(AllHipHop News) Kanye West, his record labels Roc-A-Fella and Island Def Jam, and their parent company Universal Music Group are being sued over the song “Bound 2” off the Yeezus album. Ricky Spicer, formerly of the 1970’s group The Ponderosa Twins plus One, claims that West used his voice on the track without his permission.
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According to The New York Daily News, Spicer’s suit is asking Kanye to either stop using his vocals or pay him for his contribution to the song.
The publishing rights to the original “Bound” are reportedly owned by Chuck Brown, Sr. Brown, who worked with The O’Jays earlier on, was the founder of the Ohio label Chuck Brown Music. The Ponderosa Twins plus One recorded their song under CBM in 1971.
Brown spoke with the Cleveland Challenger about Kanye incorporating “Bound” into his version of the song.
“I’m actually honored,” said Brown. “We recorded that song in 1971 and thought it was a hit. We just didn’t know it would take 43 years for the world to figure it out.”
Spicer became the “plus one” of the Ponderosa Twins group that also included the two sets of twins Keith and Curt Gardner and Anthony and Alvin Pelham. Spicer was presented as the “Michael Jackson” of the group. He recorded “Bound” when he was 12-years-old.
Rhino Entertainment is also named as a defendant in Spicer’s lawsuit. Rhino is partially owned by Robinson Music Group and published by Gambi Music. Both Robinson Music and Gambi are part of the estate of Joseph Robinson, Jr. and Sylvia Robinson. Brown urges that he owns the rights to “Bound” and not the Robinson’s children.
“The music I published under my label belongs to me and my family, not to the Robinson’s. It’s my duty to make sure I get what’s mine,” he added.
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Listen to the original “Bound” below.