Donna Summer Estate’s Big Win Against Kanye West

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

February 15th 3:35 PM

The Donna Summer estate scored a big win against Kanye West this week related to Vultures 1, his new album with Ty Dolla $ign.

The track “Good (Don’t Die)” off of Vultures 1 featured an unauthorized sample of Summer’s song “I Feel Love.” Per Billboard, the backlash to the unauthorized sample led to the song being removed from Spotify four days after it hit the streaming service. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone reports the entire Vultures 1 album has since been removed from Apple Music. The removal is due to ongoing issues with the album’s distributor.

As previously reported, Summer’s estate shared a statement via an Instagram Story saying West and $ign sampled “I Feel Love” without permission. The statement read, “Kanye West… asked permission to use Donna Summer’s song I Feel Love, he was denied… he changed the words, had someone re sing it or used AI but it’s I Feel Love… copyright infringement!!!”

Summer was not the only artist to cry foul about being sampled without permission by West and $ign. Ozzy Osbourne issued a statement about an unauthorized sample. West and $ign sampled a live recording of Ozzy performing the Black Sabbath classic “Iron Man.” The sample was featured on the track “Carnival.” The live recording is from Osbourne’s performance of the song at the 1983 US Festival.

On Feb. 9, The Prince of Darkness took to social media and slammed the unauthorized use of the recording and West, himself. Ozzy wrote, “Kanye West asked permission to sample a section of a 1983 live performance of ‘Iron Man’ from the US Festival without vocals and was refused permission because he is an antisemite and has caused untold heartache to many.”

He continued, “He went ahead and used the sample anyway at his album listening party last night. I want no association with this man!”

By Feb. 13, West had actually removed the unauthorized sample from “Carnival.”

10 Women Artists Who Have Yet to be Inducted into the Rock Hall

• Cyndi Lauper

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  As we previously stated, Cyndi Lauper once asked "Where the women at?!" when it came to representation in the Rock Hall Museum. Well, where Cyndi at in the Rock Hall itself? She was finally nominated for the first time in 2023, but Lauper has been ridiculously influential to artists that have followed thanks to many hits like "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "Time After Time," "She Bop," "Money Changes Everything," "True Colors" and "I Drove All Night." She's also continued to be a force live to this day. Oh, and she's also managed to dominate the Broadway world by writing the music and lyrics for the musical adaptation of 'Kinky Boots.'

• The Runaways

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  When it comes to influential women in hard rock, The Runaways should always be part of the conversation. A launching pad for Joan Jett and Lita Ford, the band's four studio albums feature some quintessential '70s hard rock jams including "School Days," "I Love Playing with Fire" and, of course, "Cherry Bomb." Their 1977 live album 'Live in Japan' is incredibly underrated, too. For added measure, a Runaways induction would make Jett a double-inductee.

• Mary J. Blige

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  The Queen of Hip Hop Soul became eligible for induction in 2018, but Blige has only been nominated once in 2021, despite providing an important female voice in a very male-dominated genre. She's sold 80 million albums worldwide thanks to the strength of her incredible voice and her ability to uniquely blend R&B and hip hop unlike any artist before or after her on tracks like "Real Love," "Not Gon' Cry," "Family Affair" and "Be Without You." While we're on the topic of genre-blending, Blige is the only artist in history to have won Grammys in R&B, hip hop, pop and gospel categories. If that's not worth considering for a Rock Hall nomination, what is?
• Melissa Etheridge

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  Not enough is really said about how Melissa Etheridge came out as a lesbian in January 1993 only to nine months later release 'Yes I Am,' the album that would be her major breakthrough into the mainstream featuring hits like "I'm the Only One" and "Come to My Window." Looking back, that's a mind-blowing feat during a time when coming out wasn't always welcome as it is today. Add to the fact that she's consistently put out quality albums for nearly 30 years, has an incredible, easily recognizable voice and writes music that blurs the lines of rock, pop and folk, it's almost shocking she's never even been nominated.

• Cher

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  Okay, now for those about to cry foul on this pick, if Madonna is in the Rock Hall, Cher definitely deserves to be in. With a career that spans six decades, Cher has defied the odds, remains one of the most iconic pop stars of all time, and she's managed to do it with a style and attitude all her own. She's won just about every award imaginable, from Grammys to Oscars to Kennedy Center Honors. Fun fact: She also the only artist ever to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in six consecutive decades. Those number ones include "I Got You Babe," "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," "Half-Breed," "Dark Lady," "After All," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Believe," "Strong Enough," "Song for the Lonely," "A Different Kind of Love Song," "When the Money's Gone"/"Love One Another," "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" and "Woman's World."

• Salt-N-Pepa

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  Let's talk about how much Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella deserve some recognition from the Rock Hall. With the Rock Hall expanding to recognize the hip hop world, they need look no further than this groundbreaking group of MCs that were not afraid to touch controversial topics in their lyrics and helped pave the way for countless women in hip hop. Decades later, many of their singles like "Push it," "Shoop," "Let's Talk About Sex," "Whatta Man" and "None of Your Business" still sound ridiculously fresh. 
• Diana Ross (Solo work)

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  Ms. Ross has been eligible to be inducted into the Rock Hall for her solo work since 1996. However, she hasn't received one nomination. She was inducted into the Rock Hall in 1988 as a member of The Supremes, but her solo career deserves major props, too!

• Bjork

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  Bjork has yet to receive a nomination for the Rock Hall, but she's been eligible since 2002. With Kate Bush's inclusion in the 2023 induction class, we're hopeful more women that are a little left of center will find a place in the Rock Hall. Plus, can you imagine the performance Bjork would give at her induction?!

• Siouxsie & the Banshees

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  Speaking of artists a little left of center, Siouxsie & the Banshees are certainly worthy of induction based on influence alone. Unfortunately, like many of the artists on this list, the band has yet to even be nominated, despite being eligible since 2003.
• Alanis Morissette

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  Some critics may only think of 'Jagged Little Pill' when it comes to Alanis, but her catalog is vastly underrated. Also, so what if 'Jagged...' was the album that got Alanis inducted?! Sex Pistols are in the Rock Hall, and they only released one album ever!

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Category:

• 96.3 KKLZ
• Music

Tags:

Donna Summer,Kanye West