In a new legal twist to hip-hop’s most talked-about feud, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and Metro Boomin are facing a lawsuit over unpaid royalties related to a sample used in the chart-topping Drake diss track. Veteran West Coast rapper Rodney O claims his classic song “Everlasting Bass” was used without proper clearance or songwriter credit.
Rodney O’s complaint goes further. He’s also suing the Barry White estate, citing an unauthorized sample on the “Like That” (Remix) featuring Kanye West. The lawsuit alleges that despite the track being submitted for the 2025 Grammy Awards, Rodney O was neither properly credited nor sent the final version of the song—especially the version containing Kendrick Lamar’s scathing verse.
A representative for Metro Boomin confirmed to TMZ that while they didn’t formally clear the sample, Rodney O was paid $50,000. However, the rep insisted that any issues with royalty payments lie with the Barry White estate and its partnership with Epic Records. So far, the Barry White estate has not responded to the claims.
Rodney O: “I Didn’t Even Hear the Kendrick Verse”
In a resurfaced interview with Vibe, Rodney O shared his disbelief at how the situation unfolded. “It’s crazy because the song was big when it came out—and for it to be even bigger now, all these years later, it’s crazy,” he said. “When I heard [‘Like That’], I was like, ‘They totally demolished it.’”
He also revealed that he wasn’t even aware Kendrick was featured on the record at first. “Somebody called me the day before it came out and said, ‘Hey man, I got some news for you…I actually heard Kendrick is on that record,’” Rodney explained. “And I was like, ‘No, Kendrick ain’t on that record because I have it.’”
Rodney concluded that because modern tracks often run short—around two and a half minutes—he assumed he had the full version. “I said, ‘He might be on a remix or something like that,’ that’s what I’m thinking.”
As the lawsuit unfolds, it adds another layer of controversy to an already volatile season in hip-hop, as diss tracks and legal disputes continue to shake the industry.
