Besides music, Nicki Minaj also knows how to settle a lawsuit! Yes, the 38-year-old rapper who was accused of taking another songwriter, Tracy Chapman's artwork without her permission. The cost of the copyright infringement of Baby Can I Hold You was $450,000.
Minaj offered the 56-year-old singer and songwriter a hefty amount to get rid of trial in court, and Chapman accepted the same. The news broke out on Jan. 7 when the official documents were shared publicly in California federal court.
The documents reflected that the singer accepted the rapper's offer of money to settle for the copyright issue. Initially, both the musicians were supposed to appear for a trial in the court later this year. However, the acceptance of the offer has officially shut the case.
The lawsuit against the rapper was filed in October 2018 following Minaj's Queen album was released. Although the song, Sorry wasn't available in the Queen's album as per the claims the rapper had leaked the music track to a popular radio DJ, Funkmaster Flex.
Within a couple of weeks, the song started to do rounds on the internet and became popular. Interestingly, Minaj and her representatives revealed that they already have the license for the composition created by Chapman.
The documents of the case disclosed that one of the specialists of clearance was given the task to keep Chapman's work in the "do not sample list." The documents explained that this list was created for those artists who don't allow their sample work to be shared.
However, Minaj's team tried to get details of the list, but Chapman didn't accept the request. While the rapper tried to persist, but the music track got leaked. Virginia Phillips, the U.S. District Court Judge, shared the summary judgment in which the conclusion was that Minaj has the fair use right of the music track.
"I am glad to have this matter resolved and grateful for this legal outcome, which affirms that artists' rights are protected by law and should be respected by other artists. I was asked in this situation numerous times for permission to use my song," Chapman said following the judgment.
She noted that every time she had refused their request and politely asked them not to use her composition. Chapman further explained that Minaj ignored her "no" and used her work anyway. She further addressed herself as an independent publisher who wants protection for her work and to defend herself.