Another day, another Kanye West controversy.
Less than 24 hours after he released his eighth studio album, Ye, the G.O.O.D. Music boss was accused of using an unauthorized sample in the project’s opening track, “I Thought About Killing You.”
The allegations were made via Twitter on Friday by Berlin-based record label PAN. As pointed out by Pitchfork, the label claims Kanye’s song illegally samples Kareem Lotfy’s “Fr3sh” record, which appeared on PAN’s Mono No Aware compilation album.
The label’s founder Bill Kouligas told the publication that Kanye did not receive proper authorization to include the sample, and that his company may pursue legal action.
“It’s sadly another case of an artist who capitalizes on culture without any original ideas and because culture trickles up, this means we are all basically working for him,” Kouligas told Pitchfork. “Everything leads to him, he’s the ultimate narcissist.”
“I Thought About Killing You” was co-produced and written by Benny Blanco and Kanye’s frequent collaborator Francis and the Lights. The latter act contacted to PAN via Twitter on Friday evening, insisting he was fully responsible for the sample.
“Yo I’m sorry I added that beat at the last minute and we’re reaching out now,” Francis tweeted. “Do you want to know anything else about it? Its not kanye or anyone elses doing, but mine, so please direct any aggression or criticism at me.”
Kanye’s team has yet to respond to the allegations.
You can compare “I Thought About Killing You” and “Fr3sh” below.
This isn’t the first time ‘Ye has faced this type of accusation. In 2011, soul singer Syl Johnson sued Kanye and Jay Z for using a sample of his “Different Strokes” record on Watch the Throne. Kanye has also faced lawsuits for samples used on “Gold Digger,” “New Slaves,” “Lost in the World,” “Who Will Survive in America?” and “Run This Town” with Jay and Rihanna.
