Tracy Chapman Gets $450,000 in Nicki Minaj Copyright Lawsuit

Tracy Chapman, one of the all-time great singers and songwriters, has been awarded $450,000 in a copyright lawsuit against Nicki Minaj for the use of one of her songs in an uncleared sample on a song that was supposed to be on the rapper's last album.

Back in 2018, Chapman first filed a suit against Minaj over the rapper's song "Sorry," which samples her song "Baby Can I Hold You." After Minaj couldn't clear the sample, she leaked the song through Funkmaster Flex.

In June of 2018, Minaj's team reacted out to Chapman to clear the song so that Minaj could include it on her album Queen. When Chapman's team refused, Minaj leaked the song to the popular DJ who teased it on Instagram and played the song on HOT 97 radio. "Sorry," which features Nas, then spread across the internet.

Chapman, who is known for songs like "Fast Car," and "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" got the $450,000 offer to end the case from Minaj back in December, according to Page Six. Her acceptance of the offer was filed into the court last night, Thursday, January 7th.

By accepting Minaj's offer, Chapman avoided going to court against the rapper, and will also get her legal fees paid for.

Last November, in the lead up to the election, Chapman appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers to sing her classic ballad "Talkin Bout a Revolution." It was her first major TV performances in five years.

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