Jury Orders Ye To Pay Roughly $500,000 Over Hurricane Sample Infringement

Federal jurors in Los Angeles ruled that Ye and several companies tied to his Yeezy business empire must pay nearly $500,000 after finding an instrumental track was used without authorization during production of an early version of “Hurricane.”

Court proceedings focused on “MSD PT2,” a composition connected to four musicians who argued portions of their work were incorporated into music tied to Ye’s “Donda” rollout before licensing agreements were secured. Jurors sided with the plaintiffs after reviewing evidence tied to public performances and production material connected to the song.

Yeezy LLC was ordered to pay $176,153 while Yeezy Supply and Mascotte Holdings faced additional financial penalties, according to Rolling Stone following the unanimous verdict delivered by eight jurors in federal court. Combined damages awarded in the case approached half a million dollars.

Artists Revenue Advocates, the organization representing the musicians behind the composition, originally pursued multimillion dollar damages tied to the alleged infringement. Attorneys representing the artists argued the material reached a massive audience during one of the most closely watched album releases in modern hip hop.

Central evidence in the lawsuit involved Ye’s July 2021 listening event at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where music connected to “Donda” was performed before roughly 40,000 attendees. Lawyers representing the musicians argued that public performance expanded exposure of the composition before licensing issues were resolved.

Attorneys representing Ye characterized the outcome differently after the verdict was delivered. Defense lawyers argued the final damages amount reflected weakness in broader claims raised during the lawsuit and pointed to the large gap between the original financial demand and the final judgment.

Sampling cases have remained a recurring source of litigation across the recording industry for decades, particularly in hip hop, where producers often build songs around older recordings, loops, and layered arrangements. Courts have consistently ruled that artists and labels must secure authorization before commercially releasing protected material.

“Hurricane” later became one of the defining songs connected to Ye’s “Donda” project and earned Grammy recognition following its release. Earlier versions of the song became central to courtroom testimony examining how instrumental material was used during production.

Copyright lawsuits tied to commercially successful songs often carry consequences extending beyond direct damages because verdicts can affect future licensing negotiations, royalty structures, and publishing agreements involving multiple parties across the industry.

For now, the ruling closes another major legal fight surrounding Ye, whose career continues unfolding alongside business conflicts, public controversies, and courtroom battles tied to his music and commercial ventures.