Nicki Minaj has agreed to pay Tracy Chapman $450,000 to settle a copyright infringement lawsuit over unauthorized sampling of Chapman's 1988 song "Baby Can I Hold You" in Minaj's unreleased track "Sorry."

The lawsuit, filed in October 2018, emerged after Minaj's "Sorry" (featuring Nas) leaked and played once on Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 radio show, despite Chapman repeatedly denying permission to use the sample. Although Minaj had removed the song from her album "Queen," unauthorized recordings spread online after the radio broadcast.

In September 2020, a judge initially suggested "Sorry" might be protected under fair use, as Minaj had attempted to license the sample and experiment with Chapman's work. However, before proceeding to trial, both parties agreed to settle.

Chapman stated: "I was asked in this situation numerous times for permission to use my song; in each instance, politely and in a timely manner, I unequivocally said no. Apparently, Ms. Minaj chose not to hear and used my composition despite my clear and express intentions."

This settlement resolves one of multiple legal challenges Minaj faces regarding "Queen." She currently faces a separate $240 million lawsuit from rapper Brinx Billions over alleged theft of "Rich Sex" and unpaid royalties for "I Endorse These Strippers."

The case highlights ongoing debates about sampling in hip-hop and fair use in music, following other recent cases like Drake's successful defense of his unlicensed use of "Jimmy Smith Rap" in "Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2," which courts ruled as fair use.

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