Nicki Minaj Ordered To Pay Tracy Chapman $450K For Copyright Infringement
Nicki Minaj has been ordered to pay folk singer Tracy Chapman $450,000 plus pay her legal fees after being sued for copyright infringement.
Per Page Six, Nikki Minaj asked Tracy Chapman for permission to sample her song, “Baby Can I Hold You.” Chapman rejected the request, but Nicki used it anyway for a piece that was supposed to be on her album, Queen.
The song was never released with the album, but Nicki leaked it to Funkmaster Flex. It was then circulated online.
The lawsuit was initially filed in 2018, and the two were set to go to trial later this year. But Chapman has agreed to the offer presented to her.
Here’s how Nicki sampled “Baby Can I Hold You” below.