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Yung Gravy, born Matthew Raymond Hauri, is an American rapper known for his unique flow and humorous lyrics. His musical style blends trap music with vintage themes, often sampling older songs. In 2023, Yung Gravy was sued by Rick Astley, as his song Emily (Get Money) interpolates the melody and includes vocals from Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up. While some have accused Yung Gravy of stealing sounds, he has also faced legal issues for sampling songs without permission. The rapper has discussed his process of recreating songs with similar sounds to avoid legal issues, which has sparked debate about copyright law and the artistic choice to sample or interpolate music.
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What You'll Learn
Yung Gravy's sampling and interpolation methods
Yung Gravy's musical style is a blend of trap music with vintage themes, often inspired by soul and funk music from the 1950s to the 1980s. His sampling and interpolation methods have been a key part of his music production and creative process.
Gravy has been open about his use of sampling in his music, acknowledging that he "samples indiscriminately from a diverse range of music." He recreates the vibe of an old song without having to navigate legal hurdles. For example, his song "Gravy Train" samples Maxine Nightingale's 1976 song "Right Back Where We Started From". Gravy's song "Welcome to Chili's" on "Baby Gravy 2" also includes samples of Spanish music.
In another instance, Gravy sampled "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" for one of his songs. He also expressed interest in sampling "7th Element" by Russian singer Vitas, but the language barrier posed a challenge in obtaining clearance. Gravy's approach to sampling involves creating original material that resembles an existing song, allowing him to avoid legal issues associated with direct sampling.
Yung Gravy's song "Emily (Get Money)" sparked controversy as it interpolated Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up." Gravy re-recorded sections of Astley's song, adding low-fi touches to make it sound sampled. This case highlighted the complexities of licensing and copyright law, with some arguing that Gravy exploited a loophole in the system. However, others defended Gravy, claiming that he licensed the song, not the record, which is standard in the song interpolation economy.
Overall, Yung Gravy's sampling and interpolation methods involve recreating the feel of existing songs, interpolating melodies, and incorporating diverse influences to craft his unique blend of vintage-inspired trap music.
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The legality of sampling in music
Music sampling is a creative process that involves reusing portions of sound recordings or samples in new recordings. This technique is commonly used in Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and hip-hop genres. Artists may use sampling to incorporate elements such as rhythm, melody, speech, or sound effects into their music.
In some cases, artists may inadvertently use samples that are similar to existing works without obtaining clearance. This can lead to legal issues, as demonstrated in the case of rapper Biz Markie, who was sued by songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan for sampling his song "Alone Again (Naturally)". To avoid such situations, artists should be diligent in ensuring that their samples do not infringe on the copyrights of others.
Additionally, the length and nature of the music sample can impact its legality. Very brief samples that render the underlying composition unrecognizable may only require a license to use the sound recording. On the other hand, longer samples or those that capture the "heart of the song" will likely require both a license for the sound recording and permission for the musical composition.
Some artists may attempt to circumvent the legal process by recreating similar-sounding songs without directly sampling the original. For example, rapper Yung Gravy has stated that he creates "original stuff that sounds like an old song" to avoid legal hurdles. While this approach may reduce legal risks, it can still lead to disputes over copyright infringement if the recreated song is too similar to the original.
In conclusion, the legality of sampling in music depends on obtaining the appropriate licenses and permissions from copyright holders. Artists who fail to do so may face legal consequences, while those who skillfully recreate similar-sounding songs without directly sampling may navigate legal hurdles but still risk copyright disputes.
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Yung Gravy's song Betty
Yung Gravy, born Matthew Raymond Hauri, is an American rapper who started his career on SoundCloud. He released his song "Betty (Get Money)" on June 10, 2022, as the lead single from his third studio album, "Marvelous." The song interpolates the synthesizer, chorus, and melody of Rick Astley's 1987 song "Never Gonna Give You Up." Yung Gravy worked with Nick Seeley to create the song, which samples the original tune of "Never Gonna Give You Up" with some modern updates. The song and its music video, featuring Yung Gravy dancing in a white fur coat, went viral on TikTok, being used in over 300,000 videos.
"Betty (Get Money)" is not the first time Yung Gravy has sampled iconic songs. His musical style blends trap music with vintage themes often inspired by soul and funk music of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. For example, his song ""Gravy Train" samples Maxine Nightingale's "Right Back Where We Started From." Yung Gravy has cited musicians from multiple genres as inspirations, including hip-hop acts such as Outkast and Three 6 Mafia, and soul acts such as Smokey Robinson and The Blackbyrds.
The lyrics of "Betty (Get Money)" include casual sexual references toward older women and flexes about the money he has earned from his rapping career. The song's viral success on TikTok led to Yung Gravy performing it on Jimmy Kimmel Live and the MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show in 2022. The song also marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 30 and received platinum certification.
Yung Gravy's creative process for "Betty (Get Money)" involved recreating the sampled song almost exactly while making it sound like an old song. He worked with Nick Seeley to create original stuff that sounded like an old song without having to go through legal hurdles. They made the song and then brought it to the publishing owners, who gave it a thumbs-up after Yung Gravy changed a few lyrics to make them cleaner. This resulted in his first clean release ever, without the explicit tag.
In conclusion, Yung Gravy's song "Betty (Get Money)" showcases his unique musical style that blends modern and vintage influences. By interpolating Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," Yung Gravy created a viral hit that gained him mainstream recognition and solidified his place in the music industry. The song's success and platinum certification demonstrate Yung Gravy's ability to connect with listeners and deliver memorable musical experiences.
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Rick Astley's lawsuit against Yung Gravy
In September 2023, it was reported that English singer Rick Astley was suing American rapper Yung Gravy (born Matthew Raymond Hauri) in a lawsuit that was deemed "super interesting" by one music copyright expert. The lawsuit concerned Yung Gravy's song "Emily (Get Money)", which allegedly interpolates sections of Rick Astley's 1987 hit "Never Gonna Give You Up".
Yung Gravy has become well-known for his use of samples in his music, often recreating the "sound" of old songs without having to "go through a bunch of legal hurdles". In the case of "Emily (Get Money)", Yung Gravy licensed the song, not the record, allowing him to re-record and reproduce the instrumental parts for a much lower cost. He also re-recorded sections of "Never Gonna Give You Up", chopped up the groove, and added low-fi touches to make it sound sampled and constructed.
While the complaint does not allege copyright infringement, as Yung Gravy did license the song, it is suggested that Astley could argue a violation of his "Right of Publicity". This refers to Astley's right to control how he is exploited in a commercial endeavour, such as a car commercial. A famous example of a Right of Publicity case is Bette Midler v Ford, in which Midler successfully sued Ford for using an impersonator after she refused to sing in a commercial.
It is unclear what the outcome of the lawsuit will be, as the music business and the law are inadequately prepared for a case like this, presenting interesting questions and opportunities for discussion.
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The role of record labels in sampling clearance
While Yung Gravy has not directly addressed the claims of stealing Seether's sounds, the American rapper has been open about his sampling process. In an interview, he revealed that he creates original music that sounds like an old song, avoiding legal hurdles associated with sampling. He also mentioned that he has a friend, Nick Seeley, who does a lot of the samples on his albums.
Now, let's discuss the role of record labels in sampling clearance:
The process of sampling in music involves reusing portions of existing audio, such as rhythms, melodies, or sound effects, in new recordings. Sampling has been a foundational element of hip-hop and has influenced various music genres, including electronic music and pop. However, the practice of sampling has also raised legal concerns, particularly regarding copyright infringement. To avoid legal issues, artists must obtain sample clearance, which is a complex and lengthy process.
Record labels play a crucial role in the sampling clearance process. In most cases, the record label owns the master recording of a song, while the underlying composition's rights are held by the music publisher or the artist directly. To obtain permission to use a sample, artists must seek approval from both the master owner (often the record label) and the copyright owner of the original song. This process can be challenging, as some artists and record labels have a "`no-sampling policy.'" Additionally, the owners may request to listen to the new song before granting permission and may require financial negotiations, including upfront fees or a percentage of the profits.
The dynamics between artists, copyright owners, and music publishers further complicate the process. In some instances, the record label of the artist seeking to sample a song may also need to approve the usage. Additionally, publishers might require approval from writers and performers. This negotiation process is influenced by factors such as the specific song, the artist, and the proposed usage of the sample.
It is important to note that the legal implications of sampling can pose obstacles for less successful artists. The financial and administrative burdens associated with clearing samples might be prohibitive for independent or emerging artists. As a result, sampling has become an expensive option primarily accessible to established acts.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Yung Gravy did not steal Seether sounds. Yung Gravy, whose real name is Matthew Raymond Hauri, creates music by sampling other songs to create a new sound.
Yung Gravy works with Nick Seeley to create samples for his albums. They create original content that sounds like an old song without having to go through legal hurdles.
Yes, in 2023, Rick Astley sued Yung Gravy for allegedly sampling his song "Never Gonna Give You Up" in Yung Gravy's song "Emily (Get Money)". However, Yung Gravy licensed the song, not the record, which is a common practice in the music industry.
Yung Gravy has sampled songs from various genres, including "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", Spanish music in songs like "yup!" and "Welcome to Chili's", and soul music from the 1950s and 1960s.
