Travis Scott took a big part of his 2023 collaboration with SZA and Future, “Telekinesis,” without permission — or at least, that’s what one songwriter is claiming.
Victory Boyd, a Roc Nation artist, filed suit against Scott, SZA, Future, and the other credited songwriters on the track, as well as watchmakers Audemars Piguet, in federal court in New York on Wednesday (January 8). She claims that “Telekinesis” uses aspects of her song “Like The Way It Sounds” without permission.
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Boyd claims that back in November 2019, she wrote “Like The Way It Sounds,” and then shared it with Kanye West. She then says that West, who is not named in the suit, played Boyd’s track for Scott, and that Scott, in turn, shared it with Future and SZA, and “Telekinesis” followed.
Scott’s song, the suit claims, uses aspects of “Like The Way It Sounds,” saying specifically that the hook of “Telekinesis” contains lyrics that are “directly copied” from Boyd’s track.
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Audemars Piguet figures in because, Boyd says, the company used Scott’s song in an ad even after they asked her permission and she said no.
In Boyd’s favor — something she points out in the suit — is that she is as of this writing listed as one of the song’s composers on Spotify — information she says in the suit came directly from the people she’s suing. She also claims that she was recently offered an eight percent stake in the song.
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HipHopDX has reached out to Roc Nation for comment, but they did not immediately respond.
Travis Scott may be beginning 2025 with some legal complications, but he has big plans for later in the year.
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His performance at this year’s Coachella will be one for the history books, according to the festival’s chief organizer.
Paul Tollett, president of the festival’s parent company Goldenvoice, has shared more insight into La Flame’s headlining set, hailing it as Coachella’s “most significant experience ever.”
Speaking to Palm Springs publication The Desert Sun, he said of Travis’ upcoming performance: “That’s going to be pretty interesting. He laid out what he wants to do.
“It’s a little too early to give any details, but I think it’s the most significant experience the festival has ever had. Anything that gives you a chance to walk around and see something that’s interesting, that’s what discovery is all about.”
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The Utopia rapper will headline the Saturday night slots of the two-weekend festival (April 12 and 19), delivering what Tollett described as “a separate immersive experience located near the Sonora Tent.”
