EXCLUSIVE: Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign Sued Over “Vultures” Sample Sent By Text

Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign were sued by two producers who alleged that an MP3 shared for a possible collaboration became the foundation of “Vultures” without a license or payment.

Jae Deal and Marlon “Marlonwiththeglasses” Barrow filed their copyright complaint in federal court in California. They named Ye, Ty Dolla $ign, Yeezy Record Label LLC, Yeezy LLC and Create Music Group as defendants.

Their account traces the dispute to “Joint 2,” a recording and composition they said they created together in November 2018 and owned in equal shares. The lawsuit also covers five separately mixed audio files, known as stems.

According to the 24-page complaint, Ty Dolla $ign heard the music playing during a phone call with Barrow, a longtime friend and collaborator. He asked to visit Barrow’s studio and later requested a copy for a possible album.

Barrow sent an MP3 by text. The producers said he held back the stems and higher-quality files until the parties signed an agreement covering use of the music.

They alleged that Ty Dolla $ign then shared the MP3 with Ye and that versions of “Vultures” reached commercial platforms in November 2023 before any licensing deal was negotiated.

“Barrow was accorded a producer credit, but received no compensation whatsoever. Deal was never accorded a producer credit nor paid any compensation whatsoever,” the complaint stated.

The producers alleged that efforts to stop the releases began before Vultures 1 arrived in February 2024. Deal described takedown requests in December 2023 and a January 2024 discussion with producer 88-Keys, whom the complaint identified as Yeezy’s head of music.

During that exchange, Deal said he made clear that he had not assigned his rights or received payment. The complaint alleged that the music was nevertheless used again on the Vultures Pack EP, including the “Havoc Version,” and on Vultures 1.

Deal also described rejecting an October 2024 buyout offer and continuing to demand credit and compensation. The complaint did not give the offer’s amount.

The dispute extends to a July 9, 2025 copyright registration. The producers alleged that it omitted Deal as an author and falsely claimed Barrow had transferred his rights by contract. They maintained that no signed transfer agreement existed.

“This action is not only about unpaid licensing fees and the lack of appropriate credit, but also about the essential right of any artist to determine when, how, and by whom their creative work is used,” the complaint stated.

The filing follows other disputes over music used on the Vultures projects. Donna Summer’s estate reached a 2024 settlement over “Good (Don’t Die),” which was removed from Vultures 1.

More recently, a different producer sued Ye over allegedly unpaid AI vocal work on Vultures 2 and Bully. That case was filed in August and concerns different work and claims.

Deal and Barrow requested a jury trial, actual damages and profits attributable to the alleged infringement, or alternative statutory damages. They also asked for injunctions blocking further use of their work and an order covering copies and source materials used to reproduce it.