This question was on my mind for some time now, but was made more urgent having heard the Beatfreakz remix of Superfreak by Rick James. The main riff in that song is now more widely associated with the song U Can't Touch This by MC Hammer. If someone was to sample this riff from the Rick James song, would they also have to pay royalties to Hammer for popularising the riff or for any other reason?
2006-08-26 12:02:13 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
No, anyone who samples Superfreak will have to license it from estate if Rick James, even Mc Hammer has to pay Rick James everytime he gets a check for his song.
2006-08-26 12:08:59 · answer #1 · answered by dointhangs 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a bit wierd- because Hammer got into trouble with the law for taking the riff for one of his songs from a Queen track, 'Under Pressure'... I'm pretty sure he used it on 'U Can't Touch This'...there was a big stink at the time, but now it seems as if the law is no longer enforcable in the same way. What a strange turnabout of things... I wonder if the remaining members of Queen would be able to get Rick James for stealing something MC Hammer stole from them? The mind boggles...
2006-08-26 12:13:45 · answer #2 · answered by Buzzard 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No just to the one who created the original song`s riff - if rick James wrote the music then he alone is entitled to royalties not M.C. Widepants for ripping it off.
2006-08-26 15:44:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is the same riff....BUT...if that were the case, there would be alot of law suits. For instance, "Love me tender" by Elvis Presley...originally old folk music "Ora Lee".
I think, personally, that the riff is just the same; however, the total composition is very different. Lots of songs with little bits and pieces or other songs in them. I really don't know legally, that's strictly this redheaded-opinion. And opinions are like a-holes, everyone has one (at least).
2006-08-26 12:07:28 · answer #4 · answered by Sassy OLD Broad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rick wrote the song before Hammer, and Rick got paid nicely. Hammer would receive nothing because it sn't his music to sell.
2006-08-26 12:17:24 · answer #5 · answered by King Midas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually Buzzard the 'under pressure' bass line was illegally sampled by vanilla ice on ice ice baby. sampling laws were a lot looser back then and although they never went to court it's thought that queen and bowie received royalties for it eventually
2006-08-26 13:20:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
whoever originally wrote the song gets the royalties..MC hammer only sampled it himself..which means HE himself had to pay royalties also.
2006-08-26 12:10:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
doesn't matter who made the riff popular. Who wrote it?? They get the money.
2006-08-26 12:07:38 · answer #8 · answered by Treesy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't think so. I think all royalties go to the original writer.
2006-08-27 00:54:01 · answer #9 · answered by Daisy the cow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They allready have.
Hammer would recieve nothing.
2006-08-26 12:07:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋