By Zoe Papadakis | Wednesday, 13 May 2026 12:12 PM EDT
A Los Angeles jury has ordered Kanye West, legally known as Ye, to pay a six-figure sum following a weeklong trial centered on the unauthorized use of a musical sample.
While West has faced dozens of copyright claims over the decades, this verdict marks his first time taking such a dispute to a full trial. The rapper has previously opted for private settlements to resolve licensing allegations.
The legal dispute focused on “MSD PT2,” an instrumental track owned by Artist Revenue Advocates LLC and produced by DJ Khalil (Khalil Abdul-Rahman), Sam Barsh, Dan Seeff, and Josh Mease.
Initially, the plaintiffs sought damages for the commercially released versions of the Grammy-winning “Hurricane” and “Moon” from the 2021 album “Donda.” However, a February judicial ruling narrowed the case. The judge determined that because the plaintiffs held rights only to the master recording and not the composition, they could not claim damages for interpolations in the final tracks.
This left only a 2021 prerelease demo of “Hurricane,” which featured a direct sample of the instrumental, as the basis for the trial.
The jury’s decision requires West to share profits from a high-profile 2021 listening party held at an Atlanta stadium. The event, streamed live on Apple Music, generated revenue through ticket sales, merchandise, and a streaming deal.
Artist Revenue Advocates initially sought $500,000 in damages. However, the final award remains subject to interpretation between the opposing legal teams.
According to court records, jurors ordered West to pay $176,153 personally, with additional fines of $176,153, $41,625, and $44,627 split across three of his companies. While these figures add up to $438,558, West’s legal team insists the corporate payments are folded into his personal bill, reducing the total to $176,153.
During testimony, West maintained that he followed standard industry protocols. “I went through the normal process,” he told the jury, adding that he is “very generous” with credits but stating, “I feel like a lot of people try to take advantage of me.”
His defense team argued that the producers intentionally delayed the clearing process and refused standard royalty splits.
Following the verdict, West’s spokesperson dismissed the outcome in a statement: “This is a failed shakedown. Six months ago, they wanted $30 million out of West. They got 0.5% of that today.” The spokesperson further noted the plaintiffs’ significant legal expenses, stating, “The moral of the story? There is a cost attached to thinking you can take advantage of Ye.”
Reports indicate that representatives for Artist Revenue Advocates may appeal the earlier dismissal of their claims regarding the final album tracks.
