Kanye West Used a Backstreet Boys Song on His New Album, Here’s Why They Can’t Stop Him

Kanye West had a recent public listening session for his upcoming album, ‘Vultures,’ in Miami had its fair share of eyebrow-raising moments. From Nazi imagery to a lyric referencing antisemitism and West donning a black Ku Klux Klansman’s hood, the evening was anything but ordinary.

However, one notable highlight was his use of the Backstreet Boys’ 1997 hit ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’ in the first song he played, titled ‘Everybody.’

The legal intricacies surrounding this use are more complex than they initially appear. Rather than sampling the boy band’s original track, West opted for a recreated chorus from Charlie Wilson, who collaborates with West, Ty Dolla $ign and Lil Baby on the track.

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This technique, known as interpolation, involves covering a segment of a song without using the original recording. Unlike sampling, which requires permission from both the record label and the publisher, interpolation only necessitates the publisher’s approval.

The Backstreet Boys, not being the song’s writers, have no control over its use. The credits for ‘Everybody’ go to Swedish hitmaker Max Martin and his late mentor, Denniz Pop. While Martin or Pop’s estate theoretically could have blocked West’s use of the song, it seems they chose not to exercise that option.

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There’s a possibility that, since the song has not yet been officially released or is generating revenue, West could play it publicly without infringing copyright. This approach, as seen with David Guetta earlier this year, involves showcasing a song without an official release.

Representatives for the Backstreet Boys, Max Martin and his publisher, Kobalt, either declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries on the matter, with Kobalt’s representative stating, “We do not comment on legal matters.”

The album features other showcased tracks like ‘Slide,’ ‘Paid,’ ‘Beg Forgiveness’ and ‘River.’ The collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign has been in the works for some time, with recording sessions even taking place in Saudi Arabia.

Despite earlier plans for a “multi-stadium listening event,” it was eventually cancelled. Rumours of a concert in Italy to promote the album were also squashed due to safety concerns. The journey to the release of ‘Vultures’ has been as eventful as the album itself.