Rapper Kanye West is already causing commotion with the release of his highly anticipated album, “Vultures.”
Not long after getting slammed online by rock music icon Ozzy Osbourne for sampling a live version of his band’s song “War Pigs” without permission, West is being called out again for using a song without approval.
The estate of late singer Donna Summer took to social media to accuse the rapper of copyright infringement for using her song “I Feel Love” in his album.
Kanye West Slammed By Donna Summer’s Estate For ‘Copyright Infringement’
“Love Lockdown” rapper Kanye West does not seem to care about due process, especially when it comes to sampling other people’s music.
Following the release of his 12th studio album, “Vultures,” West has been subject to major scrutiny for allegedly using song samples of other artists after requesting and being denied access.
In the latest development, the estate of late music legend Donna Summer has slammed the rapper for using the singer’s song after being told not to. They also noted in a statement that he used a version that was either AI-generated or a person impersonating the voice of Summer.
The statement read, “Kanye West… asked permission to use Donna Summer’s song ‘I Feel Love,’ he was denied… he changed the words, had someone re-sing it or used AI, but it’s ‘I Feel Love’… copyright infringement!!!”
In the message shared on their Instagram Stories, the estate tagged West, TY Dollar Sign, his collaborator, Warner Music, and Universal Music Group. They also tagged TV personality Sharon Osbourne, who recently slammed West for using her husband’s song in one of his tracks.
Ozzy Osbourne Slams Kanye West For Sampling His Band’s Music Without Permission
The rapper was recently called out by Ozzy, who also accused West of using his song “War Pig” without permission. Ozzy took to Twitter on Friday to blast West, branding him an anti-Semite, whom he wants nothing to do with.
He wrote, “@kanyewest ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A SECTION OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF ‘WAR PIG’ FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS & WAS REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY.”
Ozzy added: “HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM LISTENING PARTY LAST NIGHT. I WANT NO ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MAN!”
Shortly after posting the message, the rock singer deleted it for unknown reasons. West has since responded to Ozzy by sharing a photo of him and his wife, Sharon Osbourne, dressed up as the rapper and his wife, Bianca Censori, for Halloween last year.
In the photo, Ozzy, 75, could be seen donning the rapper’s signature all-black ensemble, with his face covered. At the same time, Sharon had on a body suit and held on to a purple cushion, reminiscent of one of Censori’s many controversial outfits.
West captioned the image, “He obviously has a celebrity handler who’s on his account.”
Sharon Osbourne Says Kanye West’ F—– With The Wrong Jew’
Sharon, not being one to hold back, eviscerated West in an interview, calling the rapper a “pig” and an “anti-Semite” for using her husband’s song without permission.
The TV personality, whose father, Don Arden, is Jewish, noted that while West did ask for permission, her husband refused the rapper.
Sharon, whose father, Don Arden, is Jewish, told TMZ that West “f—- with the wrong Jew,” claiming that he “represents hate” and is a “disrespectful anti-Semite,” so Ozzy had a “special f—– occasion to say no.” She added that West “is a pig.”
Kanye West Accused Of ‘Stealing People’s Craft’
Over on social media, netizens have been just as annoyed at West for allegedly sampling songs without permission. The “All of The Lights” rapper has been accused of being disrespectful to the artists whose songs he has used on his album.
One person on X said, “Stealing people’s craft is completely disrespectful and weird, btw.” Another asked, “Isn’t this illegal? Kanye needs to be called out wtf?!?!
A third person commented, “Oh he shouldn’t have disrespected theeee donna summer’s legacy like that.”
Amid the criticisms, others argued that the rapper found a “loophole” by changing the words of the song.
One person wrote, “Guys if the words were changed, making it completely different, that means he didnt use her song anymore, having someone else sing adds to the fact he didnt use her song or voice. Clearly its inspired by her song im just saying he didnt illegally use her song or voice so legally he did nothing wrong and morally we (artists) are inspired by other artists and that also isnt wrong.”
They added, “I think because it’s Kanye, it looks bad automatically. She said no, he did what the law says, which was not to use her words or voice without permission.”