Travis Scott, SZA, and Future are facing legal action from gospel singer Victory Boyd who claims that her intellectual property was stolen in their 2023 hit "Telekinesis." The trio is now seeking to dismiss the lawsuit, asserting that they had permission from Ye cformerly Kanye Westc to use the material in question.
The dispute arose when Boyd filed a lawsuit earlier this year, alleging that "Telekinesis" was derived from an unreleased Ye song called "Ultrasounds," for which she provided the lyrics. Boyd contends that she did not authorize the use of her work by Scott, SZA, and Future. However, the hitmakers' legal team argues that since Ye was a co-writer of the demo, he had the authority to green-light its usage, rendering Boyd's claims baseless.
In a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, it was highlighted that the copyright registration submitted by Boyd contained inaccuracies. Specifically, it was mentioned that Boyd falsely identified herself as the sole author of the song, whereas Ye contributed significantly to its creation. Despite Boyd's attempt to rectify the registration by submitting a new one solely for the lyrics she authored, the hitmakers' attorneys argue that lyrics cannot be copyrighted independently when part of a musical composition.
Boyd's attorney, Keith White, refuted the motion to dismiss, labeling it a delay tactic and expressing confidence that their opposition papers will prompt the rejection of Travis Scott's motion shortly. As of now, representatives for Scott, SZA, Future, and Ye have not provided any comments on the matter.
The song "Telekinesis" had a successful run on the Billboard Hot 100, spending 11 weeks on the chart and peaking at No. 26 in 2023. The legal battle between Victory Boyd and the hitmakers continues to unfold, shedding light on the complexities of intellectual property disputes in the music industry.
In another corner of the music industry, rapper Nicki Minaj has been making headlines for her outspoken nature. Recently, she took to social media to call out Terrence "Punch" Henderson, the president of Top Dawg Entertainment, accusing him of bullying her. Nicki claimed to have evidence of the alleged bullying and expressed her grievances publicly.
The feud escalated when Nicki posted a photo of Punch and made further accusations against him in her caption. She detailed instances of bullying, lying, and other misconduct, vowing to expose his behavior. The rapper also criticized SZA, likening her voice to a "dead dog" and implying that she had been stung by a bee.
Nicki Minaj's confrontations extend beyond Punch and SZA, as she has also targeted Jay-Z and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez. In a series of social media posts, she accused them of negatively impacting the hip-hop industry. Nicki's unfiltered rants have not gone unnoticed, drawing attention to her ongoing disputes within the music community.
The clash between Nicki Minaj and industry figures underscores the power dynamics and conflicts that can arise in the music business. As artists navigate legal battles and personal disagreements, the landscape of the music industry continues to evolve, reflecting the complex relationships and challenges within the entertainment world.