Kanye West has closed the chapter on one of his latest legal battles. Billboard reports that he reached a settlement with Criminal Manne (Vanda Watkins), DJ Squeeky (Hayward Ivy), and Kilo G (Robert L. Johnson Jr.). These artists alleged that West unlawfully sampled their song “Drink a Yak (Part 2)” in his 2024 Vultures 1 track “Fuk Sumn,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign. A representative for West had reportedly tried to secure clearance for the samples. However, negotiations never produced an agreement.
“After numerous unsuccessful attempts at resolving this matter directly with the responsible parties, plaintiffs have been left with no other method of recourse than to bring this cause of action,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote. On March 18, both sides confirmed that they had “reached a settlement agreement in principle resolving all claims between them.” Financial terms and further details of the agreement remain private.
Kanye West Clears Legal Roadblocks Ahead of BULLY
The timing of the settlement is notable, coming just days before the anticipated release of West’s twelfth studio album, BULLY. The Chicago artist has teased the project for months. This includes a series of billboards in Los Angeles hinting at a release date. Those postings displayed March 27, 2026—a small adjustment from earlier reports that suggested March 20. Given West’s history of shifting timelines, the change was largely expected.
Industry insiders suggest that BULLY will navigate themes of “remorse, memory, ego, faith, and consequence,” offering listeners a deeply reflective experience. With the sample dispute resolved, West can focus entirely on the rollout of his new music. Therefore, he can leave behind the legal wrangling that shadowed the creation of the album.
