Last week (August 6), Toronto rapper Drake leaked 100 gigabytes of content on the decoy website 100gigs.org and the Instagram page @plottttwistttttt. Among the rubble of now deleted files was a song titled “Red Blue Green,” a danceable sing-along track where Drake seamlessly switches between singing and rapping patois lyrics.
Republic Records, Drake’s record label, has since officially released the track along with all the files on digital streaming platforms on August 10, 2024. “Blue Green Red” interpolates dancehall artist Norman Washington Jackson, aka Tiger’s 1991 Jamaican hit song “When,” produced by the riddim duo Steely and Clevie.
Tiger was one of the first dancehall artist to crossover into the U.S. doing songs with The Fat Boys and signing to Columbia Records in 1993.
On Drake’s “Red Blue Green” at around the 1:25 seconds mark he raps:
“How many summers did I run like 10/ I got a show Inna London, When/Weh The Clock Inna London Name? (Big Ben)/ I have a watch face just like (dem)/but me nah watch face like dem/ they make lyrics fi who? (Men)/ Me mek gyal come them cum again.”
The melody and lyrics bearing a close resemblance to the fourth verse on Tiger’s 1991 original which he sang:
“Weh di clock inna london name? (Big Ben)
Two man a love up, love up, (dem a men)
Button up yuh calla weh dem call you? (Speng)
So you out fi deal wid badness you might heng
Seen, come again.”
An interpolation is the re-recording a portion of a song and incorporating it into a new track. Unlike sampling, which involves directly using a segment of the original recording, interpolation involves re-playing or re-singing the segment, often with some modifications.
The practice of interpolations allows artists to creatively reference and build upon existing works while avoiding some of the legal and financial complications associated with sampling.
However, given that the record label has now released the song commercially, the underlying composition (melody, lyrics, etc.) is still protected by copyright law. The song was last distributed by VP Records on Tiger’s “Most Wanted” album in 2011.
There have been numerous cases where artists have sued others for using elements of their work without permission, leading to settlements or court rulings that often include financial compensation or ceasing the use of the interpolated material.
Just last year, Drake himself was accused by British synth-pop group Pet Shop Boys of using their lyrics without permission on his eighth studio album “For All the Dogs.” The group claimed that Drake did not credit them for the chorus line from their 1984 single “West End Girls” used in the track “All the Parties,” which also features Chief Keef.
Pet Shop Boys posted a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), expressing surprise and disappointment at hearing their chorus in Drake’s song without permission or credit.
“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,” the group tweeted.
Drake’s Team called Pet Shop Boys frontman Neil Tennant he said, 15 minutes after the tweet was sent out being “very apologetic,” as reported by People.
At the time the only credited writer for the track was Drake, while producers include BNYX®, Boi-1da, Fierce, Coleman, Maneesh, Harley Arsenault, and JDolla. Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe have since been added as writers for the song.
Additionally, Baltimore artist Rye Rye has accused Drake of using her vocals on the track “Calling For You” without permission or credit, as well as using a sample from her in his 2022 album “Honestly, Nevermind.”
To legally interpolate a song, an artist must secure the appropriate licenses from the copyright holder(s). This usually involves negotiating terms and potentially paying fees or royalties.
Often, the original artist or copyright holder will require credit on the new song and may receive a portion of the royalties generated from it. Drake, real name Aubrey Graham is the only credited writer on “Blue Green Red.”
Audiomack Founder Brian Zisook speculates that although Drake initially released the songs for non-commercial use, the label is obligated to make the files available for sale to recoup the $400 million advance they gave to the “God’s Plan” rapper. He tweeted, “Drake’s current deal is a licensing agreement, giving UMG the right to commercially exploit his music for a set period. That’s why they released the bundle he self-leaked. Once the term ends and the advance is recouped, Drake regains full rights to his music—UMG owns nothing.”
