Ye has lost the writing rights to his iconic track “Through the Wire” — here’s what happened

Co-writer Cynthia Weil famously refused to give the rapper any ownership stake in his debut single, as songwriter David Foster remembers.

Ye discovered early in his career that the industry has always been a shark tank. Legendary producer David Foster recently disclosed that the rapper does not actually own any of the publishing for his 2003 debut, even if “Through the Wire” is the song that cemented his legacy.

In an episode of the podcast “And The Writer Is…” on January 14, Foster explained the unfair business arrangement that led to the hit. The song, which Foster co-wrote with Tom Keane and Cynthia Weil, is renowned for its high-pitched sample of Chaka Khan’s 1985 hit song “Through the Fire.” Ye’s camp first requested a 50% writing credit because the sample covers the whole record.

Foster acknowledged that he was open to the arrangement, but Weil, his co-author, refused to accept it.

Christina said, “F**k that.” “No, he doesn’t get anything,” Foster remembered. Thus, he received nothing. We are still the original authors. Isn’t that something?

Given that Ye penned the lyrics, produced the song, and actually recorded it with his jaw wired shut following a near-fatal automobile accident, this is a startling fact.

The original 1980s songwriters have retained all of the “mailbox money” from the composition of the platinum-certified hit for more than 20 years, despite Foster’s admission that the decision was “bold.”

The seasoned composers retained control of the kingdom despite Ye’s “chipmunk soul” sound altering the course of hip-hop. It serves as a stark reminder that, particularly when it comes to the legality of a large sample, the pen is frequently more powerful than the producer in the music industry.