Kanye West and Donna Summer’s estate reach settlement over use of ‘I Feel Love’
The estate of Donna Summers and Kanye West have finally reached a settlement over West’s “illegal” use of her song ‘I Feel Love’ on the rapper’s most recent album, Vultures 1.
In February 2024, the singer’s husband filed a copyright lawsuit against Kanye West and his production partner, Ty Dolla Sign. The lawsuit claimed that the two of them didn’t have permission to sample the 1977 disco hit on their album and subsequently used the sample illegally.
Donna Summer’s estate refused permission for the rapper to use the sample when he originally asked. Keen to include the song on his track ‘Good (Don’t Die),’ the estate said they “wanted no association with West’s controversial history.” They are referring to West’s plethora of anti-Semitic comments in recent years.
It is then claimed that West and Ty went directly to Summer’s record label to get permission; however, Universal Music Enterprises turned them down for the same reason. Apparently, too keen to have the song included, the duo simply re-recorded parts of the song that were instantly recognisable and included them on Vultures 1. The estate of Donna Summers described this act as “shameless.”
Following the filing of the lawsuit, ‘Good (Don’t Die)’ was removed from all streaming services. In May, it was alleged that a settlement had been agreed between the two parties, and now, thanks to the release of new court documents, that much can be confirmed (via Pitchfork).
This wasn’t the only claim to stem from the Vultures 1 album. In December, West used a sample from the Backstreet Boys song ‘Everybody’. The track was never cleared and didn’t end up on the album.
Ozzy Osbourne also hit out at West, saying that he used an unauthorised sample of the Black Sabbath song ‘Iron Man’ on his track ‘Carnival’. Osbourne took to X to call West “an antisemite” who had “caused untold heartache to many.” The singer finally added, “I want no association with this man!”
The album was widely criticised, as people said it was some of West’s most uninspired work to date. That is probably best reflected in the fact that it has been out since February, and none of the songs have gone on to be considered major Kanye West hits. That hasn’t stopped the duo from continuing to make music, though, as Ty Dolla Sign revealed Vultures 2 was nearly finished and could be released soon.