The issue of sampling in pop music has been flowing through the global courts for decades. It neutered the 1987 No. 1 hit “Pump Up The Volume” by M/A/R/R/S for the legendary song’s extensive use of other artists’ work. It destroyed English rock band The Verve, as “Bitter Sweet Symphony” prominently features a loop of an orchestral version of “The Last Time” by the Rolling Stones, which successfully won co-song writing credit and won all royalties from the still-popular track.
Now, Onika Tanya Minaj is in hot water. She sampled a song released 30 years ago this month in a single that landed on one New York radio station. Only, the woman professionally known as Nicki Minaj did so without permission — and after being told no many times.
