![meaningof tracy chapman the promise meaningof tracy chapman the promise](https://www.thisisdig.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/E8962T-tracy-chapman.jpg)
Outside of her musical career, Chapman has long worked as an activist, speaking and performing on behalf of several nonprofit organizations, including the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Circle of Life (no longer active).
![meaningof tracy chapman the promise meaningof tracy chapman the promise](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7e/ec/5b/7eec5beaf30880322e46126579fadf8f.png)
In recent years, however, Chapman has largely stayed out of the spotlight. Since New Beginning's release, the musician has released a handful of albums, including Telling Stories (2000) and Our Bright Future (2008), and toured through 2009.
![meaningof tracy chapman the promise meaningof tracy chapman the promise](https://americansongwriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/71drXDnv7dL._SL1057_.jpg)
The album far exceeded the appeal of Chapman's previous projects, thanks to the widely popular single "Give Me One Reason," as well as such catchy, soulful tunes as "Smoke and Ashes" and the album's title track, "New Beginning." Chapman received her fourth Grammy Award in 1997, for best rock song ("Give Me One Reason"), as well as several Grammy nominations and other music awards.Ĭhapman's 1995 success has yet to be matched. Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.As the album's title suggests, Chapman's New Beginning (1995) proved to be a step back into the limelight for the musician, selling nearly 5 million copies in the United States alone. It would have cost us more to go to trial.”Ĭhapman was represented by John Gatti, a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. This lawsuit was a last resort–pursued in an effort to defend myself and my work and to seek protection for the creative enterprise and expression of songwriters and independent publishers like myself.”Ī lawyer for Minaj told TheWrap, “We settled for one reason only. I have never authorized the use of my songs for samples or requested a sample. She continued: “As a songwriter and an independent publisher, I have been known to be protective of my work. Minaj chose not to hear and used my composition despite my clear and express intentions,” Chapman said in a statement to TheWrap.Īlso Read: Pop Smoke Death: Nicki Minaj, Chance the Rapper Lead Outpouring of Tributes to Slain Rapper I was asked in this situation numerous times for permission to use my song in each instance, politely and in a timely manner, I unequivocally said no. “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. According to the New York Times, Chapman’s team claimed that Minaj leaked the track herself and had correspondence to suggest as much, but Minaj and Flex both denied that. I heard it on the radio on the same playlist that tracy chapman songs were playing.
#MEANINGOF TRACY CHAPMAN THE PROMISE TRIAL#
However, the judge allowed the case to go to trial since “Sorry” got leaked to Funkmaster Flex. The lawsuit opened up complications of whether an artist would be allowed to use samples based on copyrighted works for projects that are a work in progress.īack in September, however, a judge sided with Minaj and agreed that “uprooting” the practice of letting artists experiment would damage the creative process.
#MEANINGOF TRACY CHAPMAN THE PROMISE LICENSE#
The initial lawsuit claimed that at least half the song borrowed from Chapman’s lyrics and melody and that Minaj’s team made multiple requests to license “Baby Can I Hold You,” but only after Minaj had already recorded it.Īlso Read: Nicki Minaj Is Executive Producing an HBO Max Docuseries About Nicki Minaj “Sorry” also featured rapper Nas and was intended for Nicki Minaj’s first album “Queen,” but didn’t make the cut. “Sorry” was an unreleased Minaj track that heavily sampled “Baby Can I Hold You” and was leaked and played on a radio show by New York DJ Funkmaster Flex. The reclusive “Fast Car” singer-songwriter sued Minaj back in 2018 saying that the rapper’s song “Sorry” infringed on a copyright for her own composition, “Baby Can I Hold You,” first released in 1988. Nicki Minaj has agreed to pay $450,000 to Tracy Chapman to settle a copyright lawsuit, according to documents made public Thursday and obtained by TheWrap.