Written By- @pistolwhippedya
Earlier this year, Brooklyn-based rock band #Yeasayer filed suit in a New York Federal court accusing R&B singer The Weeknd, Rapper #KendrickLamar, Universal Music Group and Interscope Records of stealing a sample from the band’s song “Sunrise” and changing it.
The band members allege the two’s collaborative song “Pray for Me” a has “distinctive choral performance” that their band uniquely recorded and that it, “comprised of male voices singing in their highest registers, with animated, pulsing vibrato.”
If the court rules in favor of their claims of copyright infringement, the band may be awarded an unreported amount for damages, and the two hip-hop artists will not receive future profit from the Black Panther soundtrack.
According to The Blast, recent court documents were filed on behalf of The Weeknd and shows an attempt to dismiss the band’s complaint. The R&B singer denies all allegations and assures “Pray for Me” was “created independently from and without knowledge of the allegedly infringed work.”
#TheWeeknd requests the court dismiss the case and that Yeasayer pays his attorney fees. ‘
At this time, it is unknown when the judge will rule on the motion to dismiss.
