Kanye Faces The Music: West Hit With $800,000 Lawsuit For Alleged Illegal Sampling
June 12 2014, Published 7:24 a.m. ET
Kanye West may claim to be a creative genius — but one singer begs to differ.
RadarOnline can exclusively report that Robert Poindexter, a member of the ‘70s soul group The Persuaders, filed a federal lawsuit in New York on May 28, alleging that the rap superstar, 37, illegally sampled the band’s 1972 tune “Trying Girls Out (the Composition)” in his 2006 song “Girls Girls Girls Remix.”
“Kanye West has never acquired authorization from me or the copyright owners of the composition,” Poindexter states in New York court documents. West “willfully infringed the composition copyright for private and financial gain by selling and distributing an untold amount of tangible and digital copies.”
Poindexter further alleges he previously attempted to sue West, but the case was tossed in January 2014 because the rapper refused to respond.
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The singer claims he suffered millions in financial losses due to West’s refusal to credit him for his work, and is seeking $800,000 in punitive damages.
This isn’t the first time Kim Kardashian’s husband has been accused of swiping songs: RadarOnline.com previously reported that the family of David Pryor filed a lawsuit last year accusing the rapper of illegally sampling the late singer’s tune “Bumpin’ Bus Stop” for his 2005 hit “Gold Digger.”