Kendrick Lamar Samples Preacher’s Speech, Getting Sued Because Of It?
Kendrick Lamar recently contributed a verse to Jeezy’s song “Holy Ghost,” which may result in another lawsuit for the rapper.
According to Radio.com, Kendrick Lamar’s remixed version of “Holy Ghost” begins with a sample from a speech from well-known preacher T.D. Jakes. However, Kendrick Lamar allegedly did not have permission to use the audio clip. Now, T.D. Jakes is threatening to sue Lamar over the song. Since word of the unauthorized clip has gotten out, Kendrick Lamar’s remix of “Holy Ghost” has been taken down from YouTube and Spotify.
T.D. Jakes is a 57-year-old televangelist preacher from Dallas. The section of his speech taken by Kendrick Lamar features the lines:
“I got some chatter, but I’m still on fire. I got some threats, but I’m still on fire.”
Jakes’ Facebook fanpage reported that Kendrick Lamar took the sound sample without the consent of the preacher:
“The ‘Holy Ghost’ remix by Jeezy featuring Kendrick Lamar was produced without the knowledge or consent of T.D. Jakes. We are taking the necessary legal actions to stop the unauthorized use of T.D. Jakes’ intellectual property.”
Mimo reported that the lawsuit against Kendrick Lamar goes a little deeper than a simple dispute over intellectual property. T.D. Jakes is more than simply a church pastor, he also runs several business — The Potter’s House and TDJ Enterprises. Presumably, Lamar’s clip from Jakes’ speech represents more than a section of a stolen speech, it’s a piece of Jakes’ brand placed out of context without his consent. These kinds of intellectual property thefts can result in damages to a business’s brand or public image. While Kendrick Lamar’s use of Jakes’ speech was not likely meant to cause the preacher any harm, Jakes is simply ensuring the safety of his intellectual property to protect his public image and his businesses.
Mimo asserts that T.D. Jakes might have approved of the sound sample if Kendrick Lamar had approached him to get permission to use it.
Last week, a spokesperson for Kendrick Lamar informed TheDallas Morning News that Lamar had no knowledge of the lawsuit. Dallas Morning News also found no record of the lawsuit filed in the federal court against Lamar. The spokesperson for T.D. Jakes had no comment.
You can still listen to the version of “Holy Ghost” without Kendrick Lamar or the sound sample in the video below and on Jeezy’s album Seen It All, which is available in stores now.
