The Pet Shops are angry with Drake.
The famed synth pop dance duo say the rapper did not clear a sample of their mega hit “West End Girls” on his new song “All the Parties.”
The Pet Shop Boys write on Twitter: “Surprising to hear @Drake singing the chorus of “West End girls” in the track “All the Parties” on his new album. No credit given or permission requested.”
Drake, like almost all rappers, does not write songs. All of his tracks are sampled from old hits. His biggest hit, “Call Me On Your Cellphone” came from the 70s R&B smash “Why Can’t We Live Together” by Mel & Tim.
What he’s done here (see below at 2:35) is kind of like when Alicia Keys sang a couplet from “Hey There Lonely Girl” in her “Girl on Fire.”
I’m surprised the clearance lawyers at Universal Music didn’t catch this, unless Drake didn’t tell them. But it happens all the time. That’s why are there are almost no actual songs from the hip hop era of music. Time to pay up!
Surprising to hear @Drake singing the chorus of “West End girls” in the track “All the Parties” on his new album. No credit given or permission requested.#PetText #kobaltmusic #WestEndgirls #Drake #PetShopBoys pic.twitter.com/P5siIccTw9
— Pet Shop Boys (@petshopboys) October 6, 2023