Nicki Minaj sued by Tracy Chapman over Baby Can I Hold You sample

Nicki Minaj is being sued by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman over claims her song was sampled without permission.

A lawsuit has been launched over Minaj’s track Sorry, which it has been claimed she had intended to release on her August album Queen.

The American rapper allegedly used a sample from Chapman’s 1988 hit Baby Can I Hold You, despite reportedly being told she couldn’t, and reportedly made a number of public requests to obtain rights to sample.

Minaj did not feature the song on her album but it is believed to have premiered on Funkaster Flex’s Hot 97 radio show and has reportedly been shared online.

The suit claims the song “incorporates the lyrics and vocal melody of [Baby Can I Hold You], its most recognizable and memorable parts.”

Champan is supposedly seeking damages and an order to stop an official release.

Minaj reportedly claimed she had “no clue” the song contained the sample and once made aware she “reached out” to Chapman with a string of tweets.

The legal documents claim the song was then reproduced on several different websites.

The lawsuit claims: "[Minaj] wrongfully deprived Chapman of the right and opportunity to decide whether to allow the use of the composition, and, if so, on what terms.”

Standard Online has contacted representatives of Minaj and Chapman for comment.