Kanye West is reportedly being sued over a sample on ‘Ultralight Beam’ from ‘The Life of Pablo’

The family of a girl who appeared on the track are reportedly taking legal action against West

Kanye West is reportedly being sued over a sample he used on ‘Ultralight Beam’, the opening track from his 2016 album, ‘The Life of Pablo’.

According to TMZ, West is being sued by the adoptive parents of Natalie Green, the child whose sampled voice appears on ‘Ultralight Beam’ at the start of the track.

The child’s adoptive parents, Andrew and Shirley Green, claim in court documents that West sought approval to use the sample through Natalie’s biological parents and not themselves.

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A clip of “Natalie’s prayer” originally went viral early in 2016 and was later sampled by West on the track.

According to court documents, the Green family claim that West cleared the use of the sample through Natalie’s biological mother, Alice Johnson, who was not authorised to give permission for the sample to be used.

They also allege that Johnson did not receive a written licence or payment for the use of Natalie’s voice on the track. They are now seeking profits from ‘Ultralight Beam’ together with additional damages. West has yet to comment publicly about the claims.

Meanwhile, it has also been reported that a forged version of Kanye West’s signature is at the centre of a $900,000 (£696,000) fraud case.

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The rapper had been rumoured to be performing at a New York Fashion Week event for German designer Philipp Plein next week (February 11). Kim Kardashian West, however, had denied the reports were true on the star’s behalf.

It has now emerged, however, that Plein might have handed over $900,000 to someone calling themselves an “associate” of West’s G.O.O.D. Music in the belief that they were booking the ‘Ye’ rapper to perform. Sources told TMZ that someone who knows West had been in touch with the fashion label and had misrepresented themselves as a formal representative for him.

Plein reportedly believed the unknown person, who is said to have forged West’s signature on a contract, and sent the money to an account that has now been emptied. The man behind the alleged forgery is said to be a “former friend” of the rapper’s. Neither West or Plein have commented on the reports at present.

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