Beyoncé Changed Fivio Foreign’s Tune
In an interview on Thursday morning (April 7), with Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning with Laura Stylez and Rosenberg, Fivio explained that in order for Beyoncé to clear a Destiny’s Child sample from their 1999 smash “Say My Name,” the New York Drill rapper would need to clean up some lyrics that she found to be too vulgar in nature.
“What’s My Name,” features guest appearances from Coi Leray and Queen Naija. When and when asked whether or not Beyoncé had to be the one to give the go-ahead to use the sample, Fivio confirmed that she did indeed clear the use of “Say My Name,” but only after the lyrics were altered to be less offensive in Mrs. Carter’s view.
You may ask why or how this – requiring an artist to edit his or her lyrics before they sample your music – is possible. Let us explain. “Say My Name” is a song by American group Destiny’s Child from their second studio album, The Writing’s on the Wall (1999). It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.
According to Kobie Brown, VP of Music Licensing and Business Affairs Admin at Sony Music,“Copyright law protects songwriters or publishers with copyright interest in “Say My Name”. The moment you commit a song to paper or a recording you have a Copyright, but by registering it, you have the greatest form of protection.”
Copyright law grants you several exclusive rights to control the use and distribution of your copyrighted work. The rights include the exclusive power to:
1. reproduce (i.e., make copies of) the work;
2. create derivative works based on the work (i.e., to alter, remix, or build upon the work);
3. distribute copies of the work;
4. publicly display the work;
5. perform the work; and
6. in the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.
Brown continues, “These rights not only allow for copyright holders to be paid when their works are used, they prevent other artists, songwriters or even polarizing political figures from using a song in a way the original writer, or those who look after his or her rights, would not approve. It’s doubtful, for instance, Kool & The Gang would want their song “Celebrate” to become the theme for a song that celebrates the storming of the US Capital on January 6, 2021.”
The circumstance Fivio Foreign describes reveal the influence he has by being signed to the same publisher as Beyoncé. This shared relationship put him in a position to have the company’s chairman, “Big” Jon Platt, advocate for him. Without this advocacy, Beyoncé could have easily said no. Instead she offered direction based on how she wanted her work to be represented in his new song.
Honorable mention to “Big” Jon Platt the advocate, along with Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins . Each participated in either creating the hit in 1999 , as well as working to find a solution that allowed for it to be reimagined in the form of a new release in 2022.
Related Articles
