Free Maiden claims Kanye West stole beats and avoided payment, reigniting a history of music copyright disputes

Kanye West’s long-awaited release of Donda 2 has been overshadowed by explosive accusations from a former close collaborator. Music producer Free Maiden, known for helping shape Kanye’s early career, has publicly accused the rapper of stealing music, dodging payments, and using beats without permission on the new album.

Just hours after Donda 2 hit streaming platforms, Free Maiden gave an interview to AllHipHop where he described Kanye’s alleged conduct as “slum landlordish.” He claims Kanye owes not only him, but also another producer, Boogz, significant money for unlicensed use of beats featured on the project.

“You had a chance to address and handle our outstanding issues and speak as men,” Free said, criticising the Grammy-winning artist for avoiding direct communication. “You going to social media is weak as hell when you’re wrong.”

Free’s comments followed a now-deleted post by Kanye, in which the Donda rapper accused the producer of extorting him. “Free Maiden tried to charge me 3 million dollars for these beats from people I showed how to make beats to now he going to take down Donda 2,” Kanye wrote.

But Free is hitting back, accusing Kanye of years of exploiting collaborators. “You chose to run, duck, hide, and continuously steal our ****!” he said. “Why you think you have the right to continue to steal from us and monetise the work is very slum landlordish. Get on the phone like a man.”

The feud has a deeper history. Free Maiden is credited with arranging Kanye’s early meeting with JAY-Z, a pivotal moment that helped launch his meteoric rise in the music industry. According to Free, Kanye’s alleged behaviour has been consistent for years but was always protected — until now.

“This man has been stealing for years, but I always protected him,” Free claimed. “I’ve saved Ye nine figures in attempted lawsuits alone in the past. Gloves off now.”

This is far from the first time Kanye has faced legal challenges over the unauthorised use of music. Since 2020, at least 14 lawsuits have been filed against him for using samples without permission. Some of these cases have involved prominent artists and estates, sparking debates about copyright, creative control, and ethics in the music industry.

The timing of these latest accusations could not be more damaging. Donda 2 was already receiving mixed reactions, and now its legitimacy is being publicly questioned. Free’s claims may also fuel further legal scrutiny, especially if other producers come forward with similar allegations.

Kanye West has yet to formally respond to Free Maiden’s latest remarks, and it remains unclear if the accusations will lead to a formal lawsuit. However, given the public nature of the feud and Free’s prominent role in Kanye’s early success, the controversy is likely to follow Donda 2 well beyond its release cycle.

As the dust settles, fans and industry insiders alike are watching closely to see if Kanye, a figure never far from controversy, will address the growing storm or remain silent as accusations mount.