Kanye West must pay six-figure damages after a jury ruled that he used an unreleased demo track in an early version of his Grammy-winning song 'Hurricane' without permission. The case centered around Ye’s 2021 'Donda' listening event at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The jury ordered Ye to pay $176,153 personally. Yeezy LLC must also pay the same amount. Yeezy Supply and Mascotte Holdings were hit with additional damages as well, as reported by Rolling Stone. Ye’s lawyers did not comment after the verdict. However, a Yeezy spokesperson called the lawsuit a “failed shakedown” and argued that the outcome still favored the rapper.

“This is a failed shakedown. Six months ago, they wanted $30 million out of Ye,” the spokesman said as per Rolling Stone. “The moral of the story? There is a cost attached to thinking you can take advantage of Ye.”

The lawsuit was filed by Artists Revenue Advocates on behalf of four musicians behind the unreleased instrumental demo 'MSD PT2.' During the trial, attorneys argued that the sample served as the “backbone” of 'Hurricane.'

The disputed version of the song was played during Ye’s massive 'Donda' listening event in July 2021 before the final album release. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that the event generated millions through ticket sales, merchandise, and an Apple Music streaming deal.

While the ruling focused on the demo version of 'Hurricane,' ARA plans to appeal parts of the case tied to the final studio version of the song. That appeal could potentially lead to larger damages in the future.

Even amid legal setbacks, Ye continues to remain at the center of cultural conversations surrounding music, controversy, and celebrity influence.

Joe Rogan praises Kanye West’s massive comeback

Joe Rogan praised Kanye West for what he called a major comeback after years of controversy. Talking about Ye’s recent SoFi Stadium shows tied to the album 'Bully,' Rogan focused on the huge scale of the concerts and the attention they pulled online.

“Look at Kanye, Kanye recovers from getting canceled to have the biggest concerts in human history, standing on top of the world with clouds,” Joe Rogan said, praising him on his comeback on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.

The SoFi shows reportedly brought in huge numbers across two nights. Fans online also praised the large-scale production and dramatic stage visuals. At the same time, the concerts restarted debates around Ye’s public image.

As Ye continues balancing legal battles with renewed commercial momentum, his career remains one of the most polarizing stories in music and pop culture today.

What do you think about Kanye West’s latest legal setback? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Karishma Dasgupta

Edited by

Itti Mahajan