Kanye West Sued Over “Good Life” Sample

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  35 Comments

A Maryland based songwriter has filed a lawsuit suit against Kanye West over what he says is the unauthorized use of a sample from one of his songs on the rapper’s hit single “Good Life,” from his 2007 album Graduation. According to court records obtained by TMZ.com, Dayna “DMystro” Staggs says that Kanye failed to obtain the proper license to use elements of the song “Volume of Good Life.” Staggs further argues that Kanye’s version contains “vulgar and offensive” content that could damage the songwriter’s reputation. The plaintiff is seeking a 85% of the proceeds from global sales of the track. The suit, filed on March 20, also names Jay-Z, Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music label, Rocafella Records and BMI. Interestingly, the video for “Good Life” is posted on Staggs Myspace page and he also mentions the Kanye’s use of the sample in his bio. A spokesman for Kanye declined comment when contacted by XXLMag.com.

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  • Big Deuce

    Once again Mr. West gets in these debacles thats my man 100 grand but the people around him aint doing him right that the second time. he need to major in culinary arts learn how to work bread chesse and dough(3000 stacks). I ma out

    • Matty J

      Man Kanye wat the fuck u doing. ure ruining ure rep. Man don’t do this shit go rep The chi town like u supposed 2.

  • 1,2,1,2….anditdon’tstop81

    damage his reputation yet improve his wallet size. somebody give this nigga a tissue he’s sickening!

  • http://www.xxlmag.com/?p=20565 q12afc

    I smell a rat….. and his name is “Mystro”. – Q

  • TheMailMan

    Damn..dude sure waiting a long time to sue….
    whatever, kanye will settle of court and get it taken care of.

    http://www.myspace.com/yelawolf

  • KID PANAMA

    THE MUTHAFUCKA HAS IT ON HIS MYSPACE PAGE?? STUPID ASS JUST TRYIN TO GET PAID

  • Ali

    can’t really believe tha dude if he comes out saying this 6 months after the album came out

  • check…

    jus tryna get some bread off one of the hottest songs this yr…

    • ?

      Exactly, fucking gold digger. That person should just try to make some legitimate money instead of stealing from someone else who’s already done that. People like this make me angry to no end.

      • winkie

        what an ironic statement, from kanye’s part.
        kanye should just pay the dude if he didn’t have the proper authorization to use it, after all it is Staggs’ song that was sampled, no matter how you look at it

  • http://hiphoponmymind.blogspot.com DJ Daddy Mack

    DAMN XXL COULD HAVE GAVE ME A SHOUT OUT. SMH. BUT YEA. THIS CAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

  • http://www.myspace.com/moneymobb06 Ray

    Dude is just trying to get paid that all.

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  • Cali”co”
  • mac city

    too bad he can only make beats with samples in em so dis is prollay just tha begining

  • Kanye’s Spokesman

    The Drama
    People Suing Me
    I’m On TV talkin like it’s just you and me

  • http://www.midstate-sport.com midstate-sport.com

    HMMM?

    MR STAGGS MUST BE BROKE!

    HMM I KNOW NOT TO COP HIS ALBUM

    WOW USES PEEPS TO FUND A RECORD LABEL
    LOL

    http://www.midstate-sport.com
    http://www.midstate-sport.com

  • http://www.midstate-sport.com midstate-sport.com

    HMMM?

    MR STAGGS MUST BE BROKE!

    HMM I KNOW NOT TO COP HIS ALBUM

    WOW USES PEEPS TO FUND A RECORD LABEL
    LOL

    http://www.midstate-sport.com
    http://www.midstate-sport.com

  • beatz23

    another music hack whos broke as hell and wants to feed off a BLACK MANS SUCCESS. let that man get cash..

  • http://moneyeyerecords.com MoneyEye

    moneyeyerecords.com
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    moneyeyerecords.com
    The heartbeat of L.A. right now on the independent music grind. Over 10,000 sold with no radio play and counting. Ain’t nobody grinding like us, /believe that!!!!!

  • f

    kanye had enough money to get the clearing before releasing the song but yeah it still makes stagg look like a bit

  • Rodjilius

    mo money mo problems dats all i can say

  • mainge

    you guys are all idiots kanye sampled the song he should pay not known but right known why don’t you idiots sample kanye shit i’ll bet he sues you (COCK SUCKERS)

  • david

    What sample is it? That PYT loop is pretty out front, so what could dude be talking about? Unless this nigga is saying he wrote PYT?

    • -Los-

      trueeee dats what i was thinkin

  • Jus

    This is a simple matter of Business. Kanye has to pay the dude for his hardwork. Aint no hate in this. If it wasnt for sample, the song goodlife would never been made.

    • D

      I thought Good Life was using a Micheal Jackson sample?

    • Nic Diamonds

      Yeah but what sample?

  • RedSoxHotBlocks

    Yo dudes from the South is slow. How long that Good Life joint been out and now he just deciding to take it to court? Wow! Get a life, DMystro (dumb ass name too). Go eat some crab cakes or something,

  • LOE

    MOST OF THESE RAP CATS BE BITING

  • David

    Whatever the sample is, it’s not like it’s the main melody. Is it a fucking snare or a keyboard chord or something?

  • Shawty J

    Last time I checked the sample on that song is Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.”, according to Toomp (who also produced the song, but isn’t being sued), Kanye chopped up the record, and Toomp went over the beat using real instruments. So what sample is this “DMystro” guy talking about?

  • http://www.myspace.com/rcvthamc RCV tha MC

    What’s a hot song without someone to sue?

  • Mozeek

    Fuck Dmystro and fuck Maryland. Cats from MD are always trying to get over on people. I should know; I live there.

  • Rob

    I hear the rights are owned by D. Staggs III and the Universal told the court that don’t own the rights, but wants it dismissed. Kanye Used
    the Plaintiff name in a song, now he’s being sued for Defamation.
    Timberland launch a Utube saying he of sampled the it? that he has so many sounds he can’t keep up. Then Again Jay and Kanye was fighting
    in London this month over; whether or not who could close the show.
    Earlier Jigga man releases Auto tune video; After the “Dmystro” guy used Auto tune against them all as evidence against them in case plagarism using software…. wow cmon fellas just “Settle and move on… Can’t take
    from old legendary songwriters and not give them proper credit..