Beyoncé and Jay-Z are facing a lawsuit over their song "Black Effect." The power couple has been accused of not giving a credit to a Jamaican artist for her contribution to the track.
Dr. Lenora Antoinette Stines filed a lawsuit at the United States District Court Central District of California against the Carters for copyright infringement, right of publicity, and unjust enrichment. Jay-Z's legal name is Shawn Carter while the "Single Ladies" singer is Beyonce Knowles-Carter. The album is credited to "The Carters."
CNN noted that it was stated in the lawsuit that the 68-year-old Stines claimed that she was approached by the representatives of the Carters in Jamaica in March of 2018. She was allegedly asked to help hire dancers for a video production that would be used in the promotion of the couple's then-upcoming album, Everything Is Love and their tour.
Moreover, she was also allegedly asked to record a spoken-word segment of her thoughts about love. Apparently, Stines is a well respected and highly regarded artist in Jamaica and around the world for her artistry and wisdom.
Stines said she was able to provide some dancers for the couple's video and agreed to share her thoughts about love. However, Stines said on the day she showed up to film the video she was told that she "must sign" an agreement in order to participate.
Dr. Stines said she asked the person in charge if she could take a photo of the agreement so she could send it to her son, who is an attorney. However, she was explicitly told that she couldn't do that. Instead, she was told not to worry and assured that her recording would only be used for promotional purposes.
Then the Everything Is Love album and "Black Effect" song were released in June 2018. Stines said she was shocked when she found out the unauthorized exploitation of her vocals on the song.
Her voice monologue can be heard in the intro of the "Black Effect" track. Stines said she felt violated and "artistically raped" after finding out that she had been sampled and left uncredited on the song.
Stines is now seeking damages totaling to over $75,000, legal fees, a portion of the publishing rights, and a writer's credit for the single. Stines' name was not listed on the credited "Black Effect" writers on Spotify but she is credited under "Additional Vocals" and "Associated Performer" on streaming service TIDAL, which is owned by Jay-Z.
Beyonce and Jay-Z have yet to issue a statement about the lawsuit. The couple's Everything Is Love album won the Best Urban Contemporary Album award at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
