Tracy Chapman sues Nicki Minaj for copyright infringement

Chapman filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in LA federal court

Written by Monika Walker

Published

Updated

American-Trinidadian Rapper Nicki Minaj is being sued for sampling a Tracy Chapman song without permission. Chapman filed a copyright infringement lawsuit on Monday in a Los Angeles federal court.

The Grammy-winning singer says Minaj's unreleased track "Sorry" incorporates the lyrics and vocal melody from her 1988 single "Baby Can I Hold You."

The lawsuit states the "Fast Car" singer repeatedly denied multiple requests to sample her song for Minaj's fourth album "Queen."

Minaj's representatives did not respond to emails seeking comment.

"Sorry" was not included on Minaj's album but Chapman alleges the rapper gave it to a popular New York disc jockey who played the song on the radio and posted it to his social media accounts in August.

Chapman is suing for unspecified damages and wants to prevent Minaj from releasing "Sorry" commercially.

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Monika Walker is a senior journalist specializing in regional and international politics, offering in-depth analysis on governance, diplomacy, and key global developments. With a degree in International Journalism, she is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices through factual reporting. She also covers world news across every genre, providing readers with balanced and timely insights that connect the Caribbean to global conversations.