Donna Summer Estate Says Kanye West Sampled ‘I Feel Love’ Without Permission

The Donna Summer estate says Kanye West sampled the late singer's classic song "I Feel Love" without permission.

Summer's estate shared a statement via an Instagram Story, which was transcribed by Billboard. 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!!!"

The alleged sample is featured on the track "Good (Don't Die)" on the recently released album, Vultures. The album is a joint LP with rapper Ty Dolla $ign.

This isn't the only sample from Vultures West allegedly didn't get permission to use. Ozzy Osbourne made headlines last week for accusing West of asking to sample a live recording of "Iron Man," being denied, but then proceeding to use the sample anyway.

Osbourne took to social media to put the rapper on blast. He 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."

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

Following Ozzy sharing his statement, Sharon Osbourne issued a statement via TMZ. Ozzy's wife/manager told the tabloid outlet, "Kanye f---ed with the wrong Jew this time." (Sharon was raised Jewish, and her father, former Black Sabbath manager Don Arden, was born into a Jewish family.)

Sharon also told TMZ that Kanye's reps reached out regarding the sample about three weeks ago. While Ozzy rarely turns down a sample request, Sharon said Ozzy had a "special f---ing occasion to say no," due to the rapper's long history of making antisemitic comments. Furthermore, Sharon said Ye "represents hate," is a "disrespectful antisemite," and "the motherf---er's a pig."

From May 2011 to February 2012, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame featured an exhibit called "Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power." From September 2012 to August 2014, the exhibit traveled around to various museums in the United States. It made its final stop at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. While at that museum, I was given a private tour of the collection of over 70 different performers. These performers ranged from Janis Joplin and Tina Turner to Chrissie Hynde and Stevie Nicks.

The exhibit's artifacts dated back to the 1920s and traveled through to the present day. My tour guide made sure to point out that one "unusual" woman was responsible for the exhibit’s existence. On a visit to the Rock Hall, Cyndi Lauper took a tour of the museum, and she noticed that something was missing. "She very simply said, ‘Where the women at?!," said my tour guide, and that was the impetus for that exhibit.

Frankly, the same question can be posed about the Rock Hall inductees in general.

Rock Hall's chairman John Sykes has made a point in a number of interviews to point out how the Rock Hall needs to evolve. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Sykes said, "...it’s time to take the Hall to 2.0. That means a more diverse board, that means more women, people of color, people who reflect the kind of music that’s now being inducted. We have to look and feel like the artists that come into our Hall. That’s just the natural transition."

Eventually, we’d like to see the ten women artists in the gallery below inducted. They all more than deserve it, and there are plenty of others that still do. Truth be told, this list could be even longer than just ten. Howver, we'll save our extended rambling on this matter for another day.