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Good (Don't Die)

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"Good (Don't Die)"
Song by ¥$
from the album Vultures 1
ReleasedFebruary 10, 2024
Length3:19
LabelYZY
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Good (Don't Die)" is a song by the American hip hop superduo ¥$, composed of rapper Kanye West and singer Ty Dolla Sign, from their debut studio album, Vultures 1 (2024). The song includes additional vocals from J. Rey Soul. Upon release, a lawsuit was issued from Donna Summer's estate, accusing copyright infringement from the unauthorized interpolation of "I Feel Love".

Background and lawsuit

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Filipino-American singer J. Rey Soul, a collaborator of the Black Eyed Peas, posted her excitement to Instagram when she realized "Good (Don't Die)" was released on Vultures 1. The singer thanked the group's member will.i.am and the rest of the team that worked on the track, receiving a comment from Ty Dolla Sign replying that she sounds like an angel.[1] Following the release of Vultures 1, the estate of deceased singer Donna Summer posted to Instagram Stories stating that they had not authorized the interpolation of her 1977 single "I Feel Love" on "Good (Don't Die)". The estate accused Kanye West of copyright infringement, citing that he either "changed the words, had someone re sing [sic] it or used AI but it's [still 'I Feel Love']".[2][3] As a result of the allegations, the track was removed from Spotify on February 14, 2024.[3] The track had reached over eight million streams on the platform before the removal, when the error message read, "This content is not available."[4] It was initially still available on other streaming services, until going through removal at Amazon Music, Apple Music, and the iTunes Store on February 15, 2024.[5][6]

On February 27, 2024, Summer's widow Bruce Sudano filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against West and Ty Dolla Sign in a Los Angeles federal court for "blatant theft" of "I Feel Love" on behalf of her estate.[7][8] The lawsuit cited that the group Alien Music had reached out to the estate requesting to sample "I Feel Love" in January on West's behalf, yet declined the request due to a risk to Summer's legacy and the song's "commercial value".[9][10] They identified West as a "controversial public figure" that numerous brands and business partners had abandoned because of his conduct; he also failed with a request to Universal Music Enterprises.[9][10] After denying him permission, the estate accused West of attempting to "get around this roadblock" by using a singer's unauthorized interpolation with the "iconic melody as the hook ... essentially re-recorded almost verbatim key", using a tactic for a sample being denied in spite of them controlling the song's rights.[9][10] The lawsuit also said that the performers "shamelessly" utilized instantly recognizable parts, and accused them of "arrogantly and unilaterally" stealing the song.[7][9] In the conclusion, the lawsuit read that it is about more than not paying the "appropriate licensing fee" and also focused on the right of artists to decide the usage of their work publicly, needing prevention of "simply stealing creative works" when legal rights are not secured.[7][9] The injunction of a judge to stop any further circulation of "Good Don't Die" was sought, while "maximum" damages for Summer's estate were requested at $150,000.[4][7][8]

On May 15, 2024, a lawyer for Summer's estate said in court that a "global settlement" had been reached with West and Ty Dolla Sign that signatures were gathered for.[11][12] Estate lawyer Stanton L. Stein asserted that Plaintiff anticipated the agreement "can be executed shortly", which would be followed by the parties being able "to file a stipulation for dismissal of the action in its entirety".[11][12] Stein addressed that in the unlikelihood of the parties failing to reach a conclusion by June 14, 2024, plaintiff would intend to "diligently prosecute the action against all defendants".[11][12] He also declined to enter "plaintiff requests that dismissal", while it was not known if "Good (Don't Die)" would be brought back to streaming services.[11][12] On June 20, 2024, lawyers for both parties filed the final settlement agreement in court that they would each pay their own bills from the legal dispute. Following the statement's filing, Summer estate lead counsel Larry Stein told Billboard that the agreement did not give West permission to use her music in the future. He also said their desired result was reached through the performers agreeing "not to distribute or otherwise use the song", which remained unavailable at online music services. It was promptly re-released on Spotify on September 21, 2024. [13][14]

Reception

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Despite being removed shortly after the release of the album, the song was highly praised for its production and the vocals from Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign. This track is considered a highlight from the album.[by whom?] Following the release of Vultures 1, "Good (Don't Die)" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 93, despite having only been available to stream for four days.[15] The song further reached number 43 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[16] Elsewhere in North America, it debuted at number 76 on the Canadian Hot 100.[17] The song was most successful in Lithuania, reaching number 66 on the Lithuania Top 100.[18]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Good (Don't Die)"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[19] 36
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 76
Global 200 (Billboard)[20] 142
Lithuania (AGATA)[18] 66
Portugal (AFP)[21] 170
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 93
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 43

References

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  1. ^ Carbonilla, Hans (February 16, 2024). "Fil-Am singer J. Rey Soul makes waves with feature on Kanye West's 'Vultures 1' album". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (February 10, 2024). "Donna Summer Estate Says Kanye West Used 'I Feel Love' Without Permission on 'Vultures 1' Track". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Saponara, Michael (February 14, 2024). "Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's 'Vultures' Song Removed From Spotify Following Donna Summer's Estate Complaint". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Dalton, Andrew; Robinson, KiMi (February 27, 2024). "Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign sued for using Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love'". USA Today. Los Angeles. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Saponara, Michael (February 15, 2024). "Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign's 'Vultures 1' Album Returns to Apple Music After Brief Removal". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  6. ^ Leight, Elias (February 15, 2024). "Kanye West's Vultures 1 Already Has a New Distributor". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Dillon, Nancy (February 27, 2024). "Kanye West Sued for 'Blatant Theft' of Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Kanye West sued by Donna Summer's estate over 'stealing' from I Feel Love". Sky News. February 28, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e Donahue, Bill (February 27, 2024). "Kanye West Sued by Donna Summer Estate Over 'Vultures 1' Song". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Strauss, Matthew (February 27, 2024). "Donna Summer Estate Sues Kanye West Over Vultures 1 Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Dillon, Nancy (May 15, 2024). "Donna Summer's Estate Reaches Settlement With Kanye West Over Alleged 'Theft' of 'I Feel Love'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d Giacomazzo, Bernadette (May 16, 2024). "Kanye West Settles Lawsuit With Donna Summer Estate". HipHopDX. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  13. ^ Donahue, Bill (June 21, 2024). "Ye Settles Donna Summer Copyright Lawsuit Over 'Vultures 1' Song". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Snapes, Laura (June 25, 2024). "Kanye West and Donna Summer estate reach settlement over unauthorised use of I Feel Love". The Guardian. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Zellner, Xander (February 20, 2024). "Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign 'Vultures 1': Every Song Debuts on Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "2024 7-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. February 16, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  19. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. February 19, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  21. ^ "Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign – Good (Don't Die)". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
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