German-British singer Alice Merton has filed a lawsuit against Kanye West in California federal court, alleging unauthorized use of her song "Blindside" in his track "Gun To My Head."
According to the lawsuit, West sampled Merton's vocals and melody without permission, specifically the line "I sat down with a gun to my head." The disputed song, featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Kid Cudi, was first performed by West in December 2023.
Merton claims she was "shocked and humiliated" upon discovering the unauthorized sample, especially since media reports incorrectly suggested she had collaborated with West. When approached months later for sample clearance, both Merton and her label explicitly refused, citing West's public stance and controversial statements.
The singer, who resides in Germany and has Holocaust survivors in her family tree, emphasized her strong opposition to being associated with West due to his "anti-semitic and racist remarks." Her personal background played a key role in the decision to deny permission.
While "Gun To My Head" was initially excluded from West's February 2024 album "Vultures 1," it later appeared as a bonus track on "Vultures 2." This release sparked backlash from West's fans, who reportedly directed threats toward Merton for her refusal to clear the sample.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between artists' creative rights and the proper clearance of musical samples, particularly when complicated by public controversies and personal values.