on his prominent sampling of Soul music like Spicer’s “Bound,” has faced legal backlash in the form of copyright infringement suits for samples on his previous material as well. Late last year, TufAmerica, a separate record label, reportedly brought a suit against the rapper for an uncleared sample pulled from New Orleans singer Eddie Bo’s 1969 song “Hook and Sling, Part 1,” which appeared on two songs from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
Related: Kanye West Sued Over Illegal Sample On “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”
total ripoff, not a genius song
Bet you can’t make better
Neither could Kanye
He’s dropped 5 platinum solo albums, what have you done?
“Bet you can’t make better”, “He’s dropped 5 platinum solo albums”
Sure he can’t, and sure he did, but all of that still don’t take away the fact that the song’s garbage.
Hahaha how you not gonna clear a sample then make a vid for it and everything….theres no way you cant get caught…but i guess kanye paid he doesnt care
wow never heard the original song. Awesome. So everyone thought kanye went back to his roots on that song but it was actually totally the sample.
Can’t these people just enjoy that their expression of art has been revived and re-enjoyed decades later? respect the amount of crate digging it must of took to find that track to sample it…
guaranteed there is no real anger here over the sample being used, just greed for the money they can get for kicking off now that they’ve caught him out for using it. Why’d they have to make it legal and get the law involved?
Do retired musicians just sit around listening to what’s new these days just to dig for people ripping off their work so they can sue them and get money and buy more albums… ?
Kanye is the best producer and rapper of this generation there’s no debate
You’re kidding right?
No I am not kidding, right?
Original post is spot on
Sampling is what makes the hip hop we all love. I swear these copyright laws were made to shut down rap and its expression. this is not stealing. this is homage/tribute and Bound 2 brought another generation to this song who might not have heard it. Both songs are beautiful respect to these ARTISTS
What’s the thing (on Bound 2) that’s beautiful in any way?!
It’s not about the industry destroying hip-hop, it’s about taking someone’s work and profiting off of it by making subtle changes to the work. All genres sample other records, however they are paying the clearance.
Xtra P did a better job with Bowne
cant believe the heatmakerz never used this sample when they were hittin diplomats up with all them speeded up sample tracks in the early 2000’s
Yeah Ye gon have to give up some paper of that one. Clear as day. Open and shut case.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCGNTO0qaVc
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/uuuYh1qsRF4/default.jpg
demon nites devil nites out the sicker at some of you. went in 666 demon house went in bath room looked in bath room merrior for sec notice rabbit mask devils in bac running around crazy throwing son of a mothers to the hell nites. than start creeping around. kkk witch woods at ya.kkk mask rideing on a horse with a wolf mask on at some of you .its crazy mask leather face demon devils
hey u mother fucker
666
How can they say he’s rippin the original artist off when he even name his song as part 2 of the original song he sampled? Obviously paying homage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqEjD12Gm4M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txtUqVKkHrI
his head large as fuck
Seriously Kanye? With all the money and all that major label backing you dont clear the fucking sample?
this is just straight laziness, if he gave the dude some compen$ation from the get go there woulda been no problem
Seems to be a label issue. Once you get to Kanye’s level he isn’t the one responsible for clearing samples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYA18okbqqo
1 two.hey jasonn ha ha u gonna kill the rappers and some acters an others too. us two se ya ha ha 1 two
Learn how to speak some English, fucking Dick swallowing faggot.
LMAO this 2013 and niggaz still samplin
“sqmplin” is used to create some of the best music out there (not necessarily this track) through every genre. Smh what an idiot.
wow you my friend are born in the 90’s or you’re retarded
hiphop started from samples.. only thing is you gotta have permission from the artist first
lol why the fuck wouldn’t he? It’s kanye
cus now its gonna cost him alot more
Kayne West in one sentance: Good producer, shitty rapper, married to gutta slut and failed entrepreneur.
Bet your wife is more of a slut
Genius = Kanye
Thanks for the daily Kanye Kardashian update.
to tell u the truth, charlie wilson and the female vocalist made this track.. that ponderosa twins sample is kind of annoying
hiphopdx got to many trolls and catfishes