Jazz Musician Files Suit Against Chance The Rapper For Copyright Infringement
Chance the Rapper is Being Sued Over a Sample He Used on '10 Day'
A New York-based jazz musician named Abdul Wali Muhammad filed a filed a federal lawsuit against Chance the Rapper on Tuesday.
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The lawsuit is is about a early Chance song called "Windows." The song was featured on Chance the Rapper's debut mixtape 10 Day. Wali Muhammad (formerly Eric P. Saunders) is suing Chance for copyright infringement. According to the jazz musician, "Windows" uses portions of a Lonnie Liston Smith song called "Bridge Through Time." It's a song Muhammad filed a separate copyright claim for back in 1979.
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In the eight page complaint filed, Muhammad says he never gave Chance permission to use the sample. He claims that he found out about "Windows" in April and then reached out to Chance's team. Talks ended up going nowhere.
In the complaint he requested a court order from a judge to stop Chance from copying, distributing, performing, selling or offering to sell Chances song Windows.'
It's an interesting case because Chance has never tried to sell 10 Day officially. Earlier this year someone put the project on Apple Music and iTunes. Chance quickly had the project taken down.
\u201c10day was fraudulently put on iTunes and applemusic. It'll be down shortly. 10day and acid rap will always be inclusive, elusive and free\u201d— Chance The Rapper (@Chance The Rapper) 1483845607
SOURCE: Billboard
