In a significant copyright settlement, Nicki Minaj has agreed to pay Tracy Chapman $450,000 for unauthorized sampling of "Baby Can I Hold You" in her unreleased track "Sorry."

The lawsuit, filed in October 2018, emerged after Minaj sampled Chapman's 1988 song without permission. Despite multiple requests to use the sample, Chapman repeatedly declined. While Minaj removed "Sorry" from her album Queen, the track leaked after playing once on Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 radio show.

In September 2020, a judge initially suggested "Sorry" might qualify as fair use since Minaj had attempted to license the sample and experimented with the track without commercial release. However, before proceeding to trial, both parties reached the $450,000 settlement agreement.

Chapman addressed the resolution stating, "I was asked numerous times for permission to use my song; in each instance, politely and in a timely manner, I unequivocally said no. Apparently, Ms. Minaj chose not to hear and used my composition despite my clear and express intentions."

This case joins other notable sampling disputes, including:

• A $240 million lawsuit against Minaj by Brinx Billions over "Rich Sex"
• Dr. Lenora Antoinette Stines' suit against Jay-Z and Beyonce regarding "Black Effect"
• Drake's successful fair use defense for sampling "Jimmy Smith Rap"

The settlement highlights the ongoing importance of proper licensing in music sampling and sets a precedent for future copyright disputes in the industry.

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