Shenseea Breaks Silence On Copyright Lawsuit: “Y’all Still Stupid”

Shenseea has broken her silence on the copyright infringement lawsuit filed against her and Interscope Records over the use of elements from Denise Belfon and Pupa Nas-T’s Work (1999) in her new Megan Thee Stallion collab Lick.

In a quick Tweet and delete on Saturday morning, the Jamaican singer suggested that the reports of the US $10 million dollar lawsuit should not be believed, after a fan pointed to the irony of the complaint, which was filed two months after some Caribbean fans had questioned whether Lick was properly cleared.

“What reach me? Y’all still stupid for believing any and ANYTHING bro,” she wrote, in response to a Twitter user, who said, “Shenseea went on IG and cuss unno out bout you stupid for even asking about clearance and look what reach her now.”

The Can’t Anymore singer followed up in another Tweet: “We’re gonna choose positivity this morning.”

Pupa Nas-T, whose real name is Anastas Theodore Hackett, filed the lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on March 4, 2022.  According to the documents, which were obtained by DancehallMag, Nas-T alleges that Shenseea and her co-defendants released Lick without his authorization and without securing the proper clearances.   The suit names Shenseea, whose real name is Chinsea Linda Lee, Interscope Records, the UK-based Atal Music Limited and Alexandre Escolier as defendants.

When contacted on Friday, Nas-T confirmed to DancehallMag that the lawsuit was filed on behalf of himself and his company Traveling Man Productions, LLC.

According to the Jamaica Observer, Geron Woodruffe, a member of Denise Belfon’s management team, has also confirmed the lawsuit and “that while things may be up to par between Shenseea and his client, Denise Belfon, there are other parties involved with the Work single.”

In January, after queries from her Caribbean fans and critics about whether the song was cleared, a slightly annoyed Shenseea took to her Instagram Live to dismiss the questions in a very disparaging way.

https://twitter.com/CairovsJairo/status/1505496885859168256

“This is why some Americans don’t f#$k with Caribbean people, y’all be acting stupid as sh-t, and that’s just the fact. Some of y’all dumb as sh-t. Why would we use the sample from somebody else’s song done in 2006 or 5, and not clear the song? How does that even make sense?” the singer asserted.

“Y’all tryna say I stole somebody’s song? Stop f–cking with me, stop playing with me, cause that’s so stupid, and then Megan is on the song, why would we risk getting sued?”

“That’s gonna clear up and it’s not something that’s bothering me, it is because I know some people will run with this narrative, and I am not about to do it, cause I am about to start clearing shit up from early. Mi back broad as you can see, very broad,” she added.

Several Caribbean users have now weighed in, seemingly with the last laugh, after news of the lawsuit on Friday.

nunya.bee19 said, “what a way Shenseea classed Jamaicans when we asked her if she had permission to use the song, sure we a di dunce ones?”

“Shenseea was online calling Caribbeans stupid and “dumb as shit” because they were pointing out the sample and asking if it was cleared. She assured everyone it was taken care of. What happened?  ,” wrote Caressa.

Another, thick.ney said, “I knew it was coming.”

_.junglist found it all very hilarious, citing, “Lmao every Caribbean person know this would a happen,” while _ruby.ray exclaimed, ” Damn, imagine getting sued for this trash ass song, y’all never learn GET CLEARANCE FIRST.”

Smitten_ivo reminded Shenseea’s supporters that “a lot of people are laughing because when she was on live and persons asked if she got permission, she called Jamaicans stupid and said it was cleared, the whole thing is weird.”

Another expressed, “All this trouble for a song that wasn’t even good.”

Femalerapgame cheekily advised, “put yuh back in it and pay them Shenseea,” touting a line from the song.

One Trinidadian wrote, “We Trinis knew it was coming.”

Lick, which did not make the Billboard Hot 100 chart, was released by Rich Immigrants and Interscope Records on January 21.  It was co-produced by Canadian Murda Beatz, L’Étranger and BoogzDaBeast.  Credited writers are Anastas Hackett and Harkness Taitt (the two Work co-writers), Shenseea, Megan, Jahmal Gwin, Jeremy McIntyre, Lance Shipp, Nathalia Marshall, Rachael Kennedy, Romika Faniel, Shane Lindstrom, and Tobias Wincorn.