Nicki’s first couple days of the new year have been a little rocky from the looks of things.
Nicki Minaj should probably be enjoying a new mother’s bliss, but from unnecessary drama caused by her very own fans, to accusations going public of she and her husband Kenneth Petty harassing his rape victim to recant her story, to lawsuits over music she may or may not have written, it’s been and interesting first few days of the year filled with headlines for Mrs. Petty. Now, it seems she can check at least one drama off her list.
Minaj and Tracy Chapman have been involved in a lengthy copyright dispute since 2018, one that is finally coming to an end with a nearly half-million-dollar settlement coming from Minaj’s pockets. Nicki’s track “Sorry” featured a sample from Chapman’s 1988 song “Baby Can I Hold You” which Chapman did not clear with Minaj. Minaj reportedly attempted to force Chapman’s hand by handing over to Funkmaster Flex who went ahead and leaked it via his radio show and website.
Shhhhhhh!!!! TONIGHT 7PM!!! NICKY GAVE ME SOMETHING!!! @nickiminaj ft @nas !!! (NOT ON HER ALBUM!) GONNA STOP THE CITY TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/rBsNqEx5gj
— Funk Flex !!!!! (@funkflex) August 11, 2018
Nicki has issued hypocritical statements in the past when it comes to the sample, as she first publicly asked Chapman to clear the sample on Twitter in July 2018. She asked fans to vote on whether she should keep the record and push back the album release for Chapman to clear the sample, or if she should just lose the record and keep the original album release date. Results were pretty mixed. Nicki later denied in February 2019 that “Sorry” infringed on any copyright of Chapman’s.
Since I may have asked it wrong. 🤭🦄 vote. You guys can only imagine how much this means to me. It’s such a perfect body of work 🎈love you. Long time.
— Mrs. Petty (@NICKIMINAJ) August 1, 2018
In September 2020, a small victory was given to Nicki Minaj when Judge Virginia A. Phillips sided with her, saying that “Sorry” was protected under fair use. It wasn’t until this past week when Chapman and her team finally decided to accept an offer from Nicki Minaj that allowed the legal proceedings to finally be put to rest. The sum of $450,000 to be paid by Nicki Minaj includes all of the additional costs and attorney fees.
Do you think Chapman got what she was owed or do you believe Minaj was innocent here (lol)?
