Kendrick Lamar Sued For Copyright Infringement Over Rihanna-Featured "Loyalty."

BY Erika Marie 23.5K Views
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Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Loyalty, Lawsuit, Terrance Hayes
The TDE artist, along with his label and producers, is named in a lawsuit by a musician who claims he created "Loyalty" in 2011.

Another day, another Kendrick Lamar lawsuit. The celebrated Top Dawg Entertainment rapper has faced his fair share of legal troubles. He's been sued over "Keisha's Song," "Rigamortis," "All the Stars," "Pray For Me," and now his Rihanna-assisted hit track, "Loyalty." According to multiple reports, K-Dot stands accused of copyright infringement from musician Terrance Hayes who claims that the track carries “the entire composition, including title, melody, harmony, and rhythm,” from his own song. Hayes further claims that he also titled his track "Loyalty."

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In 2011, Hayes alleges that he worked with another musician named Josef Leimberg. In 2015, Leimberg contributed to Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly, and Hayes states that producer Terrace Martin accessed Leimberg's computer and lifted his song. Additionally, the lawsuit doesn't only list Lamar; other defendants include Leimberg, Martin, and TDE.

While we have yet to hear Hayes's alleged version of "Loyalty," the lawsuit claims the award-winning track was slowed "down through a synthesizer and combined it with another sample to disguise the copying.” Also, "The chord progression of the Infringing Song is identical to the Subject Track progression, with one exception: In measure 3, the Infringing Song progression returns to Am for 3 beats before ascending to Em in an upper octave.”

Hayes is asking for a court to award him all profits amassed from the hit single and any other monies that the those named in the lawsuit have gained from the song. He also wants his legal fees to be covered, as well. We're looking forward to comparing these tracks in the near future.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.