KANYE WEST takes witness stand in Los Angeles federal copyright trial

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Kanye West took the stand in a copyright case in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday.

The controversial rapper , 48, is embroiled in an ongoing litigation over an early incarnation of his Grammy-winning single Hurricane from the 2021 album Donda.

Producers DJ Khalil (Khalil Abdul-Rahman), Sam Barsh, Dan Seeff, and Josh Mease have claimed in legal filings reviewed by the Daily Mail that West used a piece of their material without their authorization ahead of time.

The producers, who sued West under the business Artist Revenue Advocates LLC., told the court that West used a piece of their track MSD PT2 in a version of Hurricane played at a listening event in July 2021 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Chicago native, clad in a gray suit for the court appearance, said that he's historically been 'very generous' with musical artists he's worked with.

'As I sit in this courtroom today, I just think people are trying to make more than they otherwise would because it's me,' West told jurors, according to Billboard.

West noted that as a creator who often works with other artists, he takes pride in 'giving people what they deserve.'

He added: 'Music is everything - it surrounds me at all times, and I'm constantly creating new ideas for it.'

The rapper, who featured The Weeknd and Lil Baby on the single, said he and his team 'went through the normal process to get [copyright clearances] taken care of' with the producers.

West, who is father to four children with ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 45, said the producers stalled the process and tried to obtain percentages out of whack with music business standards.

Wednesday's hearing marked the first time that West has defended a copyright case into a trial phase in the wake of 'more than a dozen' similar lawsuits, Billboard reported.

The producers first filed the lawsuit in July of 2024.

West scored a legal win in February after a judge tossed out a chunk of the case - citing the producers' rights to master recordings instead of compositions.

Samples can be litigated, the judge ruled in court filings, but not musical interpolations, the court said.