Ye and Ty Dolla Sign may have been overlooked for a Grammy nod for Best Rap Album with their project Vultures 1, but a group of Memphis rappers claims the duo used their work without proper credit.
TMZ Hip Hop reports that Memphis rap veterans Vanda Watkins, aka Criminal Manne, Hayward Ivy, also known as DJ Squeeky, and the estate of late rapper Kilo G have filed copyright infringement claims against Kanye, Ty Dolla Sign, and the Yeezy label. They allege that Vultures 1 track “Fuk Sumn” features samples from their own track “Drank a Yak (Part 2)” without authorization or compensation. According to the plaintiffs, DJ Squeeky’s original posse cut opens with Criminal Manne’s line, “Smokin’ on a junt, with my n***as drinkin’ O.E.,” which they say appears in “Fuk Sumn.” They further assert that Kilo G’s voice is also sampled in Kanye’s track, with the line, “Stop off at the liquor store, get your yak, then we headed for the indo.”
The plaintiffs claim they initially sought to clear the sample through Alien Music services ahead of the March release of Vultures 1. However, as Kanye’s Yeezy label went through staffing changes, communication and negotiations broke down by June, leaving them without payment or resolution. Now, the Memphis artists are seeking damages, saying they feel their contributions have been sidelined.
As Kanye prepares to release his next solo album, the plaintiffs are pushing to ensure their voices—and rights—are respected. Neither Kanye’s nor Ty Dolla Sign’s teams have responded to requests for comment on the ongoing dispute.
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