Ozzy Osbourne has taken to social media to blast Kanye West for using an unauthorized Black Sabbath sample after the English rock band denied his clearance request.
In a post today (February 9) on X (formerly Twitter), the Black Sabbath frontman sent out a PSA in the aftermath of the ‘Vultures’ album event that was live streamed the night before, during which Ye and Ty Dolla $ign previewed a song featuring elements of the band’s 1970 track, “Iron Man.
In the post, Osbourne wrote: “. @KANYEWEST ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A SECTION OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF “IRON MAN” FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS & WAS REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY. HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM LISTENING PARTY LAST NIGHT. I WANT NO ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MAN.”
Upon catching wind of the tweet, Ye took to his Instagram Stories to speculate that a “celebrity handler” must have sent out the tweet via Osbourne’s account, point to the fact that, while the Rock legend claimed to want “no association,” he and wife Sharon Osbourne dressed as West and Bianca Censori for Halloween last year.
Ozzy Osbourne blasts Kanye West for using Black Sabbath sample despite shut down requesthttps://t.co/7iw8GfpxxT pic.twitter.com/Etnixr1BaF
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) February 10, 2024
Ozzy Osbourne is not the first artist to be disregarded when it comes to Vultures, Vol 1 sample clearances.
According to TMZ, the Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign also failed to receive permission from the Backstreet Boys to sample their anthem “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” for their new song of nearly the same name.
Kanye also has a history of clearing samples at the last minute. For his 2018 track “4th Dimension” with Kid Cudi, West’s team contacted Louis Prima’s estate “hours before the needle dropped.”
The next listening event for ‘Vultures,’ the New York presentation, will take place at UBS Arena in Belmont Park today (February 9).
“Fans will have the rare opportunity to experience ‘Vultures, Volume 1’ in a high-fidelity audio and visual showcase, crafted by YE and Ty Dolla Sign,” the venue’s website shared. “This event marks a historic moment as attendees will listen to the album together with the artists and album collaborators.”
