Kanye West testifies he is being taken advantage of at copyright trial over DONDA samples

Kanye West testified Wednesday, May 6, at a copyright trial, saying “I feel like a lot of people try to take advantage of me.”

The suit, filed in 2024, alleges West used elements from a track called “MSD PT2” on the songs “Moon” and “Hurricane” from his 10th studio album, DONDA. The plaintiffs say West proceeded after permission was refused, calling it a “blatant theft of musical property.”

The musicians behind “MSD PT2″—Khalil Abdul Rahman, Sam Barsh, Dan Seeff and Josh Mease—are seeking $500,000 in damages. The sample does not appear on the final recordings, but West performed an early version of “Hurricane” containing the snippet at a July 2021 listening party.

West told the court that “we went through the normal process” to clear samples, according to Billboard.

He also said, “I pride myself on giving people what they deserve” when it comes to credit and royalties. “As I sit in this courtroom today, I just think people are trying to make more than they otherwise would because it’s me,” he told the jury.

The plaintiffs contend West’s 2021 performance of the “Hurricane” demo generated ticket sales, merchandise revenue, and a $750,000 livestreaming deal with Apple Music.

On the stand, West disputed the claim that the performances drove those specific sales. “People came to hear whatever I was going to play that was new,” he said. “Often people buy merch before they even hear the music.”